Revealed: UAE tourism sector’s performance in Q1 2022

Underlining its competitiveness at both regional and global levels, the UAE’s tourism sector has achieved a new growth milestone in Q1 2022, according to the state news agency, WAM.

Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, minister of state for entrepreneurship, SMEs and chairman of the UAE Tourism Council, revealed that the sector exceeded the growth rates recorded not only in 2020 and 2021, but also during the same period in 2019, which is the benchmark for measuring recovery and growth rates in most countries today.

“It is one of the best years in terms of economic growth in general and tourism in particular, and this confirms the strong comeback of the sector thanks to the forward-looking vision of the UAE’s wise leadership,” he added.

According to tourism figures for Q1 2022, the country’s hotel establishments attracted nearly six million visitors who spent 25 million hotel nights, reflecting a growth of 10 per cent compared 2019. The average duration of hotel guest stays reached 25 per cent during the same period, up from three nights to four nights. Moreover, the occupancy rate of hotel establishments in the country during this period achieved 80 per cent growth, which is one of the highest globally.

Read: Dubai welcomes 3.97 million overnight visitors in Q1 2022

Furthermore, Q1 2022 saw a resurgence and comeback of inward tourism flows from foreign markets, as hotel establishments in various emirates hosted nearly four million international tourists. India, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Russia, and the US topped the list of international tourists.

Hotel establishments also generated a total revenue of Dhs11bn with a 20 per cent growth compared to the same period in 2019 and resumed operations at full capacity of approximately 200,000 hotel rooms.

Al Falasi noted the role of events such as Expo 2020 Dubai and second edition of the “World’s Coolest Winter” campaign which attracted more than 24 million visitors and 1.3 million local tourists respectively.

He also applauded the efforts of authorities, local tourism departments, and the strong partnership with the tourism private sector in the country, which was vital in achieving these positive results.

India, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Russia, and the US topped the list of international tourists.