UAE emirate Dubai is continuing to maintain growth at a sustainable level as its hotel establishments welcomed more than 11 million guests in 2014, registering a 5.6 per cent increase on 2013’s total.

The emirate also showed steady year-on-year growth and significant increases across key indicators including hotel establishment revenues and guest nights, while also growing its portfolio of hotels and hotel apartment establishments.

Dubai’s top ten hotel guest source markets in 2014 remained almost entirely unchanged from 2013, with Saudi Arabia as the top source market, followed by India, UK, US, Iran, Oman, China, Kuwait, Russia and Germany.

China moved from 10th position to seventh, experiencing 24.9 per cent growth in the last 12 months with 344,329 hotel guests compared to 275,675 in 2013. This surge can be attributed to the growth in the number of Chinese travellers, who are increasingly looking to travel outside of China, and the combined efforts of Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and its partners within Dubai’s aviation and hospitality sectors to position Dubai as a destination of choice for such travellers.

India and the UK also showed significant increases in the number of hotel guests, rising 12.2 per cent and 11.3 per cent respectively.

Helal Saeed Almarri, director general of DTCM, said: “The 2014 figures demonstrate healthy year-on-year growth for hotel establishment guest numbers with significant increases from Asia, Africa and Western Europe. The strong growth in hotel guests from China is hugely positive and reflects our targeted work in this market. For example, in April 2014 tourism industry partners from across the emirate collaborated closely to host the largest ever delegate group from China with the NuSkin conference bringing more than 14,500 Chinese visitors to Dubai over a three week period. Such events, as well as our hosting of the largest ever tourism industry fam trip from India in December 2014 and steps taken to leverage the exemption of pre-entry visas for all European Union member states, are crucial to further strengthen ties with key markets and ensure that Dubai is positioned as a destination of choice for both new travellers and repeat visitors.”

“The overall 5.6 per cent increase in the number of hotel guests to the emirate occurred despite the decrease in the number of Russian visitors - a result of the current geopolitical situation and the decrease in the value of the Ruble. Due to the long-held strategy and collaborative commitment between DTCM and our partners to diversify our inbound markets, Dubai’s tourism industry is insulated from any short-term fluctuations within any one market, and in 2015 we will continue to work with our partners to increase market share from newer markets. Driven both by China’s share of global outbound travel and rising wealth and changing consumer habits in emerging markets, the global travel industry is poised for a period of sustained growth over the next decade.”

Moreover, Dubai’s hotels and hotel apartment establishments recorded an increase of 7.4 per cent in guest nights in 2014, welcoming 44.66 million guests compared 41.58m in 2013. The average length of stay also increased from 3.78 days to 3.84 days.

Revenues for hoteliers and hotel apartment operators saw significant growth, with total revenues reaching Dh23.9 billion ($6.5 billion), up 9.8 per cent from Dh21.8 billion in 2013. Room revenues increased by 12 per cent year-on-year and food and beverage and other revenues increased by 6.1 per cent year-on-year.

“Growth in revenue is notable, considering the 9.2 per cent increase in available rooms in Dubai during this period. At the start of 2014, the emirate’s portfolio consisted of 84,534 rooms across 611 properties; by the end of the year this had increased to 92,333 rooms across 657 properties. The figures indicate that our hospitality industry is in a healthy state and, most importantly, that the growth is sustainable,” Almarri said.

In the last year, new additions to the hotel industry included a number of properties across all star ratings including Sofitel Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and Residences Dubai, Hyatt Place Dubai Al Rigga, Pullman Jumeirah Lakes Towers and the Sheraton Grand Dubai. – TradeArabia News Service