International arrivals to the UAE increased healthily in 2012, reaching an estimated 11 million tourists, delegates heard today at the latest WTM Vision Conference - Dubai held at Arabian Travel Market.
Overall performance of inbound trips to the Middle East region were down five per cent last year mainly due to the decline of arrivals to those countries hit by the Arab Spring, which took place in 2011 effecting countries such as Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Syria. However the UAE witnessed a substantial increase with an estimated 11 million tourist arrivals visiting the Emirates; over eight million visiting Dubai, two million to Abu Dhabi and the rest to the other five emirates. All states continuing to show the best hotel occupancy rates due their strong leisure appeal and strong MICE sector. Of the 11 million arrivals to the UAE, neighbouring country Saudi Arabia made up the top source market for inbound tourism, with 1,500,000 tourists coming from Saudi Arabia alone. Visitor numbers from the largest Arab state to the UAE are predicated to double over the next five years to more than 3,000,000 arrivals.