UK visitors to Abu Dhabi up 5% in September

UK visitors to Abu Dhabi rose by 5% in September as the emirate remains on track to beat last year’s total of 4.4 million hotel guests.

India remained the largest international source market with more than 33,000 hotel guests during the month, followed by China and the UK.

Total numbers rose by 5% year-on-year in September with 415,985 domestic and international visitors checking in to one of the emirate’s 163 hotels or apartments.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism is forecasting a strong end to the year helped by global interest being shown in the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island on November 11.

The start of the 2017/18 cruise season at the end of October is also expected to have a positive impact on visitor and hotel guest arrivals into the emirate during the last quarter of the year with passenger numbers expected to rise 5% from last winter’s total of 346,000 passengers.

Culture and tourism director general Saif Saeed Ghobash said: “Globally, we have invested heavily in marketing Abu Dhabi as a destination of distinction, the perfect place to visit and explore, with an emphasis on an emirate steeped in history, culture and heritage.

“Our strategy is to highlight that Abu Dhabi has a wealth of natural and man-made attractions across all regions to entertain and excite the whole family while providing luxurious yet affordable choices of accommodation.”