ABU DHABI -- Abu Dhabi witnessed a dramatic double-digit increase in the number of hotel guests in August, compared with the same period in 2016, helping to push up the total number of guests staying in the emirate to more than 3.1 million in the first eight months of the year.

Figures released by the Department of Culture and Tourism revealed that 426,912 guests stayed at the emirates 166 hotels and hotel apartments in August, a rise of 13 percent over the same month last year.

The number of hotel guests during the first eight months in 2017 has gone up by 7 percent, compared with the corresponding period in 2016, with the occupancy standing at 68 percent.

Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director-General, Department of Culture and Tourism, said, "We are encouraged by Augusts figures and the increased growth during a month which is traditionally a quieter time in the year. Our annual Abu Dhabi Summer Season, which ran from 20th July to 20th August, once again proved highly popular with domestic visitors, and we saw key international markets all showing notable growth during the month due to the focussed promotional and marketing campaigns locally, regionally and internationally.

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