Abu Dhabi occupancy levels surge with 26% growth
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Abu Dhabi’s 156 hotels and hotel apartments reported an increase in its guest arrivals, occupancy and revenue for the first nine months of the year.
As per statistics from Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) from January to September, 2,498,672 guests checked into the emirate’s accommodation – a 26% year-on-year increase. The arrivals resulted in 7,502,924 guest nights, which was up 21% on the same period last year with hotel occupancy rising seven percent to 73%.
Hotel revenues increased to AED 4,268 billion (US$1.16 bn), which is a 15% growth on last year with room revenues growing 16% to AED2,170,548,482 (US$591 million) and food and beverage income rising 12% to AED 1,626,203,483 (US $442.6 m).
“This is a very encouraging performance particularly with over 2,000 more rooms. However, there has, unfortunately, been a slow-down in length of stay, which fell by four percent compared to last year 2.56 nights.It leaves us extremely well placed to achieve our annual guest target of 3.1 m this year,” said HE Jasem Al Darmaki, acting director general, TCA Abu Dhabi.
Domestic tourism was on an upward trend with arrivals from the UAE rising 23% to 845,316 which delivered 21% more guest nights year-on-year to 1,926,934. India was the most productive overseas market with 162,394 Indians checking into Abu Dhabi’s accommodation up by a third on the first nine months of last year. Indians are staying 3.78 nights on average.
The UK was the second largest overseas market with some 136,970 Britons staying in Abu Dhabi hotels during the first nine months which is a 25% year-on-year uplift. The British accounted for 597,814 guest nights, which was up 15% and stayed, on average, 4.36 nights. Germany is the third largest market for hotel guests with 92,623 Germans staying in Abu Dhabi’s hotels in the first nine months, 11% more than last year. They delivered 441,860 guest nights, which was up nine percent and stayed, on average, 4.77 nights. Saudi Arabia is the emirate’s fourth largest overseas market and its biggest in the GCC with 87,186 Saudis checking in – 34% more than last year. In all they delivered 186,335 guest nights, which is a 27% uplift and they stayed, on average 2.14 nights.
Overall, one of the fastest-growing markets for Abu Dhabi is China. Guest arrivals from the People’s Republic rose a massive 167% in the first nine months to 81,525. The Chinese guests accounted for 141,044 guest nights – a 150% uplift and they stayed, on average, 1.73 nights.
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