UAE | Tourism

Travel agents report brisk business over long holidays

Travel agents in the UAE have reported a brisk business for the Eid holidays despite the global economic downturn.

  • By Kevin Scott, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:25 December 2, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • International Airport, Terminal 1, on Tuesday. Tour operators say they have been witnessing unusually high demand for destinations such as Malaysia and Singapore.
  • Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News

Dubai: Travel agents in the UAE have reported a brisk business for the Eid holidays despite the global economic downturn.

Thousands of people still plan to head abroad over the Eid Al Adha break with Malaysia, Singapore and resorts in the Indian Ocean the most popular destinations. The public sector and schools are closed for National Day and Eid Holidays from December 2 to December 13 while the private sector will have three day holidays from December 7 to 9.

They will have in total five days holiday as December 5 and 6 (Friday and Saturday) are weekly off days for most of the private sector.

The recent demonstrations in Bangkok have forced some people to change their travel plans with many swapping Thailand for Sri Lanka. Some holidaymakers have also cancelled trips to India in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

A spokesperson for Dnata told Gulf News it was business as usual this year for the Eid holidays.

"We have seen the usual high demand at this time of year for destinations such as Malaysia and Singapore. 30 per cent of our bookings are for our destinations in the Indian Ocean including the Maldives, the Seychelles and Mauritius," the spokesperson said.

"Of course with the current situation in Bangkok we have had to make alternative arrangements for some of our customers. About 70 per cent of passengers previously booked for Thailand are now going to Sri Lanka instead, which is now also fully booked," he added.

Fifty per cent of respondents to a Gulf News poll last week said they would spend Eid at home, eight per cent said they would be working. Twelve per cent of respondents said they would be travelling, 12 per cent planned to take a vacation and 18 per cent said 'What holidays'.

The Dnata spokesperson added: "I've had six different customers cancel packages to Kerala over the last few days as some people are wary of travelling to India in the wake of the recent attacks in Mumbai. But apart from that we have had a busy end to the month after a slow start.

Are you going abroad during the upcoming holidays? Has the economic crunch affected your holiday plans? Is there a way in which holiday-makers can spend their free time in an affordable pursuit of pleasure? Fill in the form bellow to send your comments.

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