DOHA: Turkey and Malaysia have emerged as favourite tourist destinations for an increasing number of Qataris and expatriates, with traditional Arab destinations like Beirut, Cairo and Damascus losing charm due to political and sectarian conflicts in the region, say travel industry sources.
Despite a sharp hike in air fares to almost all destinations with the onset of summer, the industry has reported a high demand for tickets from tourists and vacationers.
Although tourist flow to Middle East destinations has dropped drastically, the number of Arabs on vacation is on the rise with the relative stability witnessed by some countries like Egypt.
“There had been predictions about a lull in business this year, but we have seen an increase in bookings to all major destinations, despite high fares.
“Europe remains a favourite destination for Qataris going for long holidays while Turkey and Malaysia have been preferred by a large number of Qataris and expatriates,” a travel executive told this daily yesterday.
“With problems in the Middle East, Turkey has emerged as the most favourite for Qataris and tourists from other Arab nationalities,” he added.
The peak holiday season in Qatar normally starts with the beginning of July, but this time it would be delayed a bit because Ramadan comes in between.
Most tourists will travel after Eid, but bookings are in full swing. Holidays may be scattered this year, which means there would be demand for tickets throughout the season, said a travel agent.
“For long holidays, Qataris prefer Europe and the US and London traditionally tops the list. France, Italy, Spain, among other European destinations, are also attracting a large number of Qataris,” he said.
He said shopping is a main hobby for most Qataris travelling with families.
There are some highly affluent Qataris who charter flights to visit their favourite summer destinations.
While most Middle East destinations have been hit hard, Dubai remains the single destination in the region that attracts tourists from Qatar throughout the year.
“Dubai is the most favoured destination for Qataris and expatriates on short visits.
“We see high demand for tickets almost every weekend throughout the year,” said the agent.
Malaysia, especially capital Kuala Lumpur, tops the list in Far East, followed by Singapore and Thailand.
While many Asian expatriates prefer Malaysia due to its natural beauty and relatively low expenses, the country’s Islamic culture and modern infrastructure are an additional attraction to many Qataris and other Arab tourists. Fares to most destinations, especially South Asian countries that send the largest number of foreign workers to Qatar, have increased by 10 to 15 percent this year compared to last summer, said a source. “Prices are controlled by demand and supply. Airlines fix them based on demand. That is how prices fluctuate every day, every minute.” The Peninsula
