Latest news with #hoteloccupancy
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Hotel occupancy in Saudi Arabia rises to 63% as tourism workforce tops 983,000 in Q1 2025
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's hotel room occupancy rate rose to 63% in the first quarter of 2025, up 2.1 percentage points from the same period in 2024, according to the Tourism Establishments Statistics Publication released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). In contrast, the occupancy rate for serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities dropped to 50.7%, down 3.8 percentage points compared to Q1 2024. The report also showed a mixed trend in room pricing. The average daily room rate in hotels fell by 3.4% year-on-year, reaching SR477, while serviced apartments and similar facilities saw an increase of 7.2%, bringing the average rate to SR209. Regarding guest behavior, the average length of stay in hotels during the fourth quarter of 2024 remained unchanged at 4.1 nights. However, the average stay in serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities decreased by 4.5% to 2.1 nights. Tourism employment saw a notable uptick, with 983,253 individuals working in tourism-related activities during Q1 of 2025, reflecting a 4.1% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Of the total, 243,369 were Saudi nationals, representing 24.8% of the workforce, while non-Saudis made up the remaining 75.2% with 739,884 employees. Men accounted for 86.8% of all workers in the tourism sector, totaling 853,852, while women represented 13.2% or 129,401 employees. The tourism sector comprised 5.4% of the total national workforce in Q1 of 2025, a slight decrease of 0.3 percentage points compared to Q1 of 2024. In the private sector, tourism employees made up 8.1% of the workforce, down 0.6 percentage points year-on-year. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arab News
03-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi hotel occupancy rises to 63% in Q1 2025
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia's hotel occupancy rate rose to 63 percent in the first quarter of 2025, up from 60.9 percent a year earlier, driven by seasonal events, pilgrimage traffic, and growing leisure tourism. The occupancy rate for serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities fell to 50.7 percent during the same period, marking a decline of 3.8 percentage points compared to the first quarter of 2024, according to recent data from the General Authority for Statistics. GASTAT's tourism establishments statistics also showed that the average daily room rate in hotels stood at SR477 ($127.2), reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 3.4 percent. Meanwhile, the average daily rate in serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities increased by 7.2 percent to SR209 during the same period. The Kingdom has set ambitious tourism targets under its Vision 2030 agenda, aiming to attract 150 million visitors annually by the end of the decade. #GASTAT publishes Tourism Establishment Statistics for Q1 2025 — الهيئة العامة للإحصاء (@Stats_Saudi) July 3, 2025 Tourism is central to the nation's broader strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil and is positioned as a vital contributor to the gross domestic product. To drive this transformation, Saudi Arabia plans to invest over $1 trillion in new attractions and infrastructure projects, including the Red Sea initiative and NEOM, a $500 billion megacity. According to GASTAT, the average length of stay for hotel guests was approximately 4.1 nights during the first quarter of 2025, consistent with the same period in 2024. 'On the other hand, the average length of stay for guests in serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities was approximately 2.1 nights during Q1 of 2025, reflecting a decrease of 4.5 percent compared to the corresponding quarter of 2024, which was 2.2 nights,' the analysis added. Regarding employment in the tourism sector, GASTAT reported notable growth, with the total number of workers in tourism-related activities reaching 983,253 during the first quarter of 2025, up 4.1 percent from the same period last year. 'The number of Saudi employees reached 243,369, with a participation rate of 24.8 percent. Meanwhile, the number of non-Saudi employees reached 739,884, representing a participation rate of 75.2 percent of the total employees in tourism activities,' the report said. The study further indicated that, in terms of gender distribution, male employees in tourism activities totaled 853,852, accounting for 86.8 percent of the workforce, while female employees numbered 129,401, representing 13.2 percent during the first quarter of 2025. It also revealed that workers in the tourism sector constituted 5.4 percent of total national employment, marking a decline of 0.3 percentage points compared to the first quarter of 2024. Within the private sector, tourism accounted for 8.1 percent of jobs, a decrease of 0.6 percentage points from 8.7 percent in the same quarter of the previous year. Highlighting its calculation methodology, GASTAT said the tourism establishments statistics for Q1 2025 are compiled from multiple sources to provide comprehensive insights into tourism activities in Saudi Arabia. These sources include administrative records, statistical