Dubai sees sharp surge in business, leisure travel

Ever since Dubai eased travel restrictions, the city has seen a surge in international visitors. And with Expo 2020 Dubai just around the corner, Dubai is expecting another rise in tourism.

From Abra drivers to cabbies, the emirate’s residents are looking forward to welcoming the tourists.
Hotels, service apartments and holiday homes are also recording an upsurge in bookings after a challenging year.

Vinayak Mahtani, CEO of bnbme holiday homes, said: “ We are now seeing more tourists compared to last year. The previous year was all about staycations and accommodations for those who were stranded here. With an increase in guests, the rates of properties have stabilized, too.”

Travel operators confirmed that business travel has also been rising steadily since last month, with inquiries coming in from Asia, Africa and Europe.

Nasser Badawi, managing director of Avanti Tourism, said: “Dubai has become a place for conferences given the excellent airline service and facilities. We can also expect a huge number of people from China and Japan once they ease their travel restrictions.”