From/ Rami Sami..

ABU DHABI, September 26 / WAM / International hotels are set to benefit from the UAE’s booming growth and tourism recovery. The hotel occupancy rate in the country is one of the highest in the world.

In a statement to Emirates News Agency WAM on the sidelines of the Future Hospitality Summit 2023 in the capital Abu Dhabi, international hotel executives said the UAE has been a success thanks to the vision of smart leadership. Developing its tourism policy and infrastructure in line with best international practices, it becomes a sustainable destination for tourists from all over the world. Thanks to its top-class hotel facilities and various tourist and heritage attractions, its security and stability, its strategic location and its variety of activities, through which all It maintains its regional and global leadership as a top tourist destination that caters to all tastes.

The UAE government has launched national initiatives and strategies to support the development of the tourism sector, as it is a key contributor to the diversification of the national economy and a key contributor to the UAE’s competitiveness on the global tourism map. , increasing investments in several tourism sectors, creating new tourism and entertainment projects in various emirates, the state and the inauguration of new airports, which confirm the effectiveness of the sustainable tourism policies adopted by the emirates.

Officials pointed to the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which consolidates the country’s position as one of the world’s top tourist destinations, improves its competitiveness by attracting 100 billion UAE dirhams in additional tourism investments and doubles the number of tourists. 40 million, with an expected GDP of 450 billion dirhams. Total by 2031.

According to official data, the tourism sector in the country achieved strong results last year, especially hotel companies that received 25 million guests in 2022, a 30% increase over 2021 and increased the number of tourist nights to 91 million nights in 2022. 18% growth rate in 2021, and hotel company revenue will reach 38 billion dirhams in 2022, an increase of 35% compared to 2021, with an additional 1,198 hotel companies and hotel occupancy rate will reach 71%.

Makhram Al-Zeer, Rotana Hotel Management’s vice president of development, said the company is working to expand its presence in the UAE specifically and globally as part of its plans to expand into new global markets, including the United. The Kingdom, in addition to entering the market by opening two new hotels, is Georgian, which will open a new hotel in 2026.

In the past two years, Rotana has opened 3 hotels in the Emirates and is looking forward to opening a new hotel next year at Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, which will include 217 hotel apartments. Tourism growth and high hotel occupancy rates, which currently has 36 hotels in the UAE including 10,159 rooms, indicate that “Rotana” is expanding its portfolio of projects and the scope of its operations to 30 new ones. Over the next three years, approximately 5,800 additional rooms will be added to Rotana’s portfolio of hotels worldwide.

Makram indicated that he expects to open a new hotel in Al-Khobar in Saudi Arabia and a hotel in Manama in the Kingdom of Bahrain in the next year. A number of new projects are planned for 2024, including the opening of a new hotel in Dakar, Senegal, by 2026 and an entry into the Algerian market, while Rotana is preparing to open several new hotels in its final quarter. Year in Doha, Qatar and Istanbul, Turkey.

For his part, Siegfried Nerhus, Deutsche Hospitality’s Vice President for the Middle East, said the UAE has astute leadership, encouraging the tourism and hotel industry to grow and prosper, while providing a fertile environment for expansion and spread across the country’s emirates. Pointing to the UAE, it has become a global hub for the tourism, hospitality and entertainment industry. It has established itself as a preferred destination for business, tourism and leisure, contributing significantly to international tourist arrivals. Enjoy dynamic offers and unique attractions.

Nerhus added that the UAE embraces special tourism events such as the Future Hospitality Summit, which provide a great opportunity to understand emerging regional trends and guest preferences, interact with stakeholders and exchange ideas. Strategies to support the growth of the sector, and more investments to support growth and development.

He pointed to Deutsche Hospitality’s commitment to expanding and enriching its hotel portfolio in the country, as the possibility of expanding our German hospitality brand with international H Group hotels and expanding into the Middle East region is currently being considered. On the United Arab Emirates.

For his part, Eli Melki, vice president of development for the Middle East, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan at Radisson Hotel Group, said the group recently saw more expansion in the UAE with the opening of a hotel in Palm Jumeirah. In Dubai, the UAE in particular remains a key market for the group while the group is eyeing more expansion opportunities in the country.

Melki pointed out the importance of national policies and initiatives taken by the UAE to support the development of the tourism sector, making it an ideal destination for tourists from all over the world, reflecting the country’s commitment to sustainable tourism and its global leadership. In this sector, the UAE has made huge investments in tourism and hotel projects.