Abu Dhabi tourism revenues soar to $111 million

Tourism revenues in Abu Dhabi surged to $111 million in October as a result of the city’s efforts to attract two million visitors by 2011, tourism chiefs said on Wednesday.

Tourism revenues in Abu Dhabi surged to $111 million in October as a result of the city’s efforts to attract two million visitors by 2011, tourism chiefs said on Wednesday.

The city received 182.553 visitors in October registering an increase of 21% compared to the same period last year.

Occupancy rates have increased by 7% while overnight guest rose by 17%. In the first 10 months of this year, Abu Dhabi received over a million and half visitors recording an increase of 15%.

“The signs are good for achieving our 2011 stretch target with expected good figures for November resulting from the staging of the third Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and with an end-of-year influx anticipated as guests arrive for the New Year’s hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet.” Lawrence Franklin, strategy and policy director, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority was quoted as saying.

Food & beverage sectors helped boost the city’s tourism revenues to $111 million, however, this number could have been better because average room rates and Rev PAR declined 11% to $133 and 5% to $102.70 respectively.

Other numbers exhibit an increase of occupancy rate by 9% to reach 68% as well as an increase of length of stay which stretched to 2.99 nights.

59% of those arriving at Abu Dhabi are coming from neighboring GCC countries that have recently started to see Abu Dhabi as an attractive tourism destination. Visitor numbers from the UK and Germany continue to grow as Abu Dhabi received over 13 thousand Britons and 6,670 German guests up 13% and 38% respectively. “We are also anticipating increased business over the coming months emerging from our recently-launched Golf In Abu Dhabi initiative which has already created significant interest from international golf tour operators,” added Franklin.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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