12% rise in Abu Dhabi hotel guests in H1 2013

 Abu Dhabi has reported a 12 per cent rise in the number of guests staying in its 145 hotels and hotel apartments for the first half of this year compared to the first six months of last year.
 
Figures just released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) also show that guests in the emirate are staying longer and that there have been significant increases in hotel occupancies and revenues.
 
During the first half of this year some 1,333,339 guests checked into Abu Dhabi accommodation delivering 4,226,604 guest nights – a rise of 25 per cent on 2012. On average the guest stayed 3.17 nights – which is up 12 per cent on last year, which translates into an occupancy rate of 71 per cent - which is up eight per cent on 2012.
 
“We anticipate the momentum building in the second half of the year which covers key happenings such as the Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi Art, the Al Ain Aerobatics Show, a number of headline concerts on Yas Island and major sporting events including the FIFA U-17 World Cup and the Wake Park World Champonship Finals,” said Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, TCA Abu Dhabi.
 
“On the business events front we can look forward to hosting the International Conference on Neurology and Epidemiology which is expected to be attended by upwards of 600 specialists in these fields and Abu Dhabi’s hosting this December of the Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum.”
 
Year-to-date hotel revenues rose 16 per cent to Dh 2.7 billion ($734 million) despite a slight fall-off of three per cent in average room rate to Dh447 ($122). Food and beverage income continued to hold its own climbing 15 per cent to Dh1 billion ($287.5 million).

India takes the top slot
 
While domestic tourism continued to be the destination’s largest single catchment, India snatched the top slot as the emirate’s largest overseas source market toppling Britain into second place.
 
Some 80,179 Indian nationals stayed in Abu Dhabi’s hotels from January until the end of June a 22 per cent rise on last year. They accounted for 334,238 guest nights –which is up 43 per cent on 2012 and stayed an average of 4.17 nights – an increase of 17 per cent.
 
“We are benefitting from increased destination awareness in India following the opening a year ago of a dedicated promotions office there and also of increased air access from the country following Etihad Airways’ equity stake in Jet Airways and the move by the Indian carrier of its Middle East hub to Abu Dhabi,” said Al Muhairi.
 
During the first six months 78,053 Britons stayed in the emirate’s hotels – a nine per cent increase on last year. They delivered 362,690 room nights, which was up 21 per cent and stayed for an average of 4.65 nights – 11 per cent more than last year.
 
Germany came in as the third largest overseas market with 62,488 of its nationals staying – 27 per cent up on last year. Germans accounted for 296,624 guest nights, which is a rise of 37 per cent on 2012 and they stayed, on average, 4.75 nights – which is eight per cent up on last year.
 
Russians are proving to be Abu Dhabi’s longest stayers checking in for an average of just over six nights – a six per cent increase on 2012. And more Russians are coming to the destination than ever before with 13,094 checking in during the first six months – a 46 per cent increase on 2012 – and accounting for 79,750 guest nights, which is 54 per cent  up on last year.
 

 

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