UAE residents are making their summer plans in full swing. The early part of July began with residents making unbelievable travel choices. Yes, they are either choosing to be at home. Or, opting for nearby getaways in the region.
As per Visa’s Travel Pulse Eid Al Adha Edition, there was a sudden rise in the demand for domestic getaways. Residents are trading the long holidays for local luxuries. Besides, they are also opting for restaurant hopping and short escapes within the Emirates.
Popular cities like London, Paris, and Istanbul attracted the usual crowd. Surprisingly, the data is showing an increase in UAE-based travelers choosing staycations for relaxing summer holidays. It is a financially smart and cooler alternative and doesn’t require much brainstorming.
A New Trend of Short Weekend Escapades Is Creating Major Joy
One of the survey reports by Visa says that 87% of the UAE residents opted for extended trips this Eid. Be it’s escaping to the cooler ambiance of Europe. Or, booking luxurious staycations in the country, the shift shows clear priorities of convenience, comfort, and tailored experiences.
However, there was a slight increase in outbound travel by 2% from the previous year. But the UAE travelers’ spending habits are no longer based on splurging indiscriminately. London is at the top of the list of international destinations. Next on the list come Paris and Istanbul for their unique travel values. While Paris is preferred for luxury shopping, Istanbul is famous for its inexpensiveness. But the biggest surprise came from the UAE itself.
The Demand for Staycation Saw a Major Rise
One of the data reports by Visa shows that the domestic spending rose to 68% year-on-year. But the spend per card increased to 20%. So, it shows an increase in the staycation boom. Yes, the UAE residents these days are preferring to re-explore Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi. But, the most popular staycation in high demand is the Yas Island Staycation packages. These are all inclusive with fine dining, leisure activities, and family encounters. Efficient Tourism offers the best Yas Island staycation packages at unbelievable prices.
- Dubai is leading with 70% of local spending and more than half of domestic travelers.
- Abu Dhabi attracted about 21% of staycationers with the Yas Island Staycation packages.
- Sharjah saw a 33% margin with expenditures on food and dining since the city is famous for its authentic Arabian culture.
Salima Gutieva, Visa’s VP for the UAE, mentioned that the data primarily depicts two travel trends: while some residents opted for short getaways to London, Paris, and Istanbul, others went for the premium staycations in the UAE.
Why People Are Choosing Staycations?
There are several factors behind this:
- Longer vacations and airport crowds often lead to travel fatigue.
- Demand for family-friendly quick getaways.
- Customized card rewards and partnerships with the best resorts and hotels make local traveling more tempting.
- People are getting aware of the homegrown luxury as well as leisure offerings.
Merchants and banks are offering Visa-exclusive deals and early booking rewards. So, luxurious weekends in RAK or food-based retreats in Abu Dhabi are gradually becoming more popular.
Bottom Line
This year’s Eid showed that holidays and getaways don’t always mean week-long vacations. So, whether you want to relax inside the air-conditioned 5-star Dubai hotel. Or, exploring the tempting food scene of Sharjah, a staycation is becoming the primary attraction for most UAE residents.
