Abu Dhabi saw a footfall of more than 10 million international visitors in 2018, with the United Kingdom remaining the largest European source market, registering a 6% rise from 2017 figures to more than 277,000.
The UAE capital has witnessed an increase in hotel guests of 13.62% since the beginning of 2016. Figures released by the Department of Culture and Tourism ? Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) have shown more than 10 million visitors came to experience the UAE capital last year, made up of both day-trippers and overnight guests, with these hotel guests increasing by 3.94% compared to 2017 at one of the emirate?s 168 hotels or hotel apartments.
The key markets of India, the US and China have all posted double-digit growth for hotel guests in 2018, underpinning the impressive surge in visitor numbers to the emirate. India and China remain the two top markets for overseas visitors, with the UK - the top European source market ? rounding out the top three markets for overseas visitors.
HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: ?We are incredibly pleased to see these positive metrics, as year on year we have exceeded the already ambitious targets set for Abu Dhabi?s growth.
?The Department of Culture and Tourism ? Abu Dhabi has made extraordinary strides since its very inception, and a snapshot of the last three years gives an even clearer indication of the strength of the emirate?s growth and standing on the global stage. We are now firmly established as a world-class cultural destination. The soaring visitor figures we have seen are evidence of the increase in global appeal of our emirate.?
An increase of 27.82% in cruise passengers to Abu Dhabi was also observed; 279,704 cruise passengers visited Abu Dhabi in 2016, compared with 354,015 in 2018. Also, during this time from 2016-18, some 963,257 cruise ship passengers disembarked at Abu Dhabi.
