UAE: Abu Dhabi welcomes 24 million visitors by 2023, sets new goal

 

New performance goals have been published for Abu Dhabi by the Department of Culture and Tourism, according to ANI. By the end of 2023, they aim to bring over 24 million tourists to the emirate under this new target.

Notably, this goal was revealed right before the 2023 Arabian Travel Market, which is set to take place from May 1 to 4. The beginning of a "ambitious new chapter for the emirate's tourism sector," according to Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary at the Department of Culture and tourist Abu Dhabi.

The eagerness for these new goals follows the boom in Abu Dhabi's tourism industry in 2022, which is already showing signs of recovery from hotel occupancy rates and other measures.

According to ANI estimates, Abu Dhabi has welcomed 18 million visitors overall, an increase of 13% over the previous year. In contrast, the hotel occupancy rate has risen to 70%, above the Middle East average of 67%.

The Emirates have been hospitable to tourists from all over the world. However, India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have brought in the most foreign visitors. According to Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary at DCT Abu Dhabi, "Our ambitious goal to welcome more than 24 million visitors by the end of 2023 builds on healthy growth over the past year."

He continued, "This encouraging performance was enabled through powerful collaborations and the delivery of unforgettable travel and business experiences throughout the entire year, supported by an integrated ecosystem of best-in-class services, infrastructure, and impactful marketing."

Additionally, he claimed that Abu Dhabi has been showcasing the value of partnerships across the tourism industry and the fact that they can all succeed together.