Dubai: Ajman’s hotels enjoyed a bumper third quarter as the emirate improves its tourism infrastructure. Hotels and hotel apartments in the emirate catered to 161,000 guests, up 31 per cent year-on-year, according to a statement from the Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) on Monday.

However, revenue for hotels and hotel apartments in the third quarter were not disclosed by ATDD. Last quarter’s hotel revenue reached around Dh67 million from Dh42 million in the same period in 2013.

“There has been an improvement to Ajman’s hospitality offerings. The destination is emerging,” said Chiheb Bin Mahmoud, executive vice-president and head of hotels and hospitality at real estate consultancy JLL.

Ajman has 31 hotels and hotel apartments, boasting 2,922 rooms. This year so far, however, one hotel has opened in the emirate — Ajman Saray, which is managed by The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, a brand of US-based hotel chain Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

For Ajman hotels, Europe, Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Gulf Cooperation Council are the largest source markets.

Ajman is allocating 40 per cent of its 2014 budget to boost work on new development, economic and social projects that are meant to bolster tourism in the emirate, according to a report by news agency WAM earlier this year.

A lifestyle development called Al Zorah is under construction in the emirate. The first phase includes two beach resorts operated by Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and Lux Resorts & Hotels, featuring 110 and 190 rooms respectively. Once completed, the project will feature six waterfront resorts and serviced residences.

A new airport, too, is being planned for Ajman, which is likely to give added impetus to the tourism sector. Ajman International Airport is expected to serve at least one million passengers a year when it becomes operational in 2018.

Ajman’s tourism department is targeting a 15 per cent increase in visitor numbers this year. In the first half, guest numbers reached 415,000, up 46 per cent from the corresponding time in 2013.