The overall occupancy rate in Dubai’s hotels increased to 86.6 per cent in October, which is 5.6 per cent higher than it was in October 2011, said an expert.

“In addition, the rooms yield (RevPAR) increased by 12 per cent year-to-date, with average room rate increasing by 8.7 per cent year-to-date,” said Yousef Wahbeh, Mena head of Transaction Real Estate at Ernst & Young, a global professional services organisation, commenting on the company’s recently released Middle East Hotel Benchmark Survey - October 2012.

The overall occupancy rate in Dubai was at 79 per cent year-to-date, the report said.

“Compared to October 2011, rooms yield (RevPAR) increased by 17.3 per cent and average room rate increased by 9.7 per cent in October 2012. This clearly portrays Dubai’s increasingly stable and growing tourism industry in light of the winter season, Wahbeh said.

“These numbers also show that the Emirate is not only a key destination for tourists, but also a major business hub in the region,’ he added.

“In regard to the wider Mena region, we saw notable changes in the city of Amman, where overall occupancy rates increased by 18 per cent year-to-date. This significant increase can be attributed to increased political stability, with tourists viewing the city as a safer travel destination. The rooms yield in Amman is 13.1 per cent higher than it was in October 2011, with the average room rate 3.2 per cent higher than it was in October 2011.”

“We also saw strong changes throughout Egypt. Cities that saw increases in their overall occupancy rates were Cairo, by 7 per cent year-to-date, Sharm El Shaikh, by 12 per cent year-to-date, and Hurghada, by 8 per cent year-to-date,” observed Wahbeh.

“In terms of monthly performance, Cairo’s occupancy rate is 11.1 per cent higher than it was in October 2011, with Sharm El Shaikh increasing by 6 per cent and Hurghada by 5 per cent.

“Additionally, Saudi Arabia saw prominent increases in occupancy rates, with Madina increasing by 3.0 per cent year-to-date, and Makkah increasing by 5.0 per cent year-to-date. Compared to October 2011, the occupancy rate of Makkah increased significantly by 30.0 per cent in October 2012. This is accredited to the Hajj season, with Muslims travelling from all over the world to Makkah,” he added.

“The cooler months in the UAE and increased political stability in the region are setting up for a prosperous winter season. Thus far, the peak season is off to a strong start, and we predict this to continue throughout the coming months.”

“The cooler months in the UAE and increased political stability in the region are setting up for a prosperous winter season. Thus far, the peak season is off to a strong start, and we predict this to continue throughout the coming months,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service