Dubai: Travelers to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia plan to take more breaks in 2023 and also spend more on their vacations until last year, according to a report.
Most travelers will make travel plans, and about a quarter will make plans to stay in luxury accommodation, the report adds.
These are the findings of Marriott Bonvoy’s Travel Trends 2023 research, which analyzed the 2023 plans of 14,000 travelers in Europe and the Middle East.
According to the study, 93% of travelers to the UAE and Saudi Arabia will spend a holiday, and more than two-thirds in the market (66% in Saudi Arabia and 69% in the UAE) plan more trips than in 2022.
The accumulation and spending is due, in part, to increased confidence that holiday plans for 2023 will not be affected by covid, and that remains a precedent for Middle Eastern consumers. Sustainability also plays a vital role in plans for 2023, while “taking a break” is a must for tourists.
Wellness-focused vacations that allow others to get away from it all will be the main type of vacation in the Middle East. More than six in 10 UAE (61%) plan to do so, while the figure is even higher in Saudi Arabia. (73%).
Authentic is also essential, with many not diving into a complete cultural change, with more than a share in either market (55% in the UAE and 56% in Saudi Arabia) not exploring new destinations and cultures. Local culture, 30% of Emiratis and 27% of Saudis plan to spend 3 weeks or more in the same destination.
Of those who go on extended vacation, 39% from Saudi Arabia and 37% from the UAE say it’s the first time they’ll do so.
Forty-eight percent of those in the United Arab Emirates and 44 percent in Saudi Arabia who spend extended vacations noted that the ability to work remotely allows them to take longer vacations without having to take annual leave for the entire break.
In fact, hybrid and remote paintings have had a significant impact on travel plans in 2023. Almost a third of the UAE (31%) and 23% in Saudi Arabia plan to take a “paint-free holiday”: where they will continue to attach and paint while travelling, allowing them to find a new position without taking annual leave.
By 2023, most travelers plan to spend more on their vacation than last year: 74% in the UAE and 69% in Saudi Arabia say they will.
Around a quarter of the market (26% in the UAE and 25% in Saudi Arabia) plans to splurge and stay in luxury accommodation, while all-inclusive resorts will also be popular (17% in the UAE and 12% in Saudi Arabia) As a result, consumers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia have high expectations when it comes to their holiday accommodation, being the cost, cleanliness and location the 3 maximum vital factors.
Neal Jones, Director of Sales and Marketing for Marriott International – Europe, Middle East and Africa: “Travel trends for 2023 are more exciting than ever due to the unique scenario we find ourselves in, as we anticipate how consumers plan this year. It is very obvious that there is a resurgence of the sector based largely on increased confidence from lers, with maximums making plans to spend more than last year and calling for luxury lers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia to remain strong. This obviously shows wonderful optimism, but also that other people will restrict their vacation spending.
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