Most popular travel destinations for UAE travellers this Eid

Alexandria in Egypt ranks as the most popular tourist destination for UAE travellers during the upcoming Eid- Al- Fitr holidays, according to travel website Destinia.com.

The coastal city topped the searches and reservations for flights made through the site, “reiterating the growing trend of Egypt’s tourism recovery,” a report said.

UAE travellers were also eyeing holidays in Turkey, with Istanbul and Trabzon ranking second and fourth respectively.

Kochi in India ranked third on the list, while Bangkok and Amman ranked fifth and sixth respectively. New York, Munich, Barcelona and Manila made up the top 10 cities for UAE travellers, the report added.

“Eid holidays are the perfect opportunity to spend time with family and friends,” said Strategic Partnerships manager for Destinia.com Ines Chueca.

“This year’s top destinations reflect both the local market’s preferences, but also the efforts of outbound destinations to attract travellers from this part of the world. For example, we can see how Egypt is resurging as a tourist destination with initiatives like Masr Qariba, the country’s new campaign which highlights Egypt’s proximity to other Arab countries through culture, history and social grounds,” she said.

Thailand’s tourism strategies, such as the recently launched Thailand Muslim Friendly Destination app, have also proven to be effective, making it one of the most popular Asian countries for Arab visitors.

“European countries, on the other hand, continue to attract Middle Eastern tourists. Hence Destinia has joined efforts with Tourism Germany to promote the country amongst GCC travellers,” Chueca added.

A recent report by travel site Expedia also found that Cairo was the most popular destination for tourists from the UAE in 2014. The Egyptian capital saw the biggest increase in bookings last year compared to 2013.

Based on bookings made in Expedia and its partner sites such as hotwire.com and trivago, the report found that Amman and Lebanese capital Beirut ranked as the second and third most popular destinations.

The report also predicted that Cairo, Beirut and Amman will retain their top positions in 2015, with New York and London expected to rank fourth and fifth this year for UAE travellers.