Digital travel platform Booking.com’s Travel Predictions 2024 report reveals that people living in the UAE are seeking cooler weather, previously undiscovered experiences, sustainability, sleep, financial savings, and culinary experiences among other things when they go on business or leisure trips.
Nearly 28,000 travelers across 33 countries took part in the research, with the UAE included for the first time. Just over 500 UAE residents of various ages and nationalities were questioned about their travel preferences and plans for next year.
According to a new survey, almost 70% of UAE residents are looking to reduce the cost of their vacation by choosing destinations where day-to-day life is cheaper than in their home city or traveling to less far-flung places to avoid the expense of long-haul flights.
The report predicts seven travel trends in 2024 and says that travelers are willing to pay for short-term luxury experiences when arriving at their destination: 62 percent of UAE-based holidaymakers will pay for a day pass for a five-star resort rather than staying in one.
With the UAE’s year-round hot weather – and scorching temperatures in summer – 75 percent of UAE-based travelers opt for cooler climates when they go away, compared to 56 percent of all participants in the survey. And while 81 percent of all travelers will look for water-based destinations next year, only 34 percent of holidaymakers from the UAE will be choosing an aquatic escape. Booking.com expects a growing trend towards water-centric trips as more travelers learn about the benefits of floating yoga, ice therapy, and the fascination of underwater hotels.
Booking.com also found that 81 percent of UAE travelers want to see the great outdoors being brought inside, with green spaces, and plant life an integral part of their chosen accommodation.
UAE travelers also want to feel connected to the environments and communities that they are visiting, with over half seeking visits to remote locations where they can immerse themselves in the local ecosystem in off-the-beaten-track areas. Meanwhile, 73 per travelers from the UAE are keen to use sustainable travel apps as part of their travel plans. Sustainable design, architecture, and innovation are also on UAE travelers’ holiday lists.
Carlo Olejniczak, Vice President, and Managing Director for Booking.com in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, said: “UAE travelers are tech-savvy, eco-conscious, adventure-seeking and hungry for new experiences – be it in a foreign land or by exploring different areas of the UAE itself. 2024 looks set to tick all the boxes – and more – on their holiday wish list.”
