UAE, Saudi Arabia travellers prefer premium travel experiences, reveals study

UAE, Saudi Arabia travellers prefer premium travel experiences, reveals study

Travel for business, leisure, and even ‘bleisure’ has returned in full force. The UNWTO World Tourism Barometer has shown a 182 per cent year-on-year rise in international tourism for Q1 2022, with destinations worldwide welcoming an estimated 117 million international arrivals compared to 41 million in Q1 2021. Collinson, a global leader in traveller experiences, recently performed a study of nearly 2,000 frequent travellers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, revealing some interesting insights. The analysis found that the region’s recovery was already robust in 2021, indicating a bright future. The study showed UAE travellers have taken an average of four return trips in 2021, representing a 67 per cent recovery from their pre-pandemic average of six. In Saudi Arabia travellers averaged eight return trips in a typical pre-pandemic year (2019) and took an average of five return trips in 2021, representing a 63 per cent recovery. According to the study, the usage of airport lounges is exceptionally high in the region. As an indication, 98 per cent of respondents in KSA and 95 per cent in UAE have accessed airport lounges in the past. The survey also examined how travellers in the UAE and KSA perceive travel rewards and