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Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has set a target of 1.68 million hotel guest arrivals for 2008 in Abu Dhabi, an almost 16 per cent increase over the guest arrivals in 2007, a senior official said on Monday.
Sameer Bagaber, ADTA's strategy and policy planning manager, told Gulf News that the total hotel guest arrivals in the emirate last year stood at 1.45 million, exceeding the target for the year.
"We have the availability of close to 12,000 hotel rooms at the moment. All the hotels are running to capacity," said Bagaber.
Bagaber said a substantial increase in the number of hotel rooms is expected by late next year, which will help accommodate more visitors. The ADTA had previously said it is targeting only the niche market of the global tourism industry.
Participation
Meanwhile, ADTA director-general Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi said the ADTA and its partners will showcase their upcoming projects at the Arabian Travel Market 2008.
The ADTA's 41 partners include Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Abu Dhabi National Hotels Company, Aldar Properties, Danat Hotels and Resorts, Emirates Palace, Tourism Development Investment Company, Royal Jet, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, and Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company.
The other partners comprise hotels, hotel apartments, tour operators and travel agencies.
The ADTA has projected 2.7 million hotel guest arrivals annually by the end of 2012, 12.5 per cent more than initially envisaged.
The hotel room capacity for the emirate is also expected to rise to at least 25,000 rooms by the same year.
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