Dubai’s hospitality industry is expecting an international tourism peak this Eid al-Fitr break as visitors flock to the city, in contrast to last year when coronavirus restrictions were still dampening travel.
UAE residents, on the other hand, are set to travel internationally as domestic staycations are put on the back burner this holiday.
“We are currently at 60 percent occupancy for Eid bookings. With a week still to go, I am fairly confident we will end up closing in late 80’s early 90’s which is what we expect. I do however think a large part of local residents will be travelling outside of Dubai with Asia, India and Africa having opened up. However I don’t see this an issue as borders opening up also means traveller can visit Dubai,” said Vinayak Mahtani, CEO of bnbme holiday homes.
“Saudi, India, Africa, Indonesia and Russia are all open markets for Dubai at present and we are seeing a large part of guests already booked to travel to Dubai and experience Eid here in the Emirates. This year especially, as we are once again hosting guests from Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, the festive mood is very much alive,” he continued.
Expo 2020 had a significant positive impact on UAE’s tourism industry, one that is expected to continue through the Eid al-Fitr holiday and make up for last year.
“The hospitality industry is recovering at a pace faster than expected in the region with Expo 2020 serving as a catalyst and further boosted by the government’s newest regulations on long-term visas and associated benefits,” said Guy Hutchinson, president and CEO, Rotana.
“At Rotana, we expect occupancy rates to remain strong as we gear up for the Eid break. Our RevPar continues growing substantially, exceeding even pre-pandemic performance as we welcome more visitors to the nation. Our hotels in the UAE are expected to be among the top performers in terms of occupancy this Eid season, compared to a quieter previous year. We have seen more consumers asking for additional flexibility in terms of bookings and increasingly looking for beach-side resorts with exciting deals,” he continued.
With global coronavirus restrictions easing down, hospitality industry stakeholders told Arabian Business they are expecting an even bigger surge in international tourism.
“The tourism sector in the region continues to grow, and this year has been extremely positive as travel restrictions are eased. The UAE is leading the recovery as it retains its position as one of the safest and most accessible travel hotspots. Moreover, the recent news announcement about long-term visas will encourage investors and visitors to explore the country, further boosting the hospitality industry,” said Tim Cordon, area senior vice president, Middle East, and Africa, Radisson Hotel Group.
“At Radisson Hotel Group, we expect the occupancy rates to continue increasing throughout the Eid break, especially as leisure travellers are looking for beach-side resorts, with diverse stay, dining and spa options. Hotels in the city are also expected to see increased demand from international travellers, and we look forward to the opportunity for extended stays throughout our properties as flexibility remains a top priority,” he continued.
This comes in as UAE residents are generally abandoning staycations this in favour of international travel this break.
“Being a destination merely a few hours away from the UAE, the short Eid holiday has always brought travellers from the region, seeking luxurious escapes. Two years after the start of the pandemic, travel restrictions are easing, and travellers are beginning to gain trust again,” said Salwa Razzouk, general manager, Raffles Seychelles.
“For people who are still not confident enough to travel again, Seychelles is the perfect destination to finally be able to breathe again. Our eighty-six villa resort which features only stand-alone private pool villas offers seclusion with a contemporary design for harmony; we have experienced an increased demand for this style of accommodation.
“Eid bookings have arrived earlier than they have in the past; historically, more last-minute. This year we have seen bookings coming in for the Eid period months ahead which was unique. We would be delighted to welcome more travellers from the UAE to our resort on Praslin Island – we have expectancies that the demand will continue,” she continued.
Still, some UAE-based hoteliers expect to cater to residents on staycations.
“In preparation for the much-awaited long Eid weekend, we have announced some celebratory offers including complimentary upgrades, spa offers, culinary activations and more for UAE residents,” said Ayman Gharib, managing director, Raffles The Palm Dubai.
“In addition, the hotel has also launched a special holiday offer for residents of Saudi Arabia and Qatar promising a luxurious beach holiday experience. We at Raffles the Palm Dubai are prepared to meet the anticipated surge in bookings during Eid, being one of the key moments for the region as a whole. Since our opening last year in September, we have seen an interest not only from tourists but residents too and we expect the coming holidays to be no different,” he continued.
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