Around 1.81 million stayed in Abu Dhabi’s 114 hotels and hotel apartments, marking an 18 per cent increase on 2009, while with guest nights rose to 5.13 million – a 19 per cent rise over 2009.

Abu Dhabi last year beat its hotel guest target by 8 per cent with figures released by showing some 1.81 million stayed in the emirate’s 114 hotels and hotel apartments –an 18 per cent increase on 2009 -  with guest nights rising to 5.13 million – a 19 per cent rise on 2009.

The figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) represent an increase of 8 per cent in the Emirate’s hotel guest target, a statement said.

ADTA is crediting the improved performance to substantial expansion of the destination’s product base, which also encouraged a rise in the average length of stay to 2.83 nights.

“The introduction of exciting leisure products, such as Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, new golf courses, the Yas Island Show Weekends, the ongoing maturity of the emirate’s international events calendar and the launch of new MICE events, such as World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi, helped ensure a very successful final quarter and the destination’s best hotel guest performance yet,” said Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general, ADTA.

“Much is also due to the solid, highly active and more uniformed approach to marketing on behalf of our growing stakeholder base which is fully behind our vision of delivering an outstanding, globally recognised, sustainable tourism destination, while enriching the lives of the Abu Dhabi community and visitors alike.”

“The authority itself stepped up its destination marketing in 2010 with increased media engagement, the roll out of our international advertising campaign, participation in 20 international trade fairs and the opening of a dedicated promotional office in down-town Beijing,” Al Muhairi continued.

“Of course performance has also been aided by more attractive rate structures, which have increased competitiveness and the market has responded accordingly. By any measure, being able to achieve double-digit growth in what remains a challenging international scenario is a significant feat.”

Domestic tourism, once again, proved a considerable boon. UAE guests accounted for over 40 per cent of the market generated - 752,777 hotel guests, up 16 per cent on 2009, while there was also continued growth from the GCC with a 26 per cent rise in guests from Saudi Arabia, 35 per cent from Oman and 28 per cent from Kuwait.

On the international front, Abu Dhabi’s main growth markets were: the UK which delivered 117,836 guests, up 22 per cent from 2009, the US, which delivered 78,985, up 16 per cent; France, which produced 36,980, up 6 per cent year-on-year; Australia, up 18 per cent to 25,833 and China, which entered Abu Dhabi’s Top 20 market rankings coming in at number 19 with 14,580 – a 29 per cent rise on 2009.

“While our traditional source markets continue to perform well, emerging markets are increasingly making their presence felt,” added Al Muhairi.

Despite the hotel guest increase, revenue remained static at Dh4.2 billion (US $1.15 billion) with rates becoming more competitive in a market which saw occupancies fall 10 per cent year-on-year, the statement said.

ADTA’s 2011 tourism agenda is currently aimed at delivering 1.9 million guests staying in around 22,000 hotel rooms and contributing 11.1 per cent to the emirate’s overall non-oil GDP.

Al Muhairi said that given the stellar 2010 performance, there could be a case for revising 2011 targets upwards.

“This is certainly something we will be considering over the coming weeks, in close collaboration, as always, with our valued stakeholders. We should consider raising the bar as we aspire to greater things and look to inspire all players within the destination’s development,” Al Muhairi said.

“We are well placed to build on our maturing performance and to solidify gains with even more destination product, promotion and major events,” he added.

“We have several highlights to look forward to, not least the end-of-year hosting of the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race when the city will be activated to welcome visitors to a New Year’s celebration like no other. We are also gearing up for the arrival, this October, of the luxury liner MSC Lirica which will home port in Abu Dhabi during its 19 Gulf sailings from the UAE capital,” Al Muhairi concluded. – TradeArabia News Service