Abu Dhabi’s hospitality industry witnesses growth
Guest Writers are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the specific writer directly
Abu Dhabi’s hospitality industry got off to a positive 2013 start with figures just released by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi). 
As per statistics, January witnessed 203,925 guests in the emirate’s 137 hotels and hotel apartments – a 3% rise on the same month in 2012. The guests accounted for 680,737 guest nights – which was an increase of 19% on comparative month accounting for AED427m (US$116.3mn) in revenues.
Hotel occupancy in January increased by 5% to 70% with average-length-of-stay expanding by 16% to 3.34 nights.
“We are moving in the right direction with average length of stay having crossed our targeted three nights mark,” said HE Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, TCA Abu Dhabi.
“The impending opening of major new hotels and resorts and planned new air services from USA, Hong Kong, Netherlands and Brazil, we are confident we can further expand length-of-stay average,” he further added.
The month also saw India overtake UK for the first time as the destination’s premier hotel guest source market. In January 12,623 Indian nationals stayed in the emirate’s hotels and hotel apartments – a 16% rise on the same month last year pushing the UK into second place in terms of guest generation. The Indian guests accounted for 57,327 guest nights – a 53% rise on January 2012 – and racked up one of the longest length-of-stays at 4.54 nights.
India remains in Abu Dhabi’s focus with TCA Abu Dhabi planning to host major trade events such as a five-city road show taking place in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.
