Chinese and Indian arrivals boost Abu Dhabi tourism

Having aimed to attract two million tourists in 2011, Abu Dhabi has seen its best year on record for hotel bookings, with 2,111,611 people checking into its hotels last year.

The oil rich capital of the United Arab Emirates saw guest nights rise by 22% on the year-earlier period while occupancy levels rose 7%, according to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).

Hotel revenue jumped to AED4.4 billion, bolstered by a 30% rise in visitors from India and a 15% surge in tourists from China.

ADTA Chairman Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan explained "this is a highly encouraging result (which) leaves us well placed to build for 2012 for which we had initially targeted 2.3 million (visitors) but, in conjunction with stakeholders, we will now reassess to see if this too, can be stretched."

ADTA data showed regional tourism accounted for 39% of arrivals in 2011. India is now the Gulf emirate's second-largest international source market after 108,170 guests visited Abu Dhabi in 2011.

Travellers from Europe made up 18% of tourism into the city, while Britain remains Abu Dhabi's biggest international source market accounting for 139,319 of all hotel nights.

Abu Dhabi has invested billions to bolster its tourism market, unveiling attractions such as Ferrari World and the Yas Marina Circuit, home to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Ferrari World, which is owned by the Government and operated by leisure group Aldar Properties, is billed as the world's largest indoor theme park.

While adjustments to its operating hours led to a number of staff reducancies at the end of last year, Aldar Theme Parks and Business Development General Manager Glenn Davidson told Gulf News "we have been very pleased with visitor attendance to the Park during our first year of operation (welcoming) several hundred thousand visitors from across the UAE, the wider Gulf and Middle East region and other international markets.

"Our first summer was a busy one which is very encouraging for a mass tourist attraction in this part of the world."

(Further news on Ferrari World's operations will be published tomorrow).

Abu Dhabi is also developing a range of other attractions including the Yas Island Water Park, Adventure World Abu Dhabi, and three world-class museums in the Saadiyat cultural districts; the Guggenheim, the Louvre and the Zayed National Museum. 

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