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1,343% surge in visitors from Oman to Dubai

9 Aug 2022 By OUR CORRESPONDENT

Muscat – Visitors from Oman have contributed significantly in Dubai attracting 7.12mn international overnight visitors in the first six months of 2022 – 183 per cent more than the 2.52mn tourists during the same period in 2021.

Visitors from Oman to Dubai increased a whopping 1,343 per cent to 787,000 in H1 2022 compared to H1 2021, becoming the second largest source market for the emirate after India.

Visitors from India recorded a growth of 109 per cent to 858,000 from 409,000 in H1 2021, according to the latest data from Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism.

Oman was followed by Saudi Arabia, the UK and Russia making the top five source markets.

The positive trend in H1 2022 places the city firmly on track to achieve its tourism goals for 2022 and beyond, and further reinforces its position as an international destination of choice.

The number of tourists recorded in H1 2022 was close to the numbers achieved in the first six months of 2019, which saw 8.36mn tourists.

The emirate’s ability to quickly return to near pre-pandemic tourism levels is even more remarkable given the impact of unprecedented challenges and other macroeconomic factors on the global economy and tourism sector.

Regional market share

Western Europe accounted for a significant share of tourist arrivals, comprising 22 per cent of total international visitors in H1 2022. MENA and GCC continued to make an impact, collectively contributing 34 per cent of the total international visitors and highlighting Dubai’s strong appeal to visitors from surrounding markets as a trusted and preferred destination.

These regions were followed closely by South Asia with a share of 16 per cent and Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe together accounting for 11 per cent of total visitors in H1 2022.

World’s highest hotel occupancy levels

The wide range of hotel establishments in Dubai presented yet another stellar performance across all hospitality metrics during H1 2022.

Average occupancy for the hotel sector stood at 74 per cent, one of the world’s highest, compared to 62 per cent in H1 2021, a difference of 12 percentage points and just short of the 76 per cent occupancy level registered during the pre-pandemic period of H1 2019.

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