ABU DHABI- Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, DCT Abu Dhabi, has said that the Executive Council’s decision to adopt the proposal, put forward by DCT Abu Dhabi to reduce tourism and municipality fees will enhance the emirate’s international tourism competitiveness by strengthening its value proposition and by encouraging investments in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Al Mubarak added that Abu Dhabi’s hotel establishments will be further able to record high occupancy rates compared to the regional and global tourism markets. "With this decision, hotels and hospitality establishments can achieve more growth and stay in line with the continuous development of the emirate’s infrastructure and its wide variety of cultural and leisure attractions.
This is in addition to DCT Abu Dhabi’s promotional focus in key markets, adding impetus to these success stories and raising the occupancy rate in the emirate. "The adoption of the proposal will enhance Abu Dhabi’s attractiveness to investors and support the development of additional tourism projects and hotels. It will also strengthen the emirate’s position as a leading tourism destination for both business and leisure." "With the fees now being minimal and having a limited impact on accommodation costs, this will help us achieve our vision to strengthen the emirate’s position as the preferred destination for tourists from across the region and beyond," Al Mubarak added.
Also commenting on the subject, Saif Saeed Ghobash, Under-Secretary, DCT Abu Dhabi, said, "The adoption of the new tourism and municipality fees is driven by the leadership’s vision to support the hospitality and tourism sectors and encourage further economic diversification. This move will attract further investment to the capital and underpin Abu Dhabi’s aim to expand its tourism proposition and increase visitor numbers. "The adoption of our proposal by the Executive Council supports our efforts to promote Abu Dhabi as a world-class destination and stimulate the growth of tourism, leisure and business sectors in the capital. With the business and travel sectors being so essential to the economy, this initiative further assists the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi’s aims to bolster the emirate’s competitiveness on the global stage."
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