Dubai: Online bookings are gaining popularity in the UAE. When Gulf News asked travellers how they book their flights and hotels rooms, the majority of them favoured online platforms against conventional travel agents.
Some have expressed a preference for independent travelling. “These days online flight bookings are the only real option. Even when you have a complicated itinerary, it’s harder to get a travel agent to understand what you want than to just do it all yourself,” said Bruce Dauphin in Dubai.
Meanwhile, Abdul Moiz in Toronto said that neither websites nor travel agents offer good deals. “Sometimes online rates are cheaper than travel agents and vice versa. I compare and then book tickets.”
Madhu Madan, a resident of Sharjah, said, she and her family access Makemytrip.com for group packages, including flight tickets and sightseeing trips, and hotels, while Dubai resident Siji Jones visits booking.com, a website for booking hotels anywhere in the world, and Emirates Airlines’ website (for booking flights).
“I prefer to book my ticket online but I don’t have a credit or debit card, that’s why every time I book through traditional travel agent,” said Rifaqat Rasool in Sharjah.
With inputs from Readers Desk
