Sustainability becomes important to industry as country becomes global aviation hub
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A majority (61%) of UAE residents are willing to pay more for responsible, environmentally friendly and sustainable travel.
According to a survey published by YouGov, Emiratis are the second highest paying people for eco-friendly travel after Indians (68%).
Emiratis are more willing to pay for sustainable travel than residents of places like Indonesia, Mexico, China, Spain, Hong Kong, Canada, Sweden, Italy, France and the US.
Likewise, around 65% of Emiratis believe it is important to choose a travel company with a strong sustainability policy.
Driven by the government, sustainable development has become a buzzword among residents and businesses. To promote sustainable development in the country, Expo 2020 Dubai hosted Terra – the Sustainability Pavilion and Sustainability Zone – during the six-month mega-event. This year, the UAE will also host COP28, the world’s largest gathering of leaders to discuss the effects of climate change.
All of these efforts have raised awareness among residents and led to growing support for companies that recognize sustainability in their products and services.
The YouGov survey included the views of 1,086 respondents aged 18+ from the UAE.
Sustainability is important to the travel and tourism industry as the UAE becomes a global aviation hub.
UAE consumers are more likely to travel since the coronavirus pandemic, ranking highest out of 18 countries at 58%, a YouGov survey found.
This was reflected in last year’s passenger traffic figures at Dubai International Airport (DXB), which more than doubled to more than 66 million in 2022 on the back of a strong recovery. Dubai International Airport handled 66,069,981 passengers last year, a significant increase of 127% year-on-year.
According to YouGov’s post-pandemic luxury travel white paper, comparing data across countries, the UAE (18%), India and Mexico are more willing to combine work with leisure and work (remote work during holidays) (17%) and Indonesia (15%), In the European market, it is less obvious.
Other top considerations for UAE tourists when choosing a destination are top-notch entertainment, quality luxury accommodation that no one else can offer.