UK travellers are spending more time in Dubai and opting for more affordable accommodation, according to new statistics.
Figures from Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing for the first quarter of this year show the average length of stay of UK visitors in Dubai has risen by 20% for the first quarter of this year. UK visitors now spend an average of four and a half days in the emirate compared with less than four days for the same period last year. Guest nights for UK visitors are up by 14% for the first three months of this year.
Apartments and four-star accommodation have seen the most dramatic surge in guest nights, up 37% and 23% respectively. The length of stay in apartments has increased by 75%, with an average stay of more than 10 nights.
The figures suggest visitors are increasingly choosing value for money options when selecting accommodation in Dubai, despite five-star accommodation still accounting for 56% of all hotel stays.
DTCM director UK and Ireland Ian Scott said the increasing use of apartments could be attributed to their appeal to the family market because of the affordability and flexibility of this type of accommodation. He added: “We are confident visitor numbers will continue with this postiive start throughout the year. The rise in guests choosing value for money accommodation is understandable and show visitors are becoming increasingly aware of the range of options available to them in the emirate.”
So far this year the number of rooms in Dubai has increased 4% to 75,171. The emirate is set to open another 13,300 rooms this year.