(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The UAE capital's hotels are witnessing a double- digit revenue growth in occupancy rates
According to the figures just released by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), a large number of guests have checked into Abu Dhabi's 146 hotels and hotel apartments in the first seven months of this year compared to any other comparative period.
The figures show that from January to July end, the guest arrivals topped the 1.5 million mark €" which is a 10% increase on the same period last year.
Year-to-date hotel revenues have risen by 16 per cent to almost Dh3 billion (US $81.5 million) with food & beverage accounting for Dh1.17 billion (US $32 million).
"These results make encouraging reading when viewed against the fact that hotel inventory in the emirate has grown from 137 properties and 23,613 rooms in 2012 to 146 offering 25,300 rooms this year," said Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, of TCA Abu Dhabi.
"And with a final quarter ahead of us which is packed with major events including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi Art, the Seatrade Middle East Forum and the Al Ain Aerobatic Show, the best results of the year are yet to come."
The year-to-date figures show the building of an annual momentum. This is in spite of a lacklustre July performance which saw a slip in the hotel guest arrivals in Abu Dhabi by 4 per cent on July 2012 to 170,887. An occupancy dip by 2 per cent to 54 per cent was also witnessed.
"Though we received fewer guests in July 2013 as compared to July 2012, as anticipated with the onset of Ramadan, the ones who did check into Abu Dhabi happened to stay longer. This is a good sign that we are providing additional attractions to encourage expanded length-of-stay," said Al Muhairi.
"Interestingly Al Gharbia €" our Western Region €" was the exception to the July trend. It increased the guest arrivals by 3 per cent to 4,986 with guest nights moving up by 22 per cent to 21,759 and an average-length-of-stay up by 19 per cent to 4.36. This could be due to the fact that accommodation in Al Gharbia is largely resort-oriented with significant uptake from the international market for resorts in the Liwa Desert and on Sir Bani Yas Island," explained Al Muhairi.
India is now Abu Dhabi's top overseas source market for hotel guests with some 92,529 Indians checking into the emirate's accommodation this year €" which is a 21 percent increase since last year. These guests delivered 382,913 guest nights which is also a 37 per cent lift on last year with an average-length-of-stay of 4.14 nights €" an increase of 13 per cent.
The UK is now the second largest overseas source market. So far this year some 86,284 Britons have stayed in the emirate's hotels. This figure shows a climb of 8 per cent on 2012 figures. They delivered 406,475 guest nights which is a formidable raise by a fifth on last years figures with the Britons staying, for 4.71 nights on an average €" an 11 per cent increase on 2012.
Germany ranks third in the overseas source market rankings with 67,968 Germans checking into Abu Dhabi's hotels €" a 25 percent increase on last year, delivering 322,128 guest nights, up by a third, with an average length of stay of 4.74 nights a 7% increase as compared to the figures obtained in 2012.
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