Leisure & Hospitality Abu Dhabi lowers hotel fees to entice more tourists By Pramod Kumar August 13, 2023, 5:58 AM Wam DCT Abu Dhabi plans to attract more than 24 million visitors to the emirate by 2023-end Abu Dhabi has lowered government hotel fees to support the continued growth of the hospitality and tourism sector. Fee revisions include reducing a tourism charge issued to guests from six percent to four percent, removing a municipality fee of AED15 per room per night, removing a six percent tourism fee and four percent municipality fee applied to hotel restaurants, state-run WAM news agency reported, citing the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). However, the municipality fee for four percent of the value of the invoice issued to the customer will continue. The fee revision, which is set to take effect from September 1, 2023, is part of plans to grow the emirate as a tourism and cultural destination while bolstering support for its thriving hospitality sector, DCT – Abu Dhabi added. State-owned Abu Dhabi International Airport, the base of Etihad Airways, handled 10,258,653 passengers in the first half of the year, an increase of 67 percent compared with the same period 12 months ago. Total flight movements reached 67,835 in the first six months, up 36 percent from 49,919 flights a year earlier. The airport currently connects to 114 destinations served by 27 airlines. In April DCT Abu Dhabi said it plans to attract more than 24 million visitors to the emirate by the end of 2023.