Public-owned international strategic communications company, Kekst CNC, published findings from its fourth edition of its COVID-19 Opinion Tracker, revealing that the UAE enjoys great support among loyal travelers.
The country is preferred by travelers for return visits even against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic that has brought tourism-dependent economies around the world to a halt.
According to the study, in the next 12 months at least two out of every five people who have visited the UAE in the last three years expect to return to the Emirates, highlighting its loyal base of travelers.
In the United Kingdom, 44% of the people who have visited the UAE earlier intends to have another visit in the coming year.
More than half of people in France, which is a whopping 54% of them, who have visited the UAE say they are likely to return. This is the highest percentage among the four countries that were surveyed.
In Sweden, 43% are expected to return, while two out of five (40%) people in Germany who have visited the UAE are planning a trip to the Emirates in the coming year.
Once being asked whether they had traveled to the UAE for business or pleasure in the past, most visitors from the UK (79%) Germany (72%), Sweden (59%) and France (55%) traveled for recreation, showing the country’s popularity as one of the world’s leading and most popular tourist destinations.
Mazar Masud, who is the Director at Kekst CNC Middle East, says that “loyal tourists are eager to return to the UAE is encouraging news for the UAE economy, as the country kickstarts the tourism industry after the pandemic. The UAE must get ready to welcome back tourists. As the British and Europeans start making their travel plans for the year ahead, this is an ideal opportunity for the UAE to showcase its credentials as a popular, safe and fun destination of choice for business and pleasure.”
Tourism plays a key role in the economy of the UAE, with the government aiming to contribute $72 billion to the GDP of the country by 20271. This is being underpinned by the country’s efforts to diversify its oil-based economy, especially Dubai. The Emirate received 16.73 million overnight visitors in 2019, investing $27.9 billion and contributing to 11.5% to its GDP, according to Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah reported overnight visitors of 2,8 million and 1,1 million respectively.
The UAE also has the strategic advantage of air transport, which would benefit from the turnaround in travelers. The sector provides nearly 800,000 jobs, according to a survey by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and its contribution to the economy is nearly $ 47.4 billion, accounting for 13.3% of the national GDP. IATA estimates that by 2037 the sector will have the capacity to create 620,000 jobs and an additional $80 billion in GDP, further cementing the value of the industry.
Kekst CNC is a leading global strategic communication consultancy that serves clients from 13 offices in New York, Munich, London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels, Seoul and Stockholm.
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