With a budget in mind and the possibility of travel disruptions, UAE residents are planning their summer vacations strategically by opting for new overseas locations and considering contingencies.
As disruptions at airports in the UK and other parts of Europe are expected to continue, many travellers are choosing destinations that are within a few hours’ travel time from their home.
This year, travel agents in the UAE are observing a rising interest in countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka among tourists. Additionally, Turkey and Egypt are also seeing an increase in traffic as popular tourist destinations.
According to Reena Philip, the General Manager of Air Travels Enterprise, there has been a significant increase in travel traffic, ranging from 22 to 30 percent, as compared to the same period last year when people were hesitant to travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the situation has improved this year, the number of travellers has not yet reached pre-COVID levels. As for destinations, travellers are mostly interested in visiting parts of Europe and South Asia.
Travellers are currently avoiding trips to the UK due to the inconvenience of travelling and the prevailing circumstances. Additionally, the backlog in Schengen visas is causing concern for some.
However, there has been a consistent increase in enquiries for popular European countries such as Spain, Greece, Italy, Germany, and France.
According to travel experts, proximity to the UAE and affordability are important factors when choosing a holiday destination. Among Asian countries, Sri Lanka has become popular this year as it is situated nearby.
However, many travellers are opting for short trips lasting four to five days and then returning home. There has been a surge in queries from north Indians in the UAE who are interested in visiting places like Kerala, while South Indians are keen on exploring northern destinations such as Delhi or even Kathmandu in Nepal.
Travel experts are observing that many UAE residents are planning their summer holidays with budget and proximity in mind, considering new overseas locations and factoring in contingencies. Reena Philip, the General Manager of Air Travels Enterprise, highlighted that although the traffic has increased by 22-30% compared to the same period last year, the numbers have still not reached pre-Covid times.
She stated that people are mostly interested in parts of Europe and South Asia, such as Spain, Greece, Italy, Germany, France, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.
As per travel experts, affordability and proximity to the emirate are significant criteria when choosing destinations. They noted that many people this year are showing interest in Sri Lanka for short trips of four to five days, and North Indians in the UAE have expressed interest in travelling to Kerala, while South Indians want to travel to North Indian destinations like Delhi and Kathmandu in Nepal.
Raheesh Babu, the COO of Musafir.com, mentioned that cost-effective and visa-friendly travel destinations are in high demand, such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, Kenya, Thailand, and Malaysia. However, obtaining visas for Schengen countries, the UK, USA, and Canada is still a challenge.
Despite the rising Covid-19 cases in India, travel agents noted that this has not impacted outbound travellers to the sub-continent so far. During the summer season, a significant number of UAE residents are returning to their home countries such as the Indian subcontinent, Europe, the USA, and the UK, primarily due to the school holidays.
Experts in the field caution that when travelling to destinations like the UK, individuals should always choose a flexi ticket option and maintain constant communication with their travel agents for the latest updates.
Lakshmi Anand, the Managing Director of Ascentia Travel & Tours, revealed that new destinations have come up this year, such as Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Jordan, which remains popular with travellers due to the visa-on-arrival facility for UAE residents.
She noted that demand for Saudi Arabia has increased after the Kingdom eased visa procedures and allowed multiple entry permits. Oman is an all-time favourite with residents who do not wish to undertake long trips.