surveys, and secondary data. The Kingdom's tourism sector continued to demonstrate strong performance in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting the country's accelerating efforts under its Vision 2030 agenda to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on oil revenues. As the nation expands its hospitality infrastructure and boosts its global appeal, recent data reveals promising trends in visitor spending, hotel occupancy, and employment within the tourism industry. In the first three months of 2025, international tourists spent SR49.37 billion in the Kingdom, a 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to figures released by the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA. This rise contributed to boosting the travel account surplus to SR26.78 billion, marking an 11.7 percent year-on-year increase and underscoring tourism's growing contribution to the non-oil economy. Saudi Arabia's hotel sector recorded a solid performance in the first quarter of 2025, supported by a steady rise in both domestic and international tourism, according to the latest report by global real estate consultancy JLL. The report showed that the Kingdom welcomed approximately 21.6 million international tourists in the first nine months of 2024, while domestic travel surged to 63.9 million, with leisure being the primary motivator for trips. It added that religious pilgrimage continued to drive international arrivals, reinforcing the country's unique position as a spiritual destination. The JLL study said that while the nationwide hotel market saw growth in key performance metrics, such as a 10.8 percent increase in average daily rates and a 1.3 percentage point rise in occupancy, performance diverged across cities. JLL noted that Makkah and Madinah posted robust gains, while Riyadh experienced declines in both occupancy and room rates. Jeddah, meanwhile, showed mixed results.
Zawya
01-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tourism remains 'strong contributor' to Qatar's economic activity; Q1 registers 1.5mln visitors
Qatar's hotels achieved an estimated occupancy rate of 71% in Q1-2025, ValuStrat said in its latest country report. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Tourism remained a 'strong contributor' to Qatar's economic activity, with 1.5mn visitors recorded — primarily from the GCC in the first quarter (Q1) of the year, according to researcher ValuStrat. Qatar's hotels achieved an estimated occupancy rate of 71% in Q1-2025, ValuStrat said in its latest country report. The total hospitality stock estimated by Qatar Tourism was 40,787 keys, according to ValuStrat. Some 68% of the total stock comprised 4- to 5-star hotels, whereas 7.7% was classified within the 1-star to 3-star category, while the remaining 24.3% consisted of hotel apartments. The report noted that an estimated 845 hotel keys are set to enter the market in 2025, majorly concentrated in the four and 5-star segments. Travellers from GCC nations accounted for 36% of the total 1.5mn visitors in the first quarter of the year, it said. 'A mix of Eid celebrations, jewellery showcases, desert and food festivals, cruise arrivals, and various MICE activities drew over 1mn visitors during Q1,' ValuStrat noted. For Q1, 2025, the Average Daily Rate (ADR) was QR445, a drop of 6.4% YoY. Whilst the Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) was QR317, declining 10.7% from Q1 last year, the ADR for 5-star hotels was QR522. The ADR for 3- and 4-star hotels was QR175 and QR220 respectively, it said. In Q1, 2025, the Government of Qatar prioritised real estate and tourism, implementing new policies to enhance investment opportunities and streamline regulations, reinforcing its commitment to economic expansion, ValuStrat noted. Anum Hassan, Head of Research (Qatar) at ValuStrat said: 'The first quarter of 2025 reflected a broadly stable real estate landscape in Qatar, with most sectors experiencing either consolidation or modest downward adjustments.' The ValuStrat Price Index (VPI)-Residential Capital Values held firm at 96.5 points, benchmarked against a base of 100 set in Q1, 2021. Both apartment and villa indices recorded no significant movement, maintaining levels of 98.7 and 96 points respectively on a quarterly and annual basis, she said. Retail leasing values 'held steady' over the period, while the industrial segment showed encouraging signs of growth, Hassan said. Rents for ambient and cold storage facilities rose by 2.8% and 3.6% respectively. Additionally, recent ministerial directives streamlining business set-up processes for foreign investors have resulted in a notable increase in commercial activity. 'In the months ahead, we anticipate further seasonal adjustments, particularly during the summer period, as the market continues to demonstrate resilience while adapting to evolving dynamics,' Anum Hassan added. © Gulf Times Newspaper 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
20-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Hotel occupancy in Jordan drops ‘sharply' amid regional tensions — JHA
