Abu Dhabi recorded a remarkable 30 percent increase in the number of hotel guest arrivals this June, compared to the same month in 2016, boosted by an exceptional Eid Al Fitr period, which saw many premium hotels fully booked.

In the first six months of 2017, the emirate welcomed more than 2.25 million guests to its 165 hotels and hotel apartments, an increase of 7 percent over the first half of last year.

Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, TCA Abu Dhabi, said: "I am pleased to say that we are on track to achieve our forecast guest arrivals growth for the year, and we are well placed to maximise these opportunities as we head into the second half of 2017.

"Eid Al Fitr has been a springboard for these figures as Abu Dhabi welcomed record-breaking numbers of visitors, with many of our leading hotels achieving near full occupancy with tourists from across the world choosing Abu Dhabi as the place to spend their holiday. Abu Dhabi Summer Season is also now well underway and we expect the remaining series of theatre, music and entertainment shows along with significant promotions in our retail and hospitality sectors to have a positive effect on demand well into August."

Each of TCA Abu Dhabi’s six 'tier one' markets recorded impressive performances, with guests from Saudi Arabia more than doubling in June. China’s surge as the largest overseas source market has continued, posting a 78.5 percent month-on-month increase, with year-to-date (YTD) guest arrivals up 55 percent to 185,000, thanks to TCA Abu Dhabi’s sustained promotional activities complemented by an expansion of air access.

India and the United Kingdom maintain second and third spots, with YTD growth of 8 percent and 2 percent respectively, with the United States regaining ground after a period of stability, posting double-digit growth for the month, pushing YTD growth to 5 percent.

Domestic tourism grew by 28 percent, with the 100,087 guests representing 32 percent of all hotel occupants for the month.

Abu Dhabi’s global destination awareness campaign launched at the end of 2016 is helping to bolster inbound tourism numbers this year, while looking forward, the emirate is likely to benefit from being named the second-best city in the world to live, work and do business in.

The city overtook both London and Paris from an overall list of sixty cities in the latest Ipsos City Index. In April, Abu Dhabi was also voted the safest city in the world, according to online crime index, Numbeo.com.

"With the ongoing rise of tourism in Abu Dhabi we are confident that the emirate’s international reputation will grow from strength to strength as more overseas visitors experience what the emirate has to offer. As we showcase the depth of Abu Dhabi’s cultural heritage sites, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Al Ain, and the forthcoming opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi, we are confident that our position on the map of leading cities will continue to be cemented," Ghobash added.

In 2016, Abu Dhabi saw a record 4.4 million hotel guest arrivals and is expected to attain or better this figure during the current year.

Source: Wam