Abu Dhabi hotels see record guest numbers

Hotels and hotel apartments across the capital enjoyed a comfortable 2017, with a record 4.875 million visitors staying in Abu Dhabi's 162 hotels and hotel apartments - a 9.8 per cent year-on-year increase.
According to the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT), the number of guests staying in Abu Dhabi city during the year rose by 10.3 per cent to reach 4,295,030 across its 131 hotels and hotel apartments, which provide 26,821 rooms. The Al Ain region, meanwhile, recorded a 5.5 per cent increase to 450,328 guests across its 20 hotels; while the Al Dhafra Region rose 8.2 per cent to number 130,180 guests at its 11 hotels and hotel apartments.
"A near double digit year-on-year growth in the number of guests staying in all three regions of the emirate is testament to our drive and determination in helping the emirate evolve into a must-visit place on any traveller's itinerary," said Saif Saeed Ghobash, director general, DCT. "Abu Dhabi's unique cultural archetypes, combined with diverse natural landscapes, cultural and historic sites, dynamic family-leisure entertainment and ambitious business opportunities, will continue to stimulate visitation and help us grow by 11 per cent per annum to achieve 8.5 million visitors by 2021."
Ghobash, however, said that he is aware of the challenges that the emirate will face in supporting key metrics such as length-of-stay and occupancy rates.
Throughout 2017, key overseas markets continued to perform well with guests from China surging year-on-year by 60 per cent to number more than 372,000 to be Abu Dhabi's largest overseas source market, with the numbers swelled by the easing of visa restrictions and Chinese visitors now receiving visas on entry in the UAE.
India is the second largest international source market with more than 360,000 guests recorded during the 12 months, an increase of 11 per cent. The UK remains the largest European source market, registering a 13 per cent rise to more than 270,000; while the US market also showed a considerable rise of more than 23 per cent. Domestic tourism from within the UAE, on the other hand, increased 2.6 per cent to number slightly over 1.5 million hotel guests.
"Combined with our ongoing international marketing and promotional activities and our excellent collaboration with strategic partners, including our national airline Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi Ports, we will continue to evolve and lead Abu Dhabi's tourism proposition to achieve new levels of excellence; implementing new initiatives and working closely with the private sector, while striving to achieve new record numbers of hotel guests," Ghobash said.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com