Supported by the campaign "The Most Beautiful Winter in the World" and discounts at hotels and entertainment destinations

"Agencies": The decline in school vacation travel supports domestic tourism

• Hotel reservations in the country are witnessing a remarkable increase during the current period.

  Emirates today

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Travel and tourism agencies have confirmed a decline in travel abroad during the current first semester vacation, by more than 60%, compared to the same period last year, due to the repercussions of the new Corona virus (Covid-19), and the continued presence of restrictions on travel in many From countries, and the outbreak of the virus in destinations that were considered essential for the country's population.

She added, to "Emirates Today", that the decline in travel abroad has already started to affect domestic tourism, especially hotels, tourist and entertainment places and commercial centers, expecting domestic tourism to grow by up to 40%, supported by the "Most Beautiful Winter in the World Campaign", which Launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, it is the first unified domestic tourism campaign in the UAE, and it will last for 45 days, and the promotional offers it contains are encouraging.

Travelling abroad

In detail, the sales manager of the Happy Line Tourism Company, Salah Khaled Salem, said that there is a decline in travel abroad during the current semester vacation by more than 60%, compared to the same period last year, as a result of the repercussions of the new Corona virus (Covid- 19), the presence of travel restrictions in many countries, and the continued spread of the virus in destinations that were considered essential for the country's population.

Salem added that this decline has already begun to be reflected in the growth of domestic tourism, especially hotels, shrines, tourist places, entertainment cities and commercial centers, indicating that the current semester vacation will lead to the growth of domestic tourism by up to 30%, within the framework of the campaign «The most beautiful winter in the world. », Announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, especially that the campaign includes many facilities and encouraging promotional offers.

He stressed that the UAE has taken measures to encourage the granting of tourist visas, such as reducing the value of the tourist visa for children, which encourages residents to issue visas for their families to visit the country, and thus support domestic tourism.

Hotel reservations

For her part, the head of the sales department at "Bin Ham Travel Agency", Lama Misawi, said that the semester vacation, which began in the UAE, is witnessing a significant decline in travel abroad by more than 50%, due to the repercussions of "Covid-19", in agreement. However, that supports domestic tourism in the country.

Misawi explained that hotel reservations in the country are witnessing a remarkable increase during the current period, stressing that the school leave, coinciding with the end of the Gregorian year, contributes to increasing the demand for hotels, tourist destinations, and entertainment places in the country, by rates of up to 40%.

She revealed that the agency's work is focused by approximately 80% on booking hotels in the country, compared to 20% for booking tickets abroad.

Special cards

The CEO of "Nirvana Travel and Tourism", Alaa Al-Ali, agreed to review travel during the first semester to support domestic tourism, stressing that offers and discounts packages for hotels and recreational places are currently being prepared and will be ready within days, stressing that the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, it came exactly on time, as it coincides with the first semester vacation and festive celebrations in many countries of the world.

Al-Ali pointed out that the period of Christmas holidays in many countries of the world, and the measures taken by the UAE to confront the pandemic, and open the door to receiving tourists, at a time when many countries are still closed, supports the UAE and a future destination for tourism during the coming period.

He revealed that coordination is underway between a number of agencies to issue visitors' cards, which include discounts on hotels and tourist destinations since the arrival of the tourist, and cover the time they spend in the country.

In addition, the director of the "Kish Tourism Company", Muhammad Hassan, said that the current period, which coincides with the leave of the semester, is witnessing a decline of more than 60% in travel abroad, due to the repercussions of the "Covid-19" pandemic on business, and the closure of some countries to the movement tourism.

Hassan confirmed that there is a significant decline in the travel of citizens and residents abroad, especially families, at a time when travel for work purposes or family reunification is concentrated, especially residents.

Weather and length of vacation

Tourism expert, Salah Al-Antari, said that "the effects of the end of the first semester leave will be reflected on the increase in domestic tourism, especially as it is long and comes in weather that is the best throughout the year, as well as the decline in travel abroad by more than 60%."

He expected that domestic tourism would achieve a growth of up to 40% in the activities of hotels and recreational areas, and that the emirates of the country, led by Dubai, would benefit from the tourism movement.

• An expected growth of domestic tourism traffic by up to 40% during the coming period.

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