ArabianBusiness.com - Middle East Business News
Tuesday, 24 November 2009 14:40 UAE time

YOUR DIRECTORY /

| Share |

Abu Dhabi cuts tourism targets amid global crisis

by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  on Tuesday, 26 May 2009
TOURISM SLOWDOWN: Growth in the UAE capital's tourism industry is forecast to remain stagnant this year. (Getty Images)

Tourism targets for the number of visitors coming to Abu Dhabi have been cut by the government in acknowledgement of the global crisis, it was reported on Tuesday.

The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) had said it was looking to attract 2.7 million visitors to the capital by 2012, but that figure has now been revised to 2.3 million, according to ADTA chairman Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon.

The increase still amounted to a 50 percent growth on current figures, which stood at 1.5 million last year, he said, adding that tourism was still a key component in teh capital's diversification plans.  


Story continues below
advertisement

“We have reviewed our forecasts in light of the current economic climate and will continue to do so,” Sheikh Sultan said during his opening speech at the MegaTrends conference in Abu Dhabi on Monday, according to UAE daily The National.

Sheikh Sultan's comments come just weeks after the ADTA revealed that it had seen a drop off in tourist numbers from Europe and developed markets this year - but no figures were issued.  

At the time Dayne Lim Kok Chun, products development division director at ADTA, said the data would not affect the 2.7million target for 2012.

On Monday Sheikh Sultan told delegates that he expected to see a similar number of visitors come to Abu Dhabi this year as last year, followed by a 10 percent growth in hotel guest arrivals next year.

By 2011 growth should have returned to an average of 15 percent year on year – the same growth that was enjoyed between 2004 and 2008 – he added.

“We are fortunate in that our forecasts were made on a very conservative basis,” said Sheikh Sultan. “We do not want to over promise and under deliver.”

| Share |


READERS' COMMENTS

Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.

Click here to post a comment


Add your Comment
All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *
(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments


Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.


MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM

SHARE PRICE CHECK

RELATED LINKS

  1. Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority»

 EMAIL ALERTS

  1. Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority

  2. Travel & Hospitality


Tell us your story

READER COMMENTS

  1. Why I h8 junk txts 12
    24 Nov ' 09 at 12:46
    Trick them!Posted by Manish, Dubai - WHAT AN EXCELLENT IDEA - WHY NOT GIVE SOMEONES NUMBER IN ONE OF THE TELECOM'S DUOPOLYSURE WHEN...   More  »
  2. 'Worrying' diabetes tests raise doubt on UAE's health 06
    24 Nov ' 09 at 13:42
    Obesity is on rise in every part of the world but especially in Gulf region especially due to life style changes.We all need to...   More  »
  3. Dubai developers see negative press reports decline 05
    24 Nov ' 09 at 07:48
    How much can one read/write abt one particular event. That’s the only reason the negative writing has gone down no one is interested...   More  »

Read all user comments >

Gitex 2009

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM