As countries start to come out of lockdown and slowly lift restrictions, GCC travellers are planning future trips and gearing up for travel. AllDetails- a Dubai based travel & tourism agency conducted a survey which revealed that GCC residents intend to travel again soon. In addition, it also revealed that they preferred international destinations.
Findings From The Survey
The survey was conducted among residents and citizens of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, to understand their sentiment towards travel during the Covid19 pandemic. 83% said that they enjoy thinking about travel during this period while 56% of the respondents admitted that they were negatively affected by Covid-19 news.
In addition, the respondents also expect to have some health security guarantees in place to travel again. Most of them revealed they will then travel as soon as 2 to 4 weeks after the travel restrictions have been lifted; for both leisure and business purposes. The survey revealed that 72% of GCC travellers will travel for leisure, with a change in scenery being their first priority and 80% will travel for a duration of one week or more.
What’s More?
The survey also revealed that young travellers between 21 – 34 years of age are more cautious and would wait longer than the older age group of 35 – 64 years, to travel again. However, respondents across all age groups enjoy thinking and reading about travel during the pandemic.
Isabel Tapp, Founder & CEO of AllDetails said: “The sentiment across the region is very much a resounding “Yes!” to travel as soon as it is safe to do so. The period of lockdown has made us all realise that we were taking our freedom to travel and experience new places and cultures for granted. I believe we have all been writing our bucket lists and thinking about all the new places we want to visit and experience as well as re-visiting our old favourites once again. We have been dreaming about travel over the last few weeks and are all longing to start exploring again soon”.
What Else?
Meanwhile, a recent study by Booking.com collated all the places wish listed by Indians in March 2020 & April 2020. The result? Mumbai topped the domestic travel spot wish list & Dubai topped the international travel spot wish list. Well, we’re surely not surprised!