Abu Dhabi hotels continue to draw more guests

ABU DHABI — Abu Dhabi witnessed a dramatic doubledigit increase in the number of hotel guests in August compared to the same period in 2016, helping push up the total number of guests staying in the capital to more than 3.1 million in the first eight months of 2017.

Figures released by the Department of Culture and Tourism revealed that 426,912 guests stayed at the emirate’s 166 hotels and hotel apartments in August, a rise of 13 per cent over the same month last year.

The number of hotel guests during the first eight months in 2017 has gone up by seven per cent, compared with the corresponding period in 2016, with the occupancy standing at 68 per cent. Saif Saeed Ghobash, director-general of the Department of Culture and Tourism, said: “We are encouraged by August’s figures and the increased growth during a month which is traditionally a quieter time in the year.”

“Our annual Abu Dhabi Summer Season, which ran from July 20 to August 20, once again proved highly popular with domestic visitors, and we saw key international markets all showing notable growth during the month due to the focussed promotional and marketing campaigns locally, regionally and internationally.” —