138 percent increase in hotel room nights: Reality in the Middle East

A Dubai-based tour wholesale company Tourico Holidays concluded a study based on in-house data saying tour-operator hotel room nights to the Middle East have increased by 112 percent year-over-year in 2017.  Equally as encouraging, outbound travel from the market is on the rise, as well.  Hotel room nights sold from the Middle East are pacing at an increase of 138 percent through the end of 2017 – meaning future hotel reservations through the end of the year have more than doubled compared to the same time in 2016.

Travel from China is a driving force in the market’s inbound hotel industry success.  Tourico reports a sharp increase in Chinese travel to the Middle East, marked by a 60 percent surge in hotel room nights booked so far in 2017.  Additionally, The United States has increased its hotel room nights to the Middle East by 12 percent year-over-year, while Germany (+21% YOY), Canada (+8% YOY), and South American countries (+9% YOY) have also been key contributors to the growth.

“Over the past several years, it’s become obvious – the Middle Eastern hotel industry is booming,” said Ala Andriuta, the Product Director of the Middle East.  “Hotel room nights are up, key source markets such as China and the U.S. continue to increase their demand for the region, hotel cancellation rates are down 45 percent in 2017, and Middle Easterners are booking more hotel nights than ever.”