Travel demand for Dubai up as UAE moves to UK amber list

Travel demand for Dubai up as UAE moves to UK amber list

Travel agents have recorded a spike in demand for visitors from the United Kingdom ever since the earlier this month. The revised measures from the Boris Johnson government — which extended relief to India, Bahrain and Qatar as well — went into effect on August 8 and has led to an uptick in inbound traffic from the UK to the UAE, as Emiratis and expatriates alike invite their friends and family to the country. “We’re seeing a surge in search traffic for travel to and from the UK since the UAE was placed on the amber list,” Emily Jenkins, the head of leisure, UAE, at dnata Travel, told Khaleej Times. Jenkins noted that they had received several enquiries from the UAE. The trend is likely to sustain in the coming months, as both winter and Expo 2020, which begins on October 1, are around the corner. Raheesh Babu, the group chief operating officer of online travel agency Musafir.com, said business prospects look rosy, as the UAE is tipped to be placed on the green list soon owing to a dip in daily Covid-19 infections. “Bookings are likely to pick up in a big way soon,” said Babu. The UK has