Abu Dhabi’s 153 hotels and hotel apartments continue their upward momentum in attracting increasing guest numbers with figures, just released by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) showing some 304,637 people checked into the emirate’s accommodation during April – a 29% rise on the same month last year.

Guest nights rose 26% to 933,809 with occupancy levels lifting 10% to 79% and revenues climbing 23% to Dhs577 million (US $157 million).

“Our immediate challenge is to address the average-length-of-stay which dipped in April by 2% to 3.07 nights,” said HE Jasem Al Darmaki, Deputy Director General, TCA Abu Dhabi.

“We are working on initiatives to encourage more products into the market and to step up the international trade and consumer awareness of the destination and its breadth of offering.”

During April, the UK was the best performing overseas market for the destination with 19,010 Britons checking into Abu Dhabi hotels – a 34% rise on last year. They delivered 84,395 guest nights, which was an increase of 24% and stayed, on average, 4.44 nights – which slipped by 7%.

Indians were the next largest buyers of Abu Dhabi accommodation with 18,790 checking into the emirate’s hotels – 35% more than the same month last year. They accounted for 70,835 guest nights, which is up 24% on last year and they stayed, on average 3.77 nights.

Guest numbers from China stormed ahead by 309% in April with some 13,501 Chinese staying in the emirate’s accommodation. China delivered the most percentage growth with arrivals shooting up 232% making the Republic Abu Dhabi’s fourth highest performing overseas market.