Department of Culture and Tourism (Abu Dhabi)

KEY RESULTS

20M+

Reach

125%

Increase in View-Through Rate vs. industry benchmarks

>60%

Share of Voice in GCC and UK

The Objective

Showcasing Abu Dhabi as a premier summer destination

The Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) is Abu Dhabi’s governmental organization in charge of developing and promoting local and international tourism to Abu Dhabi. DCT’s travel marketing strategy is built on the foundation of showcasing the emirate of Abu Dhabi as a premier destination for every kind of traveler. Thrill-seekers looking for action-packed adventures can enjoy an adrenaline rush at Yas Island, heritage lovers can visit historical landmarks, and more laid-back travelers can choose from a myriad of luxurious dining options.

For their summer campaign, DCT turned to TikTok to show how summertime was a fantastic time to visit Abu Dhabi. DCT aimed to target travel enthusiasts across Gulf countries and the UK, and generate awareness and excitement around the emirate’s many tourist destinations.

The Solution

Partnering with TikTok creators for an interactive travel video series

To drive their message in an authentic and engaging way, DCT decided to partner with TikTok creators to demonstrate first-hand why users should travel to Abu Dhabi.

DCT collaborated with the creator Vlada, better known by her TikTok handle @notyourlocalhabibi, who is known for her comedic and relatable videos. To show just how Abu Dhabi is the perfect destination for travelers of all ages, Vlada was paired with the “coolest Grandma" who gamely participated in travel activities (including “burning rubber" behind the wheel at the Formula One race track!).

The unlikely pair embarked on a series of travel adventures that boasted tourist places in Abu Dhabi. Vlada posted each adventure on her TikTok account, reaching her 1.3M followers. What made the campaign even more fun was how engaged the viewers were, taking the time to comment on the videos to suggest what the ladies should do next!

After the Yas Marina Circuit where grandma stepped into the driver’s seat of an F1 car, Vlada and grandma headed to brunch where they enjoyed “epic" mocktails and food. Next stop was CLYMB for some adrenaline rush, where the pair made viewers laugh as grandma beat Vlada with her rock climbing skills.

The last destination was the Al Ain Palace to celebrate Eid! Wearing beautiful abaya dresses, the ladies explored the majestic halls and pathways of the luxurious 4-star hotel. They also handed eidiya to children (gifts traditionally handed by older relatives to children during Eid) and enjoyed some authentic Emirati food.

Celebrating a religious holiday while immersing in the local culture was the perfect way to end the fun TikTok video series. To amplify reach, DCT leveraged Spark Ads to boost the creator videos targeted towards users who were interested in travel.

The Results

Achieving significant milestones at an efficient cost

Not only did the campaign reach a massive audience of 20 million users across the GCC region and United Kingdom, it also achieved over 60% in Share of Voice (SOV).

Compared to industry benchmarks, the campaign had a 125% increase in view-through rate, with many of the viewers engaging with the videos and leaving comments. From a cost efficiency standpoint, DCT also saw a 75% decrease in cost-per-view, proving that creator-led content was effective in maximizing advertising budget.

Are you in the travel industry and planning your next travel marketing activation? Partnering with TikTok creators is one of the most effective ways of engaging travel enthusiasts. Visit TikTok Creator Marketplace and start discovering creators for your next campaign.

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Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi