Why do travelers from the UAE prefer to visit the same destination in the post-pandemic period?

A new research study conducted by Marriott Bonvoy, a loyalty program that includes hotels, resorts, rental destinations and diverse experiences offered by 30 brands in 138 countries, revealed that travelers in the UAE tend to choose the same destination year after year, due to the comfort and familiar atmosphere it provides after weakness. Their desire for adventure after the "Covid-19" crisis.

The results of the study revealed today indicated that about a quarter of Emirati travelers abroad (27%) plan to visit new destinations after the end of the pandemic, with the Maldives and Turkey at the top of the list of favorite destinations for Emirati travelers who plan to spend their holidays abroad by 19%.

73% of the participants stated that they visited Turkey in the past, while 48% of them spent their holidays there several times, while 68% of the participants heading to the Maldives indicated that they spent their holidays there before.

According to the study, Egypt came as the third most popular foreign holiday destination for travelers from the UAE during the period following the “Covid-19” crisis, with 17%, followed by the United Kingdom with 13% and Italy with 13%.

88% of respondents plan to take vacations in the next 12 months, while 7% do not plan to travel, 6% have not made a decision yet.

And it seems that the closure period has had a clear impact on the Emiratis’ decision to choose their preferred vacation destination after the pandemic, as more than half of the study participants, 51%, reported that the “Covid-19” crisis negatively affected their confidence in visiting new destinations.

And 52% of those surveyed said that they do not intend to spend their vacations abroad because of their low confidence in travel procedures in the post-Covid-19 crisis.

On the reason why many travelers visit familiar destinations instead of trying new options, the study showed that amenities are an important factor for many visitors, as more than a quarter of respondents (27%) indicated that they prefer destinations that offer similar food options to Emirati foods. 16% of them prefer destinations that allow them to meet other travelers from the UAE.

And 15% of the participants expressed the importance of having sports from the UAE on TV in the destinations they would like to visit.

The study added that 25% of the participants feel reassured about what the vacation will offer them, while 15% of them stated that the love of exploration and adventure is not in their nature.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news