Directors attributed it to the immediate approval of the return permit and precautionary measures
Residents' reservations to return to the UAE «full number»
The immediate approval of the return permit has encouraged many to travel abroad for summer vacations. Photography: Ashok Verma
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Managers and officials of travel and tourism companies said that return reservations to the UAE increased by 100%, and many trips became "full-number", especially from countries where residents are concentrated in particular, such as Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, India and Sudan.
They explained to "Emirates Today" that the UAE’s success in controlling the Corona virus significantly and being reassured about the precautionary measures applied in the Emirates, in addition to the entry into force of the second phase of the return of residents and the immediate approval of a return permit, are the main factors behind the high return reservations to the country. .
They indicated that there is an increase in reservations by residents to travel abroad, especially to their countries, before the end of the summer vacation, after being reassured of the ease of returning again to the Emirates, noting that travel trips to European destinations for the purpose of entertainment, whether for citizens or residents, are still few compared to previous years. .
Flights
In detail, the CEO of "Nirava Travel and Tourism", Alaa Al-Ali, said that "many of the flights coming to the Emirates, especially the countries where residents are concentrated, have become (full numbers), after the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship decided to cancel the return permit for those with residency. And the success of the UAE in controlling the virus significantly.
Al-Ali explained that flights from Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, India and Sudan are witnessing a high density of reservations now, so that many flights have become 100% booked, after the issue of returning to the Emirates became easier than before, after the return permit was canceled, indicating that many reservations Of these trips, up to 50% at most, before the decision to cancel the return permit.
He pointed out that the UAE's success in controlling the virus and being reassured about the precautionary measures in place, contributed significantly to the increase in return reservations for residents.
Al-Ali noted that the cancellation of the “return permit” encouraged many to travel from the UAE to spend the summer vacations abroad, whether citizens or residents, and take advantage of summer vacations that are about to expire, explaining that many flights abroad have also become “full-fledged”. He stressed that many travel and tourism companies have received many reservations, especially to resident countries, after their fears of not being able to return to the UAE have disappeared, which are the fears that were dispelled by the decision to cancel the "return permit".
Great growth
For his part, a travel and tourism consultant, Riyadh Al-Faisal, said, "There is a great growth in reservations to the UAE by 100%, on the part of residents who have not been able to return over the past months," noting that "many trips from countries where residents are concentrated Arabs and foreigners, come to the Emirates (full number) ».
Al-Faisal noted that the activity of airline flights in general is progressing gradually, as a result of the measures that have been taken and aimed at facilitating travelers, pointing out that there is activity in travel from the Emirates, by citizens and residents, before the end of the summer vacation, but travel varies from One country to another, according to the extent of countries' control over the virus and the reassurance of the precautionary measures applied.
Return permit
For his part, the general manager of the "Bin Saleh Tourism and Travel" company, Hussein Atallah, said that there is a great activity in reservations now after the decision to cancel the return permit request, and that activity includes incoming flights to the Emirates or departing trips compared to the period prior to the issuance of the decision.
Atallah explained that there are many reservations that increase by at least 50% for incoming trips to the Emirates, noting that most of the reservations are from residents of the country, especially from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, India, Pakistan and others.
In this regard, he pointed out that the cancellation of the return permit and the UAE's success in controlling the virus, and the conduct of regular checks, played a big role in encouraging many residents to return, which led to a significant increase in reservations.
He explained that there is also an increase of more than 30% for summer vacation trips abroad, especially in the countries of residents, before the summer vacation ends, to be reassured of the ease of returning to the country again.
He mentioned that many national carriers, along with other airlines, have returned to operating regular flights almost daily to many destinations that have a high demand for travel.
Atallah pointed out that the usual summer family trips to Europe and other destinations, especially for citizens, are still few, and there are currently no trips organized by government departments to travel, as usually happens in the summer period.
Numbers of reservations
Daryl Sequeira, General Manager of Safar for Tourism and Travel, said that we have noticed a significant increase in the number of bookings from residents to return to the UAE, especially Abu Dhabi, indicating that there are a large number of inquiries about reservation procedures during the current period.
Siqueira attributed this to the easing of procedures, especially the cancellation of the return permit application, which made it easier to reunite families again and increase travelers' reassurance.