Abu Dhabi plans to more than double hotel rooms by 2012

Abu Dhabi: There will be more than 26,000 hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi by 2012 and business tourism is a key focus of the emirate's tourism strategy, the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) said here on Monday.

"Abu Dhabi's hotel room inventory will be in excess of 26,000 in 2012 and the destination is also rapidly developing international convention expertise to ensure its success as a major global meetings destination," said Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan.

Abu Dhabi has about 12,000 hotel rooms at the moment.

"This [business tourism] sector has higher economic returns, delivering between seven-to-nine times more income to a destination than leisure tourism," said Shaikh Sultan.

"The benefits though, extend well beyond the convention as it is highly sustainable, being resilient to economic downturns," he said.

Shaikh Sultan added that business tourism often leads to foreign direct investment, exports knowledge transfer and development collaboration, besides significant repeat visits by delegates.

Tourism has been identified as a high potential economic driver and its promotion is being led by the ADTA. The authority has a five-year strategic plan under which it hopes to attract 2.7 million hotel guests a year by 2012.

ADTA has set a target of 1.68 million hotel guest arrivals for 2008 in Abu Dhabi, an almost 16 per cent increase over the guest arrivals in 2007. The total hotel guest arrivals in the emirate last year stood at 1.45 million, exceeding the target for the year.

Abu Dhabi is investing Dh25 billion in modernising its airport that will cater to 50 million passengers annually by 2012 and help support its tourism plan.

"Tourism targets are to be achieved by focusing on sector standardisation, enhancement of tourism experience, improved destination access, increased international marketing, additional product development and capitalization and preservation of emirate's distinctive culture, values and traditions," ADTA said.