The number of guests staying in Abu Dhabi’s hotels rose 14 percent in the first nine months of this year compared to the same period last year, according to figures released by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)

To date some 1,514,587 guests have stayed in the emirates’ accommodation sector this year with the figures being boosted by a particularly strong September performance.

Last month saw some 166,805 hotel guests stay in the emirate – a 29 percent increase on September 2010 with guest nights increasing by 23 percent, revenue rising by 11 percent and hotel occupancy climbing eight percent on the same comparative month.

“These increases can primarily be attributed to Eid Al Fitr falling in the first week of September and  Ramadan falling entirely in August this year as opposed to being spread over August and September last year,” explained Lawrence Franklin, Strategy & Policy director, ADTA.