TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
Travellers from UAE are hoping to head abroad this winter to make up for lack of summer holidays over more than two years. Most people would like to go away with their extended families to make up for lost time. This is according to research from Marriott Bonvoy, travel loyalty programme.
The figures show that over eight out of 10 (83 per cent) people in the UAE are planning to head away on a holiday over winter this year, with a vast majority (87 per cent) saying they would like to travel to a different country. For many, a winter holiday will be breaking away from the tradition – 24 per cent of those planning to go away this winter say they usually go away at this time of year. Nearly one in five (19 per cent) say this would be the first time they have ever gone on a holiday in winter.
COVID-19 impact on travel
Winter holidays are a result of the pandemic — a third (32 per cent) say they are planning to go away as they could not over summer, while a 36 per cent say they are wanting to go on holidays to make up for not being able to go away during COVID-19. Turkey (9 per cent), Egypt (8 per cent) and Maldives (7 per cent) are the key destinations people from the UAE would like to head to this winter.
Taking the whole family along
The research reveals another trend due to the ongoing pandemic — a surge in people who would like to go away with their wider family. Nearly nine out of 10 (87 per cent) of those planning to go on holiday say they would like to go away with wider family members. This compares to a quarter (25 per cent) who say they regularly go on holiday with generations of their family. Siblings (40 per cent), parents (41 per cent), cousins (25 per cent) and aunties and uncles (14 per cent) are those from the UAE are hoping to travel with in future. Nearly 96 per cent of those planning
to go away with family members this winter say this is to specific ally make up for not being able to see as much of each other during the pandemic.
