The recently released Travel Predictions 2024 report by Booking.com reveals that cooler weather, previously undiscovered experiences and a chance for uninterrupted ‘me time’ are high up on UAE travellers’ wish lists for the coming year.
The report found that people in the UAE are also seeking sustainability, sleep, financial savings and culinary experiences when they go on business or leisure trips.
Almost 28,000 travellers across 33 countries participated in the research, with the UAE included for the first time.
Just over 500 UAE residents of various ages and nationalities were questioned about their travel preferences and plans for next year.
In terms of prioritisation, 75 per cent of UAE-based travellers said they opted for cooler climates when they go away, compared to 56 per cent of all participants in the survey.
Moreover, while 81 per cent of all travellers will look for water-based destinations next year, only 34 per cent of holidaymakers from the UAE will be choosing an aquatic escape.
With the UAE hosting COP28 and an increasing focus on the importance of sustainability regionally, 75 per cent of UAE travellers said that they want to see sustainability in action and will be choosing hotels with “wow-factor sustainability innovation,” compared to 53 per cent of all travellers questioned.
Booking.com also found that 81 per cent of UAE travellers want to see more green spaces and plant life incorporated.
Further, over half are choosing remote locations where they can immerse themselves in the local ecosystem in off-the-beaten track areas.
Seventy-three per travellers from the UAE are also keen to use sustainable travel apps as part of their travel plans.
Sustainable design, architecture and innovation are also on UAE travellers’ holiday lists.
Aside from sustainability, around 70 per cent say that uninterrupted sleep will be the main focus of their holiday next year, compared to 58 per cent of all participants.
Meanwhile, 75 per cent of UAE-based travelers will use their next vacation as pure ‘me time’, going solo and leaving their partners and children behind to re-group, prioritise their wellbeing and catch up on sleep.
Booking.com’s research also shows that travellers want to explore new culinary experiences outside of the country, too.
More than 75 per cent are more interested in learning about foreign countries’ delicacies, traditional dishes and culinary creations than they were before, as a result of gasto-tourism offerings that embrace history, geography and produce to create travel experiences for tourists.
More than 85 per cent of UAE-based travellers want to try indigenous cuisines wherever they go, boosting income and instilling a sense of pride in local communities in the process.
Nearly half are also seeking immersive, ‘phygital’ culinary experiences, where the food itself is enhanced with mood-altering lighting, paired fragrances and sensual soundscapes to awaken the taste buds, in 2024.
The research shows that travellers want more than just their tastebuds to be alive, too, with over 83 per cent of travellers from the UAE saying they feel “more alive” when on holiday and aspire to be more like their vacation selves in their day-to-day life back home.
More than 70 per cent said they would use their holidays to rethink and recreate themselves, embracing new aspects of their personalities and making the most of the freedom and opportunity that travel can bring.
Nearly 60 per cent would pay to rent a nicer car than they drive at home, compared to 42 per cent of global participants.
When it comes to planning, nearly two-thirds (60 per cent) trust AI to plan every aspect of their trip, compared to less than half (48 per cent) of all travellers who took part in the research.
While Z-gen, millennials and X-gen are more likely to adopt AI, baby boomers and the silent generation are also increasingly turning to tech for convenient, flexible and easy-to-manage travel, according to Booking.com’s study.
Travelers in 2024 are also looking for cost-effective vacations combined with luxury experiences.
In the UAE, 70 per cent of holidaymakers are looking to reduce the cost of their vacation by choosing destinations where day-to-day life is cheaper than in their home city, or travelling to less far-flung places to avoid the expense of long-haul flights.
However, travellers are willing to pay for short-term luxury experiences when they arrive at their destination: 62 per cent of UAE-based holidaymakers will pay for a day pass for a five-star resort rather than actually staying in one.
Travelers also plan to reduce their holiday bills by taking a vacation outside of peak season: more than half (56 percent) in the UAE plan to take children out of school in 2024 to make their travel budget go further. Globally, 47 per cent would consider travelling with their kids during school term time.
In terms of holiday destination, top of the hotel reservations list so far is Dubai.
Carlo Olejniczak, Vice President and Managing Director for Booking.com in Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “The United Arab Emirates’ world-leading infrastructure, global location and superb travel connections make it one of the most convenient countries in the world to travel from and to. We are delighted to include the UAE in our Booking.com Travel Predictions Report for 2024, which reveals fascinating insight into trends, preferences and plans among UAE travelers for the year ahead.
“Our travel predictions reflect the notion that travel is a catalyst to live our best lives – be it through a journey of new discovery, an adventure that supports local environments and communities or a holiday that focuses on health, relaxation and wellbeing – and to sustain those best lives once we get back home to real life.
“UAE travelers are tech-savvy, eco-conscious, adventure-seeking and hungry for new experiences – be it in a foreign land or by exploring different areas of the UAE itself. 2024 looks set to tick all the boxes – and more – on their holiday wish-list.”