The Maldives has emerged as the leading destination for UAE travellers this summer, accounting for one in five international hotel bookings, according to dnata Travel’s latest data.
Thailand, Mauritius, Canada and Australia complete the top
five most-booked destinations for the season.
Demand for overseas travel is being fuelled by a mix of
Indian Ocean beach escapes and long-haul destinations.
The entry of Canada, Australia, Japan and the US into this
summer’s top 10 reflects a growing appetite for longer, experience-led
holidays, as UAE travellers show an increasing willingness to explore further
afield.
Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure UAE at dnata
Travel, said: “International travel is proving more popular than ever this
summer, with nine in 10 hotel bookings made for overseas destinations. While
traditional favourites such as the Maldives, Thailand and Mauritius continue to
attract strong demand, we are also seeing rising interest in long-haul travel
as customers seek new destinations and more experience-driven holidays.”
Ketait added: “UAE staycations remain an important segment
of the market, particularly for short weekend getaways, with Dubai, Abu Dhabi
and Fujairah among the most popular domestic destinations this summer.
Ketait concluded: “Internationally, travellers are staying
for an average of around five nights, with long-haul trips often extending
beyond this. Demand for four- and five-star properties remains particularly
strong, with average booking values up approximately 16% year-on-year.” -TradeArabia News Service