Abu Dhabi to begin profiling visitors

The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has launched a plan to build a profile of the people who visit the city in order to improve its offering to holidaymakers from around the world.

More than 5,000 people who visit Abu Dhabi will be interviewed by a professional research company over a 12-month period to ensure that the results reflect seasonal fluctuations.

Visitors to Abu Dhabi, which is the largest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, will be asked about the length of their stay, accommodation preferences, their holiday activities, spending patterns and other subjects.

Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general of the tourism authority, said: "Increasing sophistication within the international marketplace and particularly within our target high-end segment requires an increasingly sophisticated response for client fulfilment.

"To be able to plan and deliver the correct response we have to fully understand the habits and requirements of those now visiting the emirate and who we hope will return repeatedly and become destination proponents."

The survey will begin next month and will be based at key entry points and attractions in the emirate, predominantly at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

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