“India-UAE travel recovers three times faster than expected”-News

An industry expert said that with the reopening of the border, the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions and the acceptance of vaccines, Indians have shown a “strong interest” in travel to the UAE.

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According to Daniel D’Souza, President and Country Head of Leisure and Tourism of India SOTC Travel Ltd, one of the main drivers of this growth is the large number of global events currently held in the UAE.

SOTC India is a leading travel company active in various fields, including leisure travel, incentive travel and business travel.

Comprehensive travel services company Thomas Cook India and its group company SOTC Travel are the official authorized ticket distributors for Expo 2020 Dubai in India.

“No other country in the world has hosted so many events.”

“The 2020 Dubai World Expo, the Indian Premier League (IPL), the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the technology expo Gitex and the Dubai Shopping Festival and other large-scale events are planned and executed in Dubai, with the highest level of compliance with Covid. These events and the UAE The overall economic rebound and pandemic recovery currently being experienced is attracting a lot of attention from Indian tourists,” D’Souza explained.

In addition, the recent opening of attractions such as the Dubai Eye and Madame Tussauds in Dubai, as well as many other cultural, sports and commercial projects, make Dubai an ideal tourist destination.

He said: “India-UAE travel has rebounded three times faster than we expected. We have witnessed a 60% to 70% growth in the industry.”

According to D’Souza, the only obstacle to India-UAE travel during the peak period is the low seat capacity between the two countries and the need for passengers to undergo extensive pre-travel RT-PCR testing before arriving in the UAE. “Passengers need to perform at least five pre-travel PCR tests, including one six hours before departure. This adds to the traveler’s cost factor,” D’Souza said.

In addition, India and the UAE share an air transportation bubble agreement, which means that the seat capacity between the two countries is lower, resulting in higher flight ticket prices. D’Souza said that once regulatory requirements are relaxed, travel demand will only soar further.

The UAE and the Maldives are two countries that are favored by Indian tourists. “These destinations are short-distance destinations, making them a convenient choice for luxury travelers. In addition, we have also launched a service called “Travshield” in cooperation with Apollo Hospital. This gives customers the confidence to travel,” D’Souza explained.

Expo 2020 Dubai boosts luxury and corporate demand

As the official sales partner of Expo 2020 Dubai in India, D’Souza said that this has greatly boosted demand. “I visited the Expo a few days ago and it turned out very well. Because of the Expo, we will see a lot of demand from India,” he added. SOTC has adopted Expo 2020 as a hybrid product of India-UAE travel itineraries, especially for corporate bookings.

“Now that Diwali is approaching, the demand will only surge. Families usually travel in groups during the holidays, and the weather in the UAE during this period is pleasant, which means that the demand during the New Year period and the demand during the Christmas period should soar. “He added. He said that the only challenge that SOTC faces in promoting the Expo is marketing to Indian audiences.

“The Expo 2020 is so large that it can sometimes be daunting for travel agencies like us. However, we are tailoring branding solutions for families, couples, businesses, and technology communities,” explains D’Souza.

Commenting on the relationship between SOTC and the UAE, D’souza said: “Our partnership in Dubai is with Galadari International Travel Services (ITS). We cater to the large NRI community throughout the Middle East, and ITS is one of our main partners. SOTC as a brand is very strong in the Indian community, especially because of the food and experience we provide. Similarly, ITS is a well-known brand in the UAE.”

-dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

Danusha Gukulan

Dhanusha Gokulan is from India and has been working as a journalist for more than ten years. For Khaleej Times, she reports on NRI affairs, civil aviation and immigration issues. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism, economics and English literature from Mangalore University in 2008, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in contemporary media leadership and innovation at the American University in Dubai. In her spare time, she gets involved in singing/song writing, loves food, and is the mother of an over-enthusiastic Labrador Retriever. On her Twitter @shootsprintrite.