AMMAN — Hotel occupancy rates across several Jordanian areas have declined during the third week of June 2025, reflecting negative indicators for the current tourism season, according to data issued by the Jordan Hotels Association (JHA) on Thursday. In Amman, hotel occupancy dropped by 16 per cent compared to the previous week, with rates ranging between 42 and 28 per cent at most establishments, Al Mamlaka TV reported. Five-star hotels in the capital recorded the highest occupancy rate at 42 per cent, followed by four-star hotels at 31 per cent and three-star hotels at 28 per cent. The association attributed the decline to ongoing regional tensions and escalations, which have negatively impacted tourist activity and hotel occupancy, particularly in Amman, which typically receives visitors from diverse nationalities. In the Dead Sea area, occupancy fell by 22 per cent compared to the previous week, with five-star hotels recording a rate of 25 per cent and four-star hotels at 18 per cent. The JHA noted that Petra is among the 'hardest-hit' areas due to its heavy reliance on European and international tourism. Cancellation rates in the rose-red city have reached nearly 95 per cent, with the remaining bookings primarily made by tourists who had entered Jordan prior to the latest crisis. No new tour groups have arrived since the escalation began, the JHA reported. Five-star hotels in Petra reported an occupancy rate of just 9 per cent, while both four-star and three-star hotels recorded rates of 3 per cent. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
13-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Eid tourism boost for Bahrain
Bahrain saw an increase in the number of visitors from the GCC and a boost in hotel occupancy rates during the Eid Al Adha holiday, according to a top minister. This has been possible due to enhanced co-operation with the kingdom's private sector, said Tourism Minister Fatima Al Sairafi. In a statement yesterday, she said that the private sector had positively impacted the kingdom, making important contributions to achieving the goals of the Tourism Sector Strategy (2022-2026). 'More tourists have visited Bahrain during these Eid holidays than last year,' said Ms Al Sairafi. 'This is evidenced by the surge in hotel bookings as well. 'This was mostly down to promotional efforts focused on launching innovative packages targeting families in the GCC in co-operation with Gulf Air, as well as hotels, resorts and travel and tourism agencies. 'GCC countries are among the top five key target markets, according to the tourism strategy, and this was clearly reflected in the positive performance indicators.' The minister said that the current tourist activity in the kingdom reflected the development of tourism infrastructure and diversity of services, in addition to the presence of advanced facilities that fulfil visitor expectations. She also highlighted the richness of the tourism experience through various events, theatrical performances and entertainment activities that cater to diverse tastes. Ms Al Sairafi emphasised the importance of integrated efforts between the public and private sectors in supporting the growth of this promising sector. 'Bahrain places increasing importance on the tourism sector as one of its priority areas,' she said. 'This requires the launch of quality initiatives and implementation of projects that enhance the kingdom's cultural and civilisational assets, contributing to its established position on the regional and international tourism map. 'Current indicators reflect rapid progress toward achieving the goals of the tourism strategy. 'By increasing the tourism sector's contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP), we can solidify Bahrain's status as a sustainable tourism destination in the region. 'This is being accomplished through expanding entertainment, hospitality and retail options, offering integrated travel and accommodation packages, and strengthening a sustainable tourism ecosystem.' According to data from Bahrain's Open Data Portal, the average length of stay for tourists in hotels for Eid Al Adha 2024 (June 15 to 18) was 2.70 nights. It also showed that inbound Saudi visitors alone numbered 1,163,552 while an additional 131,055 came from other GCC countries during the above period. During the period, the average daily spend per visitor was BD69.43. Last year, accommodation and food service activities recorded an increase of 5.9 per cent, according to the latest Bahrain Economic Report released by the Finance and National Economy Minister. Strong growth across several key indicators was observed during the year, such as total inbound tourism flows reaching 14.9 million, marking a 19.9pc YoY (year-on-year) increase. This was driven by the rise in same-day visitors which increased by 19.4pc to reach 8.3m and the rise in overnight visitors which increased by 20.7pc to reach 6.6m. This positively impacted the hotel sector, with overnight stays recording a 16pc YoY growth to a total of 19.2m. The GDN reported on Saturday that hotels witnessed an increase in bookings from GCC residents, as well as Bahrainis who opted for staycations instead of international getaways. Hospitality officials said that their facilities were near full capacity, with very limited availability remaining, with majority of guests being from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE. Family rooms were the most popular option during the Eid Al Adha holidays, as they include a spacious living room, dining area and a fully equipped kitchen. A variety of special packages were curated to offer guests a cultural and relaxing experience.
