South East Asia is proving to be the summer hotspot for UAE travellers, according to new data from Dubai-based online flight and hotel booking platform, Tajawal.
Tajawal said Bangkok leads the way with flight bookings up 164 percent compared to 2018, followed by Bali, up 150 percent over the same period.
Outbound bookings to Kuala Lumpur have also rocketed by 130 percent versus 2018.
Tajawal added that the popularity of South East Asia supports this year’s wider trend of UAE residents choosing overseas destinations over local staycations for their holidays.International hotel bookings on Tajawal have increased to 74 percent this year from 45 percent in 2018 while domestic stays declined to 26 percent versus 55 percent last year.
Mid-range boutique and upscale four-star hotels have also increased in popularity versus their luxury counterparts as travellers seek authentic experiences in cities across the globe.
Closer to home, Istanbul holds its position as one of the leading destinations for UAE travellers and South Caucasus tourism continues to grow with culture seekers and outdoor adventurers heading to Baku in Azerbaijan, Tajawal noted.
Tajawal is also seeing the trend of multiple short breaks declining, with UAE residents taking longer holidays overseas.
Muzzammil Ahussain, EVP of Tajawal said: “It’s interesting to see more UAE residents and citizens heading overseas this year and particularly to South East Asia which is a relatively short flight away and incredibly rich in culture, cuisine and diverse landscapes.
“City breaks remain the most popular choice for holidays from the UAE, with places like Singapore topping the list alongside Bangkok and Istanbul.”
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