Dubai ‘top travel destination in MENA’

Dubai has come in third in the list of most popular destinations for travel in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region during the first quarter of 2018, confirming the city’s status as a top tourist destination, according to Expedia Group.

The list revealed that London was the number one city for travel, followed by Paris and Dubai, making Dubai the top destination for travel in the Mena region. Dubai beat the likes of Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Istanbul to take the third spot.

External additional data on the destination reveals that Dubai is one of the world’s top shopping destinations; with more than 60 shopping centres and major international brands, it has the second-highest density of shopping malls in the world, attracting shoppers from all around the world. The emirate also has a flourishing amusement and entertainment industry, bringing in millions of tourists every year. From skiing to sand dune bashing, Dubai has something for every type of traveller.

International demand
According to the latest data released by Expedia Group, international demand for travel into Dubai remained strong. American travellers topped the list for inbound travel, showing a growth of almost 90 per cent compared to the same period last year, followed by travellers from the UK, who showed a year on year growth of almost 45 per cent. Other countries that showed a notable year-on-year increase were Germany and France, each showing a growth of almost 70 per cent year-on-year.

The data also indicated that mobile and package demand was increasingly popular for travel into the emirate, with inbound travel showing a growth of almost 40 per cent compared to last year.

Paula de Keijzer, senior director market management Middle East, Indian Ocean, Africa, Greece & Turkey, Expedia Group said: “Dubai’s location is just one of the many factors that make it a global hub for travel and tourism. We have seen a steady growth in the number of international visitors to the region and this number is likely to keep increasing as the economy grows, especially with the availability of flights and hotels, and the increase in number of tourist attractions in Dubai.

For hoteliers, this presents an opportunity to capitalise on this increased demand for travel into the emirate by looking into the travellers’ origin of country and catering specifically to their needs. For example, tailoring experiences based on language, or offering unique experiences that they might not get anywhere else.”