6-day Eid al-Fitr holiday in UAE: Demand for holiday packages up nearly 50% – News

With many people traveling, residents are advised to book flights and travel packages early to take advantage of the overlap between the festive holidays and the school summer holidays

UAE residents have seen a surge in demand for holiday packages during Eid al-Fitr. Many are taking advantage of the overlap between the Eid holidays and school summer holidays this year to combine travel and travel to both countries.

According to online travel agency Musafir.com, Eid saw a 47 percent increase in demand for group tours and holiday packages compared to Eid, and 37 percent more than last year’s Eid.

Mir Wasim Raja, MICE and holidays manager at Galadari Brothers International Travel Services (ITS), said Eid travel demand was exceptionally strong in the UK, Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan as visas are easier to obtain for these destinations.

“Most of the demand is for the UK as there are no visa issues. But visa appointments remain a challenge for other European and Schengen destinations,” he said.

Strong demand will also continue in the coming weeks, Raja added, but he asked residents to book early to avoid exorbitant fees for late bookings.

“If residents book a month or more in advance, they can save a fortune on airfare and spend the same money on leisure travel and other experiences,” the ITS manager said.

Raja added that bookings were high during Eid and summer holidays.

According to Musafir, about 50 percent of UAE residents focus on leisure holidays, while 25 percent are considering combining leisure travel with home tourism, and another 25 percent will travel back home.

“Many also opted for two breaks – a short holiday at the end of June for the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday, followed by a longer holiday in July or August,” it said.

Based on bookings at Musafir, UAE residents prefer to visit visa-free destinations such as Kenya, Thailand, Singapore, and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

In addition, Emirati travelers are combining destinations such as Singapore-Malaysia, Bangkok-Pattaya, Switzerland-Paris or Italy, and Georgia-Armenia or Azerbaijan.

“European countries have seen a significant increase in travel inquiries, with an estimated 30% of leisure travelers heading to Europe. Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Croatia and the Balkan countries are the most popular destinations, while the CIS countries due to their proximity, Connectivity and visa-friendly policies remain the most in-demand countries, which are attractive for tourists from the UAE,” said Raheesh Babu, COO of Musafir.com.

Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Egypt, Krabi, Trabzon and Eastern Europe are emerging destinations for UAE residents on vacation.