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Abu Dhabi / WAM
The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi has announced significant increase in revenues from tourism activity in the capital in the third quarter of 2020.
Findings from its quarterly industry development committee meeting revealed promising signs of sector recovery, as well as a glimpse into future projects and plans to boost tourism in the emirate.
The meeting brought together stakeholders and leading entities from across the tourism sector to share the latest updates on the status of tourism activity in the emirate. It included an overview of the revenues and outcomes of tourism activity within the third quarter (Q3) of the year, demonstrating the sector’s recovery trajectory after an abrupt slowdown in the second quarter (Q2) caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Within Q3, Abu Dhabi achieved the highest hotel occupancy rates and the third highest revenue per room in the region. Relative to Q2, hotel revenues saw an increase of 46 percent, with a 95 percent increase in the number of guests.
The recovery of the sector was further demonstrated through an estimated 83 percent increase in footfall at malls across the emirate, and a 119 percent increase in airline bookings. Seating capacity for all airlines operating in Abu Dhabi was also increased by 364 percent during this period. This was attributed to the boost in domestic tourism activity led by DCT Abu Dhabi through campaigns and initiatives such as ‘Go Safe’, ‘Unbox Amazing’ and ‘Rediscover Abu Dhabi’.
‘Go Safe’, the region’s first comprehensive safety and hygiene certification programme, contributed to elevating consumer trust in levels of health and safety across hotels and public venues. The programme was launched across all the hotels in the emirate, with 93 of these hotels obtaining full certification in Q3.
Saood Al Hosani, Acting Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “Despite the profound disruptions caused by restrictions to public mobility, the positive indicators we have seen in the third quarter of this year are a testament to the agility and adaptability of Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry in response to the evolving market landscape.