Sri Lanka among UAE’s dnata Travel’s top holiday picks
The Morning: The UAE’s dnata Travel has revealed the most popular holiday hotspots for 2024. In order of popularity, the top five most booked international destinations with UAE travellers are Thailand, Maldives, UK, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.
Thailand continues as the favourite international holiday destination, maintaining its top spot from last year’s Eid Al Etihad weekend. Sri Lanka is a standout new entry, as bookings almost double in volume compared to the same period last year.
So far, 85% of all bookings are for international travel, while the remaining 15% are for UAE staycations. Consistent with typical trends, staycations are booked closer to holiday date, therefore this balance may switch more towards staycations and regional stays as November progresses.
This year, Ras Al Khaimah is popular for staycations, thanks to an ever-increasing range of new or fully reimagined hotels offering unique experiences.
dnata Travel Leisure Manager Matthew Vlemmiks said: “Sri Lanka has always been popular in this market and is firmly back on the map for Eid Al Etihad 2024. With a short flight time and excellent value, both in the air and on the ground, the country appeals to travellers with its diverse offerings including natural landscapes, wildlife spotting, picturesque beaches, historic landmarks, and incredible food.”
“Thailand remains in demand with direct flights to Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi, making it an ideal destination for a relaxing beach weekend or an action-packed city break. The Maldives and Turkey also attract holidaymakers with shorter flight times, a wide range of resorts, and family-friendly activities.
While the UK sees a lot of air traffic from residents of the UAE visiting loved ones, it is also in high demand at this time of the year with tourists seeking a festive feel and world-class shopping,” Vlemmiks added.
Across the wider winter months, dnata Travel experts report a growing interest in more adventurous, multi-destination itineraries. Popular choices include European winter markets, Northern Light excursions, and classic ski trips.
Demand is also rising for dnata Travel’s all-inclusive packages which simplify trip planning by covering activities, ski passes and après-ski – all tailored to travellers’ preferences.
New for 2024, culturally rich itineraries across Japan and Vietnam are trending, with both destinations accessible via direct flights. Additionally, winter sun escapes to the Indian Ocean remain in high demand, with the Maldives and Seychelles continuing to perform well.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka being identified as a must visit tourist destination by many leading travel publications has resulted in an increased interest in the country’s tourism industry. With Sri Lanka becoming a top holiday pick by foreign travel agencies, the increase in tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka has opened new business/investment opportunities in the tourism industry as well as in the airport and aviation industry. Both these industries are facing an increase in operations due to the increasing number of foreign travelers to Sri Lanka. The need to develop infrastructure and supplementary infrastructure facilities to meet the growing demand in the tourism as well as airport and aviation industries have presented many business/investment opportunities. These opportunities would see a continuous increase due to Sri Lanka’s target of achieving hub status in the South Asian region. The Sri Lankan authorities have already identified the need to develop the country’s tourism as well as airport and aviation infrastructure. With Sri Lanka on a steady growth path with an increasing business potential, foreign businesses/investors could explore the expanding business/investment opportunities in the country, especially in the tourism as well as airport and aviation industries.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20241204/Z_2 |