Travel bookings in UAE see 195% spike for Eid break

The volume of local and international travel bookings for the upcoming Eid Al Fitr break is up by 195 percent year-on-year so far in 2022 compared to same holiday period in 2021, said dnata Travel, the UAE’s longest-standing travel provider. This year, the number of international travel bookings for the first Eid public holiday, expected in early May, have particularly increased with 65 percent of UAE travellers opting for worldwide destinations, and 35 percent opting for staycations.

This is compared to 68 percent of travellers booking UAE staycations and 32 percent seeking international holidays, for the same holiday period in 2021. The top five most-booked destinations for travel over the expected Eid Al Fitr holiday period in 2022 so far with dnata Travel in the UAE include the Maldives, UAE, Turkey, Mauritius and Oman.

Emily Jenkins, General Manager, dnata Travel Leisure, commented: “In 2021, UAE staycations and the Indian Ocean proved most popular for travellers from the UAE looking to take a well-deserved break over Eid Al Fitr. While these destinations remain ever-popular for travellers, this year, with more destinations opening we are seeing a broader range of travel options starting to trend, across Asia, Europe, and North America.”

“The demand for travel is at a high as many countries are opening their borders to tourists once again, or relaxing, or removing Covid-19 related travel regulations, easing a passenger’s journey. Newly-opened and accessible, Bali and Singapore in particular are starting to gain traction, while Thailand is fast-climbing among our top ten most-booked destinations for Eid Al Fitr. The Maldives has remained the number one destination of choice with a spike in demand witnessed in early March due to removing its PCR-testing requirements for fully-vaccinated travellers,” Jenkins added.