The prevailing times have been exceptionally tough for not just business but even individuals across the globe. After having come to a complete stop, travel has slowly and steadily started picking up under the air-bubbles created. I am glad to share that ever since the air bubble has commenced, there has been an unstoppable growth between the two destinations – Dubai and India. The Emirate is showing the highest levels of safety and hygiene, which has added to our advantage. Indians were amongst the most travelled segment before the pandemic struck, and they indeed are the most confident lot about resuming their international travel endeavours with Dubai.
It is unfortunate but COVID-19 is one of the rare shared global experience, which united people in their grief, loss and fear. While the pandemic caused plenty of damage, the travel trade was one of the worst hits. With the worldwide lockdown, during the initial months, the pandemic caused a huge setback to the travel and tourism industry as a whole. However, taking the lead, Dubai was one of the first cities to reopen its international borders for tourists. The destination has been witnessing a good flow of inbound traffic and with the holiday season ahead of us, we are optimistic that the Emirate will make up for the lost tourists sooner than expected.
I am glad to share that there has been a substantial growth in Q4 of 2020 with regards to outbound tourist travel from India to Dubai. With flight connectivity re-started from almost every major tier-1 and tier 2 cities, the tourism activities are kick starting in the Emirate. In my opinion, there has been a paradigm shift in the sentiment for travelling again; MICE tourism is still a few months away to begin. People are now looking at more personalized experiences, with safety and hygiene being the top priority, people are choosing to stay at luxury home-stays, which are growing in popularity and demand. Dubai has also launched a unique ‘Virtual Working Programme’ that enables overseas remote working professionals to live in Dubai while continuing to serve their employers in their home country. Furthermore, tourists are being extra cautious and are staying at trust-worthy hotel chains, which are assuring them of following complete safety protocols.
Dubai is a city that has something to offer to all – from extravagant theme parks to architectural marvels. Every time you visit the Emirate, it ceases to amaze you. Dubai has sent out a strong message that it is the global hub for health and fitness, by organizing the Dubai Fitness Challenge. The challenge is simple: complete 30 minutes of activity each day for 30 days. Dubai is also ready to host the much-awaited annual celebration of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) starting this month!
India has been the number one source market for Dubai even before the global pandemic hit and continues to maintain its position. Dubai has also emerged as the most popular international destination for India tourists, despite the current global scenario.
