Passenger air traffic between India and the UAE – as well as the wider region – is seeing an unprecedented surge this year, with airlines and travel portals reporting a jump of up to 75 per cent during the just concluded Diwali season, and gearing up for an even higher demand spike during the year-end festive season, industry insiders said.
The spike in festive season travel demand is leading to a significant surge in airfares on the India-GCC sector, with ticket prices to the UAE climbing by 30–50 per cent during the Diwali season, and are expected to see more highs for year-end travel, industry players said.
Growing demand for budget-friendly destinations and alternatives such as shorter trips amid rising inflation and economic uncertainties, coupled with the increased interest in off-grid experiences and wellness retreats among Indian travellers are pivoting them to destinations in the GCC region, with Dubai and Oman topping the list.
Transit travel bookings from the South Asian country through Gulf routes are also seeing a surge this year amidst increased global connectivity being provided by major Gulf carriers like Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways through network expansion and partnerships, offering competitive airfares and greater flexibility for passengers.
“As the festival season in India approached, flight bookings from India to the UAE, GCC and Middle East regions saw a notable surge this year, compared to the previous year,” Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip, a leading online travel and tourism player operating in GCC and India, told Arabian Business.
“The demand was particularly high for destinations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other major cities in the UAE, which are popular among Indian travellers for both leisure and business purposes,” he said.
Pittie said that ahead of the 2024 festival season, bookings with some airlines reported a jump of up to 75 per cent compared to last year.
Senior executives at travel services firms in India and Dubai also confirmed the surge in demand for travel to the GCC, especially the UAE, this festive season.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi among most sought-after destinations
Industry insiders said the UAE, especially Dubai, remains the top destination for Indian tourists in 2024, driven by a growing middle class, business travel, and leisure trips – also known as ‘bleisure’ – due to the large expatriate population in the GCC region.
Some of the top-billed events such as the forthcoming Coldplay concert, is making Abu Dhabi also a favourite destination for travellers from India.
These destinations also gained traction as cost-effective options for Indian travellers, as they are looking for more budget-friendly destinations and alternatives such as shorter trips or less expensive countries within the Middle East on account of rising inflation and other economic factors, they said.
The growing popularity of low-cost carriers such as IndiGo, Air India Express and flydubai highlights that affordable travel options are a top priority for Indian travellers heading to the UAE, they added.
Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore are among the Indian cities with the highest volume of travel and bookings to the UAE, GCC, and the Middle East during this year’s festive season.
Tier-two Indian cities such as Hyderabad, Kochi, and Ahmedabad have also significantly contributed to the increase in travel bookings to the Gulf this year, data available with OTAs (online travel agencies) showed.
The Gulf cities with the highest travel demand to the South Asian country were major hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah in the UAE, as well as Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and Doha in Qatar.
Indian travellers, like others globally, of late, are also showing an increased interest in off-grid experiences and wellness retreats, as many are seeking to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with nature.
“Wellness tourism, especially to destinations like the UAE and Oman, is gaining momentum [because of this],” Pittie said.
As for transit travel, the EaseMyTrip Co-Founder said there has been a noticeable increase in transit travel bookings from India through Gulf routes this year, and this surge in transit travel is expected to continue, particularly with the festive season, as more Indian travellers seek long-haul destinations via cost-effective Gulf connections.
Though Dubai remains a dominant hub for transit travel from the South Asian country, the region is seeing notable shifts with Doha and Abu Dhabi cornering significantly increased share of the transit traffic of late, industry insiders said.
New trends in travel from India to the Middle East
Industry players said recent travel trends between India and the Middle East highlight significant new changes.
The key factors that are driving these changes include the surge in ‘bleisure travel’ – the growing trend of blending of business and leisure travel – as hybrid working models allow professionals to extend their business trips for leisure purposes, and the new found love for travelling for off-grid and wellness experiences.
“This [bleisure travel] trend is particularly strong in the Middle East, where frequent corporate travel is supplemented by leisure activities,” Pittie said.
He said wellness tourism, especially to destinations like the UAE and Oman, is gaining momentum of late, as more and more Indian travellers, like others globally, are seeking to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with nature.
Another rising trend is the rise in eco-conscious travellers, who are choosing eco-friendly accommodations and activities.
“With a growing emphasis on reducing carbon footprints, both Indian and Middle Eastern travellers are seeking sustainable travel options, which include eco-tourism and low-impact travel experiences,” a sector expert said.
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