Eid-Al-Fitr likely to see UAE luxury travel rebound

  • Date: 12-May-2021
  • Source: Zawya
  • Sector:Tourism
  • Country:UAE
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Eid-Al-Fitr likely to see UAE luxury travel rebound

While safety remains important in the new normal, travel and hospitality providers expect private travel from Middle Eastern source markets to continue to lead the sector’s return over the Eid period and beyond. Although the industry has faced one of its worst years, the leisure-focused private travel segment is rebounding, with bookings from the UAE and other GCC countries on the rise, possibly because many residents are sitting on more savings. “Initially, there was a dead stop, but luxury travel has now become the first sector to recover,” says Deborah Calmeyer, CEO and founder of ROAR Africa, a luxury travel specialist with curated experiences in 13 countries. “There seems to be a great interest in Kenya and Rwanda for Eid, with families booking for much longer safaris of two to three weeks and buying out the exclusive use of lodges.” “Both destinations are five hours’ direct flight from Dubai, so [they are] very easy and safe to access. All of those in the tourism [business] in these countries are vaccinated,” she added. Meanwhile, the Velaa Private Island in the Maldives reports an average occupancy of over 80 percent since November, with waiting lists for some rooms. General Manager Wayne Milgate