Europe top summer choice

With summer arriving, it is time for locals and expats from the GCC region to enjoy their holidays to destinations around the world. A few travel experts share their views on this with TRAVTALK.

Aga Pytlik, General Manager, Pan World Travel, UAE
The trend destinations for outbound travel this summer are influenced by a combination of factors, including flight accessibility, visa requirements, and the preferences of UAE nationals. As we explore the current travel landscape, it becomes evident that certain destinations have captured the attention and wanderlust of luxury-seeking travellers or kept high demand. One of the top trend destinations for UAE nationals this summer is Switzerland. With its breathtaking landscapes, world-class hospitality, and a wealth of cultural treasures, Switzerland continues to captivate the hearts of travellers from Dubai. Additionally, Japan and Korea have emerged as sought-after destinations due to increasing flight accessibility and relaxed visa requirements, along with competitive rates of Korean Air.

Abdullah Alhajji, Co-Founder, Travel Ticket KSA, Saudi Arabia
Let me start by saying Thank God COVID is done, we are receiving lots of requests from our clients unlike last year. The requests are versatile as Saudi people wander all over the world. However, Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro are in high demand due to visa exemption and colder weather and high Muslim population. Turkey is number 1 destination for the people of Eastern Province Saudi Arabia, which share the same characteristics as the countries mentioned before. Outbound travel this year is higher than before as I mentioned before, summer is a time when travellers from Saudi take a longer break due to the school holidays. It is also a time when families travel together.

Sufian Sayed, Holidays Manager, J.S. Tourism and Trips, Saudi Arabia
Outbound travel from Saudi Arabia has been on the rise in recent years, with more and more Saudis venturing beyond their borders for leisure, business, and education. The Kingdom’s strategic location, coupled with the increasing connectivity of its airports, has made it easier for Saudis to reach destinations across the globe. Popular destinations for outbound travel from Saudi Arabia include Dubai, London, Istanbul, Bangkok, and Paris. The Government of Saudi Arabia has also taken steps to facilitate outbound travel by introducing e-visas and relaxing some of the restrictions on women traveling alone. As a result, outbound travel is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

Zoheb Fazal Musa, Sales Manager, SalamAir, Saudi Arabia
Some of the most popular outbound destinations are Indonesia, Maldives, Malaysia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, UK, France and Spain. These are mostly visited by Saudis during summer holidays. Travelling to Thailand can be an exciting and rewarding experience. From the bustling streets of Bangkok to the tranquil beaches of Phuket, there is something for everyone. Popular destinations include Chiang Mai, known for its ancient temples and hill tribe villages and Krabi, which offers stunning limestone cliffs and crystal-clear waters for diving and snorkeling. The country is also home to numerous national parks, such as Khao Yai and Doi Inthanon, which offer opportunities for hiking.

CP Ashraf, Manager, Dune Travel and Tours, Qatar
It’s a time for annual summer break. Movements in Qatar’s inbound and outbound tourism have begun picking up steam with the gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Residents from Qatar have also started resuming their long-awaited foreign trips with some Qataris now back to their pre-pandemic travel mode. Country representatives participating at QTM 2023 took note of this, and are now wooing Qataris to discover or rediscover their tourist destinations. The most popular summer destinations for the country’s travellers includes the UK, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Jordan, Russia, and Thailand.

Varsha Pherwani, Travel Counsellor Associate, Travel Counsellors
We are seeing an increasing number of bookings coming through for Summer 2023. Being an outbound business we have made the highest number of bookings to the Indian Ocean destinations like the Maldives and Seychelles since pandemic for the fact that people prefer privacy and a secluded getaway. Because the Maldives offers not only privacy but also is a halal friendly destination, it still remains popular even during the summer months, although it is the monsoon season in the Maldives. Our next popular destination for Summer 2023 is ‘the Land of the Four Seasons’ Turkey. For travellers seeking to spend longer time around Turkey, Istanbul and Cappadocia are popular.

Samer Madi, General Manager, OITC Travel and Tourism WLL, Qatar
Turkey is a great Halal holiday destination, particularly if travellers are interested in visiting somewhere with a rich Islamic history. Muslims make up around 99 per cent of the population in the country, and Islam has been present in the country since the 7th century. Some of the best places to visit in Turkey are Istanbul, Bursa, Sabanja and Izmir. And, of course, there is the coastal town of Antalya, famous for its beautiful beaches. When it comes to Halal food, travellers can find that there are a plenty of restaurants to select from in the country. Some of the best Turkish dishes to try are kebabs, pides and Shawrma. Turkey is a destination that can be visited during all the year.

