Abu Dhabi tourist numbers expected to rise this year

Around 4.4 million hotel guests visited the emirate last year, an increase of 8 per cent over 2015.

The 400-room Marriott Hotel Al Forsan started operations last month. Ravindranath K / The National

Abu Dhabi expects a 10 per cent rise in hotel guests this year to reach 4.9 million visitors as it reports a growth in tourist numbers during the first two months of the year.

During January and February, 749,650 hotel guests checked in to the emirate’s 170 hotels and hotel apartments – a rise of 5.5 per cent year-on-year, according to the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).

“The first two months of this year has seen our key overseas markets continue to perform well,” said Saif Ghobash, the director general of TCA Abu Dhabi. “With our year-round programme of events, we plan to gain further growth across the tourism sector.”

About 4.4 million hotel guests visited the emirate last year, an increase of 8 per cent over 2015. The number of visitors increased by 8 per cent year-on-year in January with the popularity of the Al Dhafra and Al Ain regions on the rise. In February, there was a 4 per cent rise in guest arrivals year-on-year.

Revenue per available room also rose by 9 per cent while the average room rate rose by 10 per cent to Dh451 during the first two months.

“Hotels in Abu Dhabi still offer excellent value for money given the quality of services on offer in the regional hospitality sector,” Mr Ghobash said.

The average occupancy rate in Abu Dhabi inched up by 0.1 per cent year-on-year to touch 76.5 per cent in February on the back of events such as the five-day International Defence Exhibition and Conference, according to research firm STR. The average daily rate rose by 17.9 per cent year-on-year to Dh577.21, it said.

“The expansion of Etihad’s routes and uplift in passenger numbers through Abu Dhabi airport, buttressed by the development of leisure-orientated hotels on Saadiyat and elsewhere as well as the continuing expansion of leisure facilities there and on Yas Island is resulting in growth in the leisure sector,” said John Podaras, a partner at the hospitality consultancy Hotel Development Resources in Dubai.

In keeping with the tourism potential, the number of hotels is also rising.

The 400-room Marriott Hotel Al Forsan opened last month at the Al Forsan sports complex while the 315-room Pearl Rotana near the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is expected this quarter. It will be followed by the Saadiyat Rotana Resort and Villas comprising 327 rooms and 13 beach villas.

To promote the destination, the tourism agency will tour China next month and had also showcased the emirate at the trade fair ITB Berlin in Germany last month.

This month, the TCA Abu Dhabi will lead a delegation to the four-day Arabian Travel Market from April 24 in Dubai.

The Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, a division of TCA Abu Dhabi, will host a number of large conferences this year that are expected to boost the guest numbers.

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