A delegation headed by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority will descend on China next month where it will take part in a destination workshop in Shanghai before participating in Beijing’s China Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (CIBTM).

This follows news that China’s National Tourism Administration will now be allowed to send delegates in the opposite direction.

“This is one of today’s most important markets and it is crucial that Abu Dhabi is well represented if we are to build destination awareness and increase our share of an outbound business meetings and incentive markets which is growing by more than 15% annually and is valued by the industry at around US $14.6 billion a year, according to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade,” said ADTA director general, HE Mubarak Al Muhairi.

“China Meetings Industry Research suggests that, over the next 12 months, Chinese meetings professionals expect a significant increase in the number of events to be staged outside the republic,” Al Muhairi continued.

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, IIR Middle East, Abu Dhabi Travel Bureau, Le Meriden, the Western Region Development Council and Al Masaood Travel will all also attend.