Today's Edition
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)
In a unique initiative launched by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), thousands of children were polled to help shape their ideal summer holiday. The result? An adventure-packed, seven-day itinerary in the emirate — that is officially kid-approved.
The DCT launched the campaign, called “Summer in Abu Dhabi. Totally Recommended” — during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, aiming to promote the capital’s growing list of family attractions available all year round.
Among the main highlights of the tourism drive was the seven-day Abu Dhabi guide for parents, which was made in consultation with 7,000 children from nine countries.
It’s an itinerary designed by kids for kids, said Nouf Al Bushlaibi, Strategic Marketing & Communications Sector Executive Director at DCT.
“I have a friend who’s coming to Abu Dhabi. She's got a 3-year-old boy. What can they do? I said, ‘What can they not do?’” Bushlaibi told reporters on the sidelines of the ATM on Tuesday.
The survey sought to truly understand what brings children joy, she said, recalling her younger years when holiday destinations and activities used to be decided by the grown-ups instead of being negotiated with the youngsters.
Many kids wanted to live out their fantasies with their favourite movie characters, the survey revealed. At the same time, they hoped to spend quality time and connect with their parents.
“We put together a seven-day plan designed by kids, for kids. And as we're speaking, we have six different families experiencing the itinerary. So stay tuned. They will come out as they're competing in all the days,” she said.
Abu Dhabi is a destination packed with everything that makes vacations memorable for families and any traveller, Bushlaibi said.
“When you look at the experience, [you’ll find that] we curated in a way where it is specifically designed with intention,” she added.
The guide includes day trips to many of the year-round indoor attractions on Yas and Saadiyat Islands, including the newly inaugurated teamLab Abu Dhabi as well as staples like Ferrari World, Emirates Park Zoo, Bounce, Clymb, and Yas Waterworld.
There are suggestions for dining, beach days, evening activities, and kids’ clubs, among other essentials, as the broader campaign also aims to ease the pressure on parents scrambling to book their summer holidays.
This new campaign, Bushlaibi said, comes as part of a wider mission to market Abu Dhabi as a 365 destination. It’s a city that delivers unforgettable experiences even in the peak of summer — a reputation built through a magnitude of investment made over the years This has been possible through magnitude of investment made over the years.
