According to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), the number of guests staying in hotels and apartments in the capital of the emirate in January 2011 reached 154 thousand. This means a 5% increase compared with January 2010 statistics.
In addition, the average length of stay of tourists and traveling businessmen in Abu Dhabi hotels has increased from 2.68 nights in January last year to 3.1 nights this year. However, due to the increase in the number of Abu Dhabi hotel rooms in 2010, the average occupancy rates for hotels in the emirate decreased by 26%, and the income from the hotel business in Abu Dhabi - by 8%. At the same time, revenues of the restaurant sector grew by 5%.
According to experts, at the moment most of the guests visit Abu Dhabi for business purposes. Nevertheless, new data on the length of stay in emirate hotels give reason to expect a more intensive influx of holidaymakers in Abu Dhabi in 2011. Promising data for the beginning of the year are related, inter alia, to the HSBC Golf Championship held in Abu Dhabi in January. Weekly music shows on Yas Island also play an important role in attracting tourists to Abu Dhabi. This allows us to hope that the emirate's entertainment industry will continue to contribute to the growth of tourist interest in Abu Dhabi.
