Ali Al Shaiba, Executive Director, DCT-Abu Dhabi has revealed discussions are ongoing with relevant authorities to open up the emirate to international tourists.
Domestic tourism will be key to the recovery of the industry in Abu Dhabi, with no immediate plans to open up the emirate to international visitors, according to Ali Al Shaiba, Executive Director, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
Unlike neighbouring Dubai, where international tourists were welcomed back earlier this month, Abu Dhabi, which enforced a more sustained period of lockdown for those entering and leaving the emirate, aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus, currently remains closed to the wider world.
While he told Arabian Business he is looking for that to change “hopefully soon”, Al Shaiba said the status quo would remain for the foreseeable future.
He said: “We have our own plans and I think we are not far from there. We have plans and we are working with government authorities to put these plans in place. We are taking it gradually. The city is open now for domestic visitors. Once the travel restrictions ease, we will definitely welcome people from different parts of the world.”
