Indians hold key to Mideast tourism surge
In this regard, countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman are launching new travel offers and promotions to attract tourists, as well as working with airlines to increase flight capacity.
Industry executives noted that travel demand from India remained resilient despite the US-Iran war that started on February 28.
Phillipa Harrison, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), said the long-term goal is to welcome 3.5 million visitors annually by 2030 and India will play a ‘central role’ in achieving this target. “Our priority this year is to sustain India’s double-digit growth,” he said. “We continue to work closely with our airline partners to increase frequencies on existing routes and explore new routes where possible.”
Harrison said the number of visitors from India in May increased by 27.5% compared to the previous year. Throughout this summer, Ras Al Khaimah hotels have launched deals to attract travelers.
Alhasan Aldabbagh, head of APAC markets at Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), said flight capacity to the Gulf has returned to pre-war levels with Flyadeal commencing services to Hyderabad on July 4, and the newly launched Riyadh Air is preparing to launch India operations with a Riyadh-Mumbai flight from August 4, further strengthening connectivity with Saudi, