All eyes on Israel

Opening of the Israel market couldn’t have come at a better time for the travellers in the GCC as it provides a beacon of hope to the industry once again.

Shehara Rizly

Nasir Jamal Khan, CEO, Al Naboodah Travel

As a new destination every new market wants to explore Dubai and UAE, the same has happened before for new markets like Vietnam, French, China. They prefer to do desert safari as excursion, surprisingly they are not that much interested in cultural tours and city tours but Burj Khalifa, Frame Dubai,etc. Their preferences are Dubai as first followed by Abu Dhabi. One of the most booked attraction is the Burj Khalifa.

Israel is a good market with a good spending potential, we can classify them same as German Market but not that much powerful as CIS (Russian) Market. They do prefer luxury most of the time and they prefer to stay in Down Town area or Marina area and about 80% book only 5* properties and 20% 4* properties, I have not heard or noticed any 3* property booked by Israeli market. They are not brand conscious, nowadays most of the hotels have a virtual video tour showing the property and amenities, and if they like what they see they just book it. Seven nights is the average stay, but we have noticed that many tourists were amazed with what Dubai is offering and have extended their stay. Most of them are travelling alone or couples, very less family with children.

Jayaram V Iyer, Managing Director, Sharaf Travel

Both business and leisure travellers from Israel visit Dubai. People are fascinated to visit as its their first Gulf Country to receive Israeli passengers. We have been receiving desert activities, High end car rentals or Luxury hotels and in terms of adventure activities Yellow boat & Buggy rides. The younger population prefers Palm Jumeirah, JBR and Marina, Deira by those who like to venture out into the traditional and cultural side of UAE and downtown for nightlife. Some of the attractions requested by them are Burj Khalifa at the Top, Global village, Miracle garden and Various themed hotels like Bab al Shams, Maha Resort, Hatta fort. They prefer Four Seasons , Armani & Mandarin Oriental Hotels to name a few with an average stay of about 4-5 nights. 50% of travellers are young singles travelers while another 50% are families with or without children.

Saleem Sharif, Deputy Managing Director  ATS Travel

Israel market wants to experience in person, a land that was a taboo for them for all these years. When visiting the UAE they like to experience  Arabian Desert safari, city tour, sight-seeing , dhow cruise, nightlife, canal ride, water sports, local Arabic food , Theme parks. Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and other Northern Emirates with most specific requests are dining experience in the Hotels at the Palm, Atlantis, Burj Khalifa , Jebel Jais – Zipline, Theme parks , water sports and night life. It is a mix of luxury and mid budget with 40% Luxury and 60% Mid Budget and they prefer  mid-ranged Luxury , Locations such as  Sheik Zayed road, downtown , Marina are main locations they prefer to stay at American chain properties. Purely in the UAE: Family : 1 week , Individual: 5 to 6 days , Business travelers: 5 days. There is a segment that would like to stay in the UAE for 3 days and then fly to Indian Ocean locations for a week and then fly back home.