Al Diar Siji Hotel, a five-star business hotel in Fujairah managed by Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) has announced that it has witnessed a significant 30% increase on local tourist arrivals for the first half of 2009 compared to the same period last year.

The hotel’s nationality report shows that from January to March, guests from within the UAE rose to 14% compared to the first quarter of 2008. The figure surged to 60% during the second quarter of 2009 as compared to 2008 which pushed the domestic tourist arrivals to more than 30% increase for the first half of the year over the same period last year. 

“At the beginning of 2009, we had hoped that the domestic tourists would increase this year especially at this season to help boost the hotel’s income in the midst of the gradual decrease in international tourist arrivals specifically from the United Kingdom and other European countries. But the more than half surge in local tourist arrival figures for the second quarter was totally unexpected and very surprising,” said Mr. Fouad Melhem, the hotel’s general manager.

“Our strategic location in Fujairah city centre, being next to Fujairah International Airport and very accessible from the Fujairah Port, has also helped sustain Al Diar Siji Hotel to cope up with the low season because of regular bookings,” added Mr. Melhem.

He also noted that it has also been a factor that the Emirate of Fujairah is becoming more and more popular tourist destination and weekend getaway haven. Especially with special season rates, both the locals and expatriates within the UAE are flocking to the East Coast to unwind, relax and spend their summer breaks.