British tourists are spending up to 20 percent longer in Dubai and are opting to stay in more affordable accommodation, according to data from the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).
The emirate, which welcomes an estimated 1m British visitors each year, said Britons spent an average of four and a half days in the city in the first three months of 2012 compared to less than four days for the same period in 2011.
The average length of time spent in hotel apartments increased 37 percent while tourists staying in four-star accommodation rose 23 percent. The length of stay in apartments increased 75 percent with an average stay of more than ten nights.
“We are confident visitor numbers will continue with this positive start throughout the year. The rise in guests choosing value for money accommodation is understandable and show visitors are becoming increasingly aware of the range of options available to them in the emirate,” Ian Scott, DTCM director for UK and Ireland, told website Travel Weekly.
Dubai, which was hit hard by the global economic downturn in 2009, has benefited from an economic revival amid its safe-haven status following the Arab Spring uprisings.
The number of tourists visiting the emirate increased ten percent to 9.3m in 2011, according to official figures. Revenues from hospitality rose 20 percent to touch AED16bn (US$4.36bn) while the number of guest nights rose 23 percent to more than 33m.
Several international hotel brands are expected to open new properties this year. Sofitel will open a new hotel on the Palm Jumeirah at the end of this year and a property near the Burj Khalifa next year while Fairmont will open its Palm Jumeirah property in September.
US-based Starwood Hotels & Resorts last month signed an agreement with Dubai’s Al Habtoor Group to open three of its hotels – St Regis, W Dubai and The Westin Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road – at new US$1.3bn resort in Dubai.
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