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Doha, Qatar: Qatar's outbound travel sector is witnessing a massive increase in sales for the upcoming Eid Al Adha compared to the same period in 2023, industry experts have said, highlighting the rising demand for leisure activities, which includes staycations among the residents and citizens.
Speaking to The Peninsula recently, Lourdes Dolor, Marketing Manager at Darwish Travel, said that the significant increase also underscores the fact that expatriates are also taking advantage of the school summer vacation period to return to their home countries, which has significantly influenced travel patterns this season.
"This Eid, citizens and residents are selecting a diverse range of destinations. As usual, the United Kingdom comes in tops, followed by Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and Italy, according to Darwish’s booking data. Other surging destinations travellers explore are Switzerland, Germany, and Georgia," Dolor said.
She said that many countries have eased their visa restrictions for expatriates aiming to influence their travel plans.
“The Maldives offers a free visa on arrival for up to 30 days, and countries like Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey provide e-visas or visa-free entry for Qatar residents, further simplifying travel and making them preferred destinations, especially for last minute or spontaneous travel plans," Dolor noted.
In order to attract more customers and cater to diverse preferences, Dolor mentioned that Darwish offers family packages, luxury getaways, short breaks, and customised travel solutions.
“These types of packages available for numerous destinations, combined with the increased airline options and competitive pricing, have significantly contributed to the positive sales trajectory this Eid season,” she added.
Firos Nattu, General Manager at Mosafer Travel, also observed a vital surge in outbound travel.
“The convergence of Eid holidays and the start of the summer vacation season has fueled this rise in travel activity. This year, the Eid holidays have been seen as a brief prelude to the longer summer vacations. Given these trends, we are anticipating a very positive response from the market for summer travel,” he said.
As per his statistics, the UK again comes in the top spot for travellers this Eid, followed by interests in Germany, Italy, and Spain.
However, he noticed a decline for France. “Probably due to the Paris Olympics 2024,” he said.
“There is also a growing trend among the younger generation towards Japan and South Korea, probably driven by the influence of K-beauty, K-drama, and K-pop,” Nattu said.
He noted that unique destinations such as Zanzibar, Marbella, Malaga, Sardinia, and Trabzon are also attracting Qatari citizens and residents.
Nattu outlined Mosafer’s selection of travel packages including exquisite resorts in Greece, Malaga, Antalya, Switzerland, and South Korea. He added: “For those interested in cruising, we provide attractive options in the Mediterranean, Norwegian, and Caribbean regions.”
The industry leaders have targeted customers based on their travel preferences and are assisting with travel insurance, international driving licenses for self-drivers, and visa support to ensure a seamless travel experience.
Eid Al Adha holidays, which commence on June 16 coupled with summer vacation have enabled outbound tourism sector to remarkably contribute towards Qatar’s GDP growth.
