A market-leader in the luxury tourism sector, Lightfoot Travel is witnessing a rapid acceleration of business from the GCC in 2017 with demand increasing particularly for more adventurous and experiential itineraries as well as new destinations.
Lightfoot Travel provides expert travel advice and bespoke experiences to an ever-growing and discerning regional client base from its Dubai office. Lightfoot Travel is expanding its team with the addition of Camille d’Harambure in the position of travel designer. Camille worked at Abercrombie and Kent in Abu Dhabi for three years, looking after some of their most affluent clients including both Emiratis and expatriates. Camille brings with her a wealth of experience and understanding of the GCC market.
Lightfoot Travel’s growth in bookings mirrors the GCC’s increasing appetite for luxury travel experiences internationally and to specific destinations such as Africa where experiential travel is up by 50%. Ecuador and The Galapagos as well as China have also seen a marked increase in bookings. A further new interest in alternative European escapes has shown a meteoric rise for Croatia specifically where demand is up 350 per cent. Whilst traditional travel agencies are suffering with the advent of online booking options, there is a fast-growing demand for tailor-made services not available when booking online.
The most popular destinations for 2017/18 include Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Tokyo, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, China, Colombia, South America, the Arctic Circle and Iran
Lightfoot Travel is based in Downtown Dubai, and can either arrange appointments in their office or meet clients at a location of their choice. They have a strong presence in the GCC and host regular events for their top clients and their partners’ clients.
The team are always on the lookout for new and exciting experiences, and what’s more, have personally tried and tested the holidays that they recommend.
Founder and managing director, Simon Cameron has relocated to Dubai to head the growing regional office. Simon has roots in the GCC himself, having worked in a risk management consultancy throughout the region prior to establishing Lightfoot Travel in 2009, “Having successfully set up Lightfoot Travel in Singapore and Hong Kong, we saw a gap in the market for a boutique travel company in Dubai. Like Singapore and Hong Kong, Dubai is a leading commercial hub and home to a large number of multinational companies and affluent HNW individuals, so it seemed a natural progression.”
Within the GCC region, the Lightfoot Travel team have seen a further rise in multi-generational and family holidays, twin-centre honeymoons and girls-only trips. The most popular destinations for 2017/18 include Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Tokyo, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, China, Colombia, South America, the Arctic Circle and Iran.