Dubai became the destination of choice for tourists around the world in 2009 as hotel prices in the city fell by 25 per cent. This annual Hotel Price Index released by Hotels.com showed a 14 per cent global drop in hotel prices last year. Meanwhile, the hotel rates in Abu Dhabi dropped by 17 per cent, thus increasing tourism in the city.
While business travellers to Dubai went down significantly in the last year, leisure visits to the UAE increased given the decline in hotel prices in the region. The rates turned out to be much lower than the rates in North America and Europe. This included visitors from Scandinavia, Italy, Germany and France, revealed Hotels.com
“Step inside the time machine, turn the dial back to 2003, and compare hotel prices around the world then and now. What’s changed? Not much. Our latest Hotel Price Index, covering all of 2009, shows that prices fell globally by 14% on already weak 2008 figures, bringing consumer prices back to levels not seen since 2003. Despite some possible first signs of hotel prices recovering in Europe and the US in the last quarter of 2009, the promotions and great value look set to continue for some time yet. 2010 promises to be another great year for the traveller,” added Hotels.com President, David Roche.
