Dubai: Hotels, beach resorts and rural hotspots in the UAE are expecting a bumper weekend as thousands of staycationers enjoy a three-day break on the occasion of the Israa wal Miraj, underlining the positive impact of holidays on domestic tourism.
A number of hoteliers from Dubai to Abu Dhabi told Gulf News that their properties will be 75 per cent to 100 per cent full over the next three days, with a significant number of guests coming from across the emirates. Huge bookings have also been secured from travellers around the world, thanks mainly to competitive fares offered by the airlines.
In Tilal Liwa Hotel, there will be no rooms left for guests who haven’t booked yet. The property, which sits on the edge of the Empty Quarter (Rub Al Khali desert) in Abu Dhabi and is more than a couple of hours’ drive from the capital, is expecting expatriates from Europe, Asia and Arab countries. There will also be some visitors from China.
Khaled Sharabassy of Tilal Liwa Hotel said their full occupancy is testament to the fact that holidays can boost the domestic hospitality industry.
“Local holidays in UAE are good for hotel business. Expats enjoy their time visiting the other side of the emirates, especially during holiday rather than staying in their place,” Sharabassy told Gulf News.
“[In fact] we secured 100 per cent occupancy during the long holiday starting from today [Thursday] till Sunday, given the fact that the hotel has very attractive offers for guests visiting the destination who had pre-booked their stays even [before the holiday was announced],” he added.
Another property outside the city centre, Danat Al Ain Resort, said they are going to be busy over the next few days as they will most likely cross the 80 per cent occupancy level.
Guests will mainly be expatriates opting to explore the emirates outside Dubai or UAE residents who simply want to undwind and spend some quality time with their family.
“More than 40 per cent expatriate families are expected to stay during the coming long weekend,” said Ahmed Margoushy, general manager at Danat Al Ain Resort.
“[Holidays in UAE are good for the hotel business] especially when they get clubbed with the weekend because it means more time for residents to relax, enjoy and recharge,” Margoushy said.
In Dubai, where hoteliers have already been enjoying brisk business since the government decided to grant visas on arrival for Chinese and Russian travellers, the long weekend will likely push the occupancy levels higher.
While Dubai residents drive to the countryside this weekend, those from the neighbouring towns are likely to flock to the city centre. The introduction of competitive fares by airlines operating in the Gulf is also boosting global demand.
“We expect to close the hotel occupancy in the 90s, having a good influx of travellers from all over the globe as well as the other emirates,” Nemo Acimovic, the new general manager at Millennium Plaza Dubai, told Gulf News.
“Our nationality mix [of customers] is diverse and varies from the GCC, UK Spain to Iran and China,” said Acimovic.
For properties like Al Bustan Centre & Residence in Dubai, which offers furnished hotel apartments that are ideal for those on the lookout for more value for money accommodations, expatriate families from the neighbouring emirates will keep the staff busy. Customers arriving from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, China and Russia will also drive occupancy ratings up this weekend.
“Being a family destination hotel surely attracts lots of families to spend their time during the local holidays such as this. We will also look forward to our loyalty programme members for such stays,” said Moussa El Hayek, chief operating officer of Al Bustan Centre & Residence.
The hotel expects to fill 75 per cent of its rooms this weekend.
