Abu Dhabi H1 hotel guests numbers rise 16%

Abu Dhabi has recorded a 16 per cent rise in its hotel guest performance in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2009.

Figures just released by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) show some 936,579 guests stayed in the emirate’s 116 hotels and hotel apartments from January-June this year with guest nights rising 11 per cent on the first half of 2009 to stand at 2.47 million.

“We are now well above our targeted annual growth of 10 per cent and have seen double- digit monthly growth since last November’s staging of Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,” said Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director-General, ADTA.

The domestic market proved to be a mainstay during the first half recording a 20 per cent rise on the same period in 2009 and accounting 397,547 guests.

The UK was the most productive overseas market with an 18 per cent rise on 2009 taking British guest arrivals to 60,994.

“Overall the international market grew by a healthy 13 per cent which is highly encouraging as it is a reversal of last year’s scenario,” explained Al Muhairi.

The neighbouring GCC again proved to be a key source market with guest arrivals growing by 30 per cent over the year to 52,505.

Significantly, Abu Dhabi appears to be building its traditionally slow summer period with hotel guests in June this year rising 17 per cent on June 2009.

Abu Dhabi’s increased accommodation stock has changed market place dynamics.

Over the past six months, occupancy  levels have fallen by 18 per cent but are still a relatively healthy 64 per cent and revenue dropped by five per cent to Dh2.1 billion.

“Certainly Abu Dhabi has become a more competitive marketplace than this time last year which is assisting in building our proposition within the international trade arena,” said Al Muhairi.

Abu Dhabi’s increased hotel inventory has also heightened the emirate’s food and beverage offering with revenues showing solid growth of 14 per cent over the past six months compared to the first half of 2009. F&B revenue now account for 39 per cent of all hotel revenues – compared to 33 per cent this time last year.

The ADTA Director-General said the authority is working with its stakeholders to try and increase the average length of stay of hotel guests, which currently stands at 2.6 nights.

“We believe this issue will be positively impacted with a further spur to our leisure tourism proposition when Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – the world’s biggest indoor theme park – opens this October 28,” saidAl Muhairi.

“In addition the destination is attracting more tourism service providers with new watersport companies entering the market and developers now planning dedicated overnight stay desert camps."

“At the same time we will expand our overseas outreach with plans for an ADTA office in Moscow to nurture the Russia and CIS markets.”

ADTA has targeted a 10 per cent overall rise in hotel guests this year compared to 2009 to take arrivals to 1.65 million.

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