The UK remains the top European market for Abu Dhabi with a 22% increase in arrivals to 158,925 in the first 10 months of the year.
The figures from the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority show that the destination attracted more than 2.8 million foreign visitors in the January to October period – up 25% – putting it on track to hit a 3.1 million target for the year.
Overall guest nights were up 20% on last year totalling 8.5 million with occupancy climbing 6% to 74%.
Hotel revenues in the first 10 months increased by 14 per cent to £845 million.
Acting TCA director general Jasim Al Darmaki said: “October performance helped significantly with this growth.
“During the month guest arrivals were up 18% year-on-year, guest nights rose 13% while revenues lifted 4% which should all be viewed against a background of 9% more room availability in the market.”
The TCA’s promotion efforts are to focus on increasing length of stay and building the average room rate which stood at £72 in October.
“The two are interconnected on a supply and demand basis. Length-of-stay is a key indicator of the destination’s appeal and currently we have slipped this year by 4% on last while our average room rate has dipped 3%. Our focus has to be to get the message out to as wide an audience as possible that there is more to do in this emirate than ever,” Darmaki said.