Abu Dhabi hotel guest arrivals up 7%

Abu Dhabi welcomed 1.6 million guest arrivals during the first four months of 2017.

Abu Dhabi has recorded a seven per cent growth in hotel guest arrivals during the first four months of the year, compared to the same period in 2016.

New figures from the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) showed that the capital welcomed 1.6 million guest arrivals during the period. As a single month, April has continued to build on the strong performance of the opening quarter of the year, posting a year-on-year increase of 15 per cent in hotel guest arrivals.

Saif Saeed Ghobash, director-general of TCA Abu Dhabi, said: "Efforts to stimulate interest in our destination continue unabated and we are encouraged by our latest hotel guest arrival results which continue to show strong progress. As we expand our year-round programme of events and develop new cultural and family attractions, we expect even greater traction in enticing more people to explore the emirate."

Each of the six international tier-one markets of China, India, UK, US, Germany and Saudi Arabia showed growth. Domestic hotel guest numbers in April also recorded a growth, numbering 130,000, with each of the emirate's three districts - Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra regions - all experiencing an upturn in arrivals.

Adding to Abu Dhabi's growing international appeal is the recent accolade for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which was ranked by travellers as the world's second favourite landmark for the second year in a row by travel planning and booking website TripAdvisor. Last year, the mosque's total number of visitors reached 5.2 million. As far as April is concerned, China maintained its position as the largest overseas source market with 131,253 hotel guest arrivals, followed by India with 104,436 and the UK with 86,529. The surge from China reflects the recent relaxation of entry visa rules, with Chinese visitors now given visas on arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport or other points of entry into the UAE.

- rohma@khaleejtimes.com