Hotels group sees increase in European visitors

TOURISM BOOST: The National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels has seen an increase in visitors to the UAE during the first three months of 2009.

A leading hotels group said it has seen a seven percent increase in the number of European tourists coming to the UAE during the first three months of 2009 compared on the same period in 2008.

The National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels (NCT&H), a key provider of hotel, catering and transportation services in the emirate, added it was also expecting a "vibrant business" during the spring and summer.

In a statement reported by news agency WAM, room occupancy in the past three months had beaten all expectations, said Rima Al Rawass, marketing manager, DANAT Hotels and Resorts, NCT&H.

She added that agreements struck with travel and tourism agencies in Germany, Switzerland and Britain during the company's participation at the International Tourism Bourse in Berlin promised to deliver a busy, brisk tourism season next summer driven by strong reservations by European and other foreign tourists.

The company owns and manages a group of hotels and resorts in the region including the Raha Beach Hotel, Abu Dhabi, Danat Jebel Dhana, Ruwais, Liwa Hotel, Liwa, Mirfa Hotel, Mirfa, Dhafra Hotel, Dhafra, Intercontinental Abu Dhabi and Intercontinental Al Ain.

She said that the NCT&H team had conducted more than 200 business-to business meetings during the ITB-Berlin with general managers of hotels, managers of marketing and sales, public relations, heads of travel and tourism agencies and CEOs of e-reservations companies.

She categorically ruled out any slowdown in tourism in Abu Dhabi, adding: "We expect overwhelming occupancy rate next year especially from holidaymakers from Germany, Switzerland, China, Singapore and Greece."

She said the company had signed an agreement with a French company for introduction of the Hotel Le Bristol Abu Dhabi in 2012.

"The AED600 million ultra deluxe hotel is scheduled to open in the capital Abu Dhabi in 2012 and will definitely set new standards in the Abu Dhabi luxury tourism sector," she added.

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