Abu Dhabi sees further growth in hotel guests following record-breaking year

Following a record-breaking year for hotel guests in Abu Dhabi, the emirate has recorded impressive growth in the first two months of 2017, seeing a 5.5% rise in hotel guests.

According to figures from Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), 749,650 hotel guests have checked into the emirate’s 170 hotels and hotel apartments in January and February – an increase of more than 40,000 guests over the corresponding period last year.

More than 4.4 million hotel guests were recorded in the emirate over the course of 2016, which was an 8% increase over 2015. Statistics across guest nights, average length of stay and revenues also offered strong results, with 12,031,628 guest nights recorded.

HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General, TCA Abu Dhabi, said: “The first two months of this year has seen our key overseas markets continue to perform well, and we remain committed to expanding our outstanding tourism and cultural assets. With our year-round programme of events, we plan to gain further growth across the tourism sector and achieve our target of reaching 4.9 million hotel guests throughout the course of this year.”

January saw particularly strong figures, with an 8% increase year-on-year in guest arrivals with the top five visitor source markets - the UAE, India, UK, China and Saudi Arabia – continuing to post impressive figures. Al Dhafra Region (formerly known as the Western Region), and Al Ain Region (formerly known as the Eastern Region) continued to post significant length of stay.

February witnessed a 4% rise in guest arrivals in comparison to February 2016, and an increase of 3% in hotel guest nights with the leading international source markets, China, India, UK and USA . Revenue per available room also rose by 9% while the average room rate rose 10% to AED 451.

TCA Abu Dhabi is spearheading numerous delegations to international travel trade events throughout the year to bolster visitor and guest arrivals. Already this year the Authority has led a delegation of the emirate’s leading hotels, attractions, destination management companies and tour operators to ITB Berlin in Germany, with trips to China and Saudi Arabia also taking place imminently.

In April, the Authority will also be leading a large portfolio of companies to the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai to harness more inbound tourism.