Abu Dhabi posts 16% increase in hotel guests
Yearly variation of Eid holiday timings cited as key factor
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi has recorded a 16 per cent rise in hotel guests in the first nine months of this year compared to the same period last year with a 14 per cent increase in the number of guest nights, according to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).
The latest figures from ADTA showed that a total of 1,326,463 guests stayed in the emirate's hotels and hotel apartments from January to September end this year with guest nights climbing to 3,596,388.
"Growth in September, 26 per cent on the same month last year with a 25 per cent increase in guest nights to 396,726, was the strongest recorded since March 2009 and is strongly influenced by year on year variations in the timing of Eid holidays," said Lawrence Franklin, ADTA Strategy and Policy Director. "Revenue in September benefitted from the same factors, rising 12 per cent on 2009. Year-to-date, food and beverage revenues recorded 15 per cent growth and have become an increasingly important factor now, accounting for 37 per cent of all revenues compared to 33 per cent this time last year." Domestic tourism continues to perform well with a 16 per cent increase in guest generation in the first nine months to break the 500,000 mark.
The UK retains the overseas market top slot with a 50 per cent growth totalling 83,239 guests. "We are now well within striking distance of our 2010 hotel guest target of 1.65 million," added Franklin.
Major B2B events
"With the addition to our leisure stock of the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park, which has now opened its doors to huge international publicity and with the emirate readying to host major B2B events such as November's Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference and the first World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi conference and exhibition, the prognosis is good."