Basel Atassi, Travel Counsellor, Travel Counsellors
As air fares to Europe are soaring as much as the UAE heat, together with the current challenges with Schengen Visas appointment. Cape Town emerges as a captivating alternative, boasting a delightful winter season from June to August. Famous for its pristine beaches, breathtaking landscapes, and cool ocean breezes. With reasonable air fares on Emirates, comparing to European destinations, families will have endless possibilities, from witnessing majestic whales, encountering adorable penguins, and get immersed in a world of savage wildlife. Finally, families will be able to satisfy their hunger with diverse cuisine options including Halal food; thanks to the Muslim and Indian old-dated influence on the land of Cape of good hope.

Rahul Pradhan, CEO, Vacation Krafters, UAE
Outbound travel is on the rise and the customers are looking at new destinations or new cities in the existing ones. While there are challenges on Schengen visa, there are customers who have gone ahead and secured appointments way back and are well prepared to travel in July and August. At Vacation Krafters, we have partnered with promoting the Wallonia region in Belgium and, of course, Brussels. Trabzon in Turkey and Kashmir in India are the new destinations that one must add to their bucket list. We can not shy away from our traditional countries like Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Greece whereby customers are now venturing the unseen areas within these cities. Vacation Krafters provides programs that are krafted to suit each customer.

Sushant Pilankar, Manager Leisure, Uranus Travel
Halal travel has been a growing market for the last decade, it has been growing at a significant percentage mainly because the Middle East traveller’s aspiration to travel is very high and on an average, it is growing at the rate of more than 8 per cent. For example, in Europe very few destinations knew about Halal before, but now, if you see every important market, for instance like Courchevel or smaller and newer destinations like Andermatt Switzerland, want to receive their share of Middle East travellers, hence they are more aware of the needs and have become a popular destination among the Middle Eastern travellers. I recently came from Lusail, almost all restaurants serve halal meals, hotels even go a step further and ask if you need a prayer mat.

Bassim Khamis, General Manager, NBK Travel and Tourism, Qatar
Travel and tourism are some of the prime economic drivers nowadays, as they contribute greatly to the economic advancement of the world. One of the growing segments is Halal tourism. Since the Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries have characteristic fortes to provide to Muslim travellers, they have an exceptional opportunity to gain a greater share of this growing segment. As an agency, we automatically cater to most Muslim travellers in the GCC region. the Muslim travel market should witness sustained growth and Muslim travellers are becoming a significant segment within the global travel and tourism sector. Turkey, Maldives, Indonesia and Malaysia are some of the key halal destinations for this summer.

Zayeem Mohtisham, General Manager, Tour Planner, UAE
There are several Halal-friendly outbound destinations to explore this summer, with key considerations such as halal food certifications, prayer facilities, and halal-friendly activities in mind. Most sold are the famous three Turkey, Malaysia and Maldives. Turkey, with its rich Islamic past and innumerable Halal-certified eateries, combines history and breathtaking scenery. Malaysia, recognized for its rich culture and Islamic influence, has an abundance of Halal cuisine options as well as various mosques to visit. The Maldives, a paradise of turquoise oceans and magnificent resorts, has Halal food options as well as private villas with prayer rooms. A new Halal-friendly destination that is gaining popularity from this region is the city of Marrakech in Morocco.

Ayman Al Qudwa, General Manager, Falcon Travel, Qatar
Yes, Turkey is the first destination for Qataris and residents in the State of Qatar to spend the Eid al-Adha holiday and the summer vacation this year. It is the first destination because of its tourist places and historical monuments, in addition to its picturesque green nature. And the Turks, especially the food culture and customs, which are based on halal food. Therefore, it was not surprising that Qatar Airways, the national carrier in the State of Qatar, working and preparing early this summer, to make Turkey one of its most important tourist destinations, as it operated over 58 weekly flights to cover seven main destinations and airports, namely Istanbul, Sabiha, Ankara, Adana, Trabzon, Bodrum, and Antalya.

Inputs by TT Bureau