Abu Dhabi hotel guests surge 13 per cent in August compared to 2016

More than 400,000 visitors stayed in the emirate’s hotels last month, a 13 per cent rise on the same period last year according to the Department of Culture and Tourism

Abu Dhabi has 166 hotels with 3.1 million people visiting in the first eight months of the year. Photo: Department of Culture and Tourism

Abu Dhabi recorded double-digit growth in the number of hotel guests last month with figures expected to climb further when Louvre Abu Dhabi opens, the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) revealed on Wednesday.

“As the year moves on, we expect to see further progress, not least due to the highly-anticipated opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi on November 11 which has rightly attracted huge interest from across the world,” said Saif Ghobash, director general of DCT.

DCT, previously known as Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, said more than 400,000 visitors stayed in the emirate’s hotels last month,an increase of 13 per cent compared to the previous year. Abu Dhabi has 166 hotels with 3.1 million people visiting in the first eight months of this year.

“We still have some opportunities to increase length-of-stay at our hotels and maintain revenues, but we are actively addressing these things as we constantly strive to improve our destination’s appeal with concerted international marketing campaigns in tandem with our 11 overseas offices,” Mr Ghobash said.

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Abu Dhabi city had an 11 per cent increase in guests while Al Ain and Al Dhafra reported a 20 per cent and 51 per cent hike, respectively. Travellers from India represented the largest growth segment, rising 24 per cent to more than 30,000, but China was close behind with almost 29,000 visitors.

The Asian country experienced a 68 per cent increase in hotel activity as a result of the UAE easing visa restrictions at the start of the year.

Mr Ghobash added: “We are encouraged by August’s figures and the increased growth, during a month which is traditionally a quieter time of the year for hotel guests.”