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Abu Dhabi to have 10 new hotels by 2010

ABU DHABI — Abu Dhabi will build over ten hotels by 2010 to cater for the growing inflow of tourists, a senior tourism official has disclosed.

”Abu Dhabi is set to make a giant leap in the sectors of tourism, resort and leisure. We are planning to build more than ten hotels by 2010 to meet the growing inflow of three million holidaymakers by that time, said Abdullah Khalfan

Al Rumaithi, Managing Director of National Tourism and Hotels Authority.

He told the Wam that the authority, 40 per cent owned by Abu Dhabi government, would launch within the next two weeks, an expansion project on the Abu Dhabi Intercontinental Hotel, one of the emirate’s key resorts.

”The Dh100 million project, expected to be completed by the end of 2006, will add 50 rooms to take the total room capacity to 380,” he said, noting that Abu Dhabi is in need of over 7,000 hotel rooms to meet growing demand.

The project also involved construction of seven halls equipped with ultra-modern technology for the purpose of conferences and meetings.

”The halls, to be named after the seven emirates, will be opened in September,” he added.

On the hotel performance, he said it had achieved over 90 per cent occupancy during the first four months of the year, making it the highest rate in 25 years.

He expected occupancy rate in the emirate’s hotels to hit a record level of 75 per cent by year-end. ”Extensive road shows by the authority at regional and international markets and the launch of etihad airways were behind the excellent performance of the sector,” he remarked.

”Over the next five years, we will acquire 15 hotels in Abu Dhabi and we will be a key investor when the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority offers lands for building hotels and resorts,” he added.

According to Noel Masoud, General Manager, Abu Dhabi Intercontinental

Hotel, Abu Dhabi has become a major tourist destination in recent years.

''Year after year, we witness a good turnout of European tourists, mainly from Germany, Switzerland and Britain,’ he said.

To Masoud, the most important decision ever taken by the government of Abu Dhabi in support of tourism was the creation of the Etihad Airways.

''Indications are that the number of tourists coming to Abu Dhabi has increased significantly since etihad has started linking more and more tourist exporting countries in Europe and Asia to the emirate. this is a positive trend,’ he noted.

He expected yet more tourists as Etihad was increasingly extending its network of routes.

''As soon as Etihad starts flying to 50 cities around the world by 2008, the number of hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi will have to be more than doubled,’ he suggested.