18 March 2008
The ProLeads database, which monitors construction contracts across the Gulf, identifies more than 100 individual projects worth USD 70 billion in hotels and related leisure and tourism facilities under construction or committed in the UAE. The survey identifies Dubai, in particular, as the star performer, with the region’s highest hotel room occupancy rate (84.2 per cent), the highest average room rate (USD 282) and the highest revenue per available room (USD 237).
“We know the Middle East is a fast-developing hotel and tourism market but survey after survey reveals that the UAE hospitality sector is growing on a grand scale, unmatched elsewhere in the world,” said Maggie Moore, exhibition director of The Hotel Show 2008. The premier hotel supplies exhibition takes place at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre from June 8-10.
The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is also optimistic about tourism in the Middle East. “UNWTO identifies the Middle East as the tourism success story of the decade with the region emerging as a strong destination and visitor numbers climbing much faster than the world total,” said Moore as reported by Arabian Business online.