Flight bookings on Expedia.com to the UAE have experienced a strong upsurge, increasing just over 25 per cent from 2013 to 2014. The most popular flight origin is London, with almost five times as many tickets sold compared with Manchester, ranking second.
Expedia senior editor Eman Barhoumeh says: 'The UAE has traditionally been a favourite destination with British business people as well as holidaymakers seeking guaranteed sunshine. Travellers from the UK continue to make up the largest share of inbound travellers, but we are now seeing emerging development in flight bookings and searches from further afield such as Canada and the US, as the UAE becomes an increasingly popular destination.'Capital gainsFlight bookings on Expedia into the capital city of Abu Dhabi have risen by approximately 50 per cent from 2013 to 2014. Bookings to Abu Dhabi are expected to continue this growth trend as Expedia has recently seen a more than 10 per cent increase in demand for this destination. This corresponds to the recent news from Abu Dhabi International Airport on the record-breaking growth of passenger traffic of 20 per cent, reaching 20 million passengers last year. Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) recently unveiled a hotel-industry led initiative to support and bolster growth of the emirate’s expanding tourism industry. The stakeholder programme, which boasts members of 15 hotel groups representing over 60 of the emirate’s four- and five-star hotels, will identify opportunities to further increase visitor numbers.
A walk in Dubai ParksExpedia also reported an almost 25 per cent increase in flight bookings to Dubai International Airport. The data analysis also revealed that flight bookings made from Canada have experienced the strongest development from 2013 to 2014, increasing 35 per cent. Additionally, flights booked to Dubai from the UK have strengthened by 27 per cent over the same two-year period, and Saudi Arabia and France by 24 per cent. Traffic to Dubai is only set to increase when the Middle East’s largest multi-themed, multibillion-dollar, leisure and entertainment destination opens in October 2016. Dubai Parks and Resorts recently signed an exclusive agreement with Picsolve International, with Picsolve managing a full-range of image requirements for Motiongate Dubai, Legoland Dubai, and Bollywood Parks Dubai.
Up northAccording to the Expedia report, the other emirates reported a combined 17 per cent year on year growth, but hotels in Sharjah recently reported 100 per cent occupancy, driven by an influx of family tourists, especially from Saudi Arabia. Latest available figures from Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) show that 42,150 guests arrived this year from Saudi Arabia during the months of January and February alone.
Staff Report