Dubai hotels welcoming more guests this year

The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in Dubai has released figures showing that the emirate's hotels started off the year with an increase in occupancy figures.

From January to March this year, guest numbers at hotels in Dubai increased by five per cent on 2008, while the overall number of hotels increased by nine per cent.

Expansion in the emirate has created a year-on-year increase of 17 per cent in hotel room inventory and a 30 per cent rise in the number of guest apartments.

The growth that has been recorded this year continues the success that Dubai experienced in 2008, when guest numbers reached 7.5 million for the year, 8.3 per cent more than in 2007.

DTCM director general Khalid A bin Sulayem said: "The performance of Dubai hotel establishments in the first quarter of 2009, on the back of a strong 2008 performance, confirms the emirate's solid standing on the world tourism map despite the global economic downturn and our promotional and marketing agenda being on the right track."

The DTCM is currently working on strategies to boost the number of people visiting Dubai and the United Arab Emirates over the summer months.

Posted by Merv, 12 May 2009 14:52

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