Abu Dhabi records 18% growth in hotel guests

Abu Dhabi / Emirates Business

Abu Dhabi accelerated its growth in hotel guest arrivals during October with 418,883 guests checking into the emirate’s 163 hotels and hotel apartments, representing an 18% increase over the same month last year.
The cumulative number of guest arrivals for the first ten months of this year has increased to reach more than 3.9 million, representing growth of 8% on the year and keeping the emirate on track to surpass last year’s record total of 4.4 million, according to latest figures released by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
October’s double-digit percentage growth in visitors from China (88%), amounted to 32,000, underpinned by lifting of visa restrictions at beginning of year, is still indicative of benefits reaped from the Department’s extensive marketing campaigns across that country including the new ‘Abu Dhabi Week in China’ initiative held recently in Shanghai.
China’s impressive metrics were joined by similarly striking numbers from the USA, which also posted significant double-digit growth (80%) to reach 18,000. The tier one markets of UK and India also saw dramatic improvement, with an increase of 26% and 22% respectively.
HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “Our sustained efforts in improving the worldwide appeal of Abu Dhabi to tourists for both business and leisure is continuing to reap rewards, with the latest figures for guest arrivals supporting our endeavours. Record numbers of people are staying in our expansive choice of accommodation across all three regions of emirate and we aim to sustain and improve on this growth throughout Q4, traditionally our busiest time of the year.
“As we head towards the end of year, we expect that Abu Dhabi’s packed calendar of Q4 events will prove significant in boosting these numbers. Abu Dhabi Art, the on-going Abu Dhabi Classics season and the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi all proved extremely popular, and we still have the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi Food Festival, the Dar Al Zain Festival and the New Year Countdown Village to come.”
The month’s UAE guest arrivals total of 113,000 was also an increase on corresponding month last year, representing a rise of almost 6%. The three regions – Abu Dhabi Cityty, Al Ain and Al Dhafra all showed positive results for hotel guests, with the Al Dhafra Region posting a 24% increase in guests arrivals compared to the corresponding month in 2016. The number of guest arrivals in Abu Dhabi city increased by 18%, with Al Ain Region showing an 14% increase for the same metric.
Guest nights in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain are also buoyant, with only Al Dhafra decreasing. Both Al Ain and Abu Dhabi increased by 12%.
Ghobash added: “We do face challenges, in particular our average length of stay, which we want to increase by providing a greater choice of things to see, do and experience to encourage our guests to stay longer and visit more of the emirate. We have identified an appetite and need for additional leisure, entertainment events and are working closely with private sector on partnerships to improve our choices throughout the year.”