WEEKLY NEWS Ajman’s Hotel Industry on the Rise According to statistics revealed by Ajman Tourism Development Department, the revenues achieved by hotels and hotel apartments across the emirate increased by 38.4 percent in 2013. Total income earned by all accommodation units reached over AED221 million (USD60 million) in the year under review, compared to more than AED159.5 million (USD43 million) in 2012. Notably, revenue at Ajman’s hotel apartments in particular skyrocketed in 2013, marking a huge difference of 78.2 percent in relation to 2012. Regarding occupancy figures, apartments were almost full, recording levels of 86 percent between the periods of January to November 2013, while the total number for the entire 12 months of 2012 reached just 60 percent.
The Ajman Palace
Greece Increases its Appeal A delegation from Greece visited Dubai for the first Deluxe Greek Travel Roadshow in the Middle East. Presenting the destination to over 100 UAE travel agents, the event was held under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Tourism, and was opened by Dionyssios Zois, ambassador of Greece, UAE, who commented, “Since 2011 Greece has been playing a protagonist and actively supportive role in all relevant European Union institutions for the lifting of the Schengen visa for UAE citizens.” The country has seen strong growth in guests from the Middle East, with GCC arrivals posting a 43 percent increase in 2013, while the UAE alone witnessed a 21 percent surge for the same period. Of all GCC travellers to Greece, 44 percent come for leisure purposes and stay for an average length of 12 nights.
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EU Hubs Await Surge in UAE Corporate Travellers Business destinations in the European Union (EU) are predicted to receive an influx of corporate travellers from the UAE after the European Parliament voted for Emiratis to be exempt from obtaining visas to enter any of the 25 Schengen countries. The European pavilion at this year’s recently concluded Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) exhibition, was set to benefit from the new ruling, hosting 19 companies and destinations, making it 66 percent larger than in 2013. Newcomers to the Abu Dhabi-based travel niche market included companies from Spain and the Czech Republic. Lois Hall, exhibition manager, GIBTM, commented, “Over 66 percent of the world’s population lies within an eight-hour flight of the UAE, giving the region unparalleled leverage to become the future global hub for business travellers.”