UAE residents have been extending their summer vacations due to a significant drop in airfares, reported industry experts.
As airfares reduced by nearly 30% in August, many residents have capitalized on these lower costs, favoring holiday packages priced between Dh3,000 and Dh3,500.
The trend has resulted in a remarkable shift from traditional home country vacations to two separate leisure trips, often with an additional visit to family members.
Family-oriented vacations remain a preference for approximately 80% of travellers, as many families took short trips to their hometowns during the summer.
With the school season about to resume, these families are now seizing another opportunity for a short family trip. A rise in the desire for new experiences and destinations has also been noticed, with affordability being a critical factor in these travel plans.
Popular destinations among the UAE residents include Bangkok, Georgia, Baku, Salalah, Abha, and AlUla, with visa-on-arrival countries also seeing increased demand.
The leisure travel industry has seen an impressive increase in bookings, with over 15,000 packages sold this year, more than doubling pre-Covid figures.
Additionally, UAE travellers are increasingly interested in adventure sports, cultural immersion, and eco-friendly experiences for their vacations.