India remains Abu Dhabi's top overseas source market in 2013

Over 1.5 lakh Indians checked into hotels in Abu Dhabi, making India the top overseas source market for the UAE's capital in 2013.
According to figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, 157,594 Indians checked into Abu Dhabi's hotels this year, a 26 per cent increase on 2012.
They spent 620,641 room nights - up by a quarter year-on-year, and stayed, on average, 3.94 nights, the TCA said in a statement.
Visitors from the United Kingdom spent 147,852 guest arrivals for the year to take second place with a 14 per cent increase as compared to last year.

Germany came in third place in the overseas guest rankings with 107,264 arrivals, a rise of 25 per cent.
Figures suggest that Abu Dhabi's hospitality industry has hit its 2013 "hotel guest target" a month early with a notable November performance taking total arrivals to date over the 2.5 million mark.

"This is great news which we were cautiously optimistic about, given that November was packed with events including the headline Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, the FIFA Under 17's World Cup and Abu Dhabi Art," said Jasem Al Darmaki, Deputy Director-General, TCA Abu Dhabi.
November's performance means that in the first nine months of this year, some 2,530,810 guests have stayed in Abu Dhabi's accommodation - which is a rise of 17 per cent on the same period last year.

Year-to-date, guest nights jumped 26 per cent to over 7.9 million and average-length-of-stay has edged up 8 per cent to 3.14 nights. Occupancy rate for the year to date is 70 per cent - up 9 per cent on 2012.
Total hotel revenues for the year to date is close to USD 1.4 billion - up 11 per cent on 2012, with Food and Beverage income representing close to USD 517.2 million, which has climbed 19 per cent. Average room rate is now running at USD 122 - which is a slight dip of 1 per cent on the year.