Abu Dhabi is on track to meet its target of 2.3 million hotel guests this year, after recording a sharp jump in people staying in the U.A.E. capital's hotels and hotel apartments, the country's official WAM news agency reports Monday.
Hotel guests reached about 1.74 million in the first nine months of the year, up 15% on year, WAM said, citing numbers released by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, or TCA Abu Dhabi.The hotel guest tally has translated into almost 5 million hotel guest nights, an increase of 10% on the first nine months of 2011, WAM reported."This is an encouraging performance given that the same comparative period has seen a significant increase in hotel and resort inventory," Mubarak Al Muhairi, TCA Abu Dhabi's director general, said."We are well placed to achieve our yearly target of 2.3 million hotel guests, particularly as we have a busy Q4 ahead with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi Art, the Mubadala World Tennis Championships and the opening of the Yas Waterworld still to look forward to," Mr. Muhairi added.The strongest growth in guests came from Asia, the GCC and the Europe during the nine-month period. WAM said, noting the UK remains the destination’s prime source market accounting for 99,189 guests, up 1% on year. Some 98,246 Indians stayed in the emirate’s accommodation, up 31% from the year before period, it added.
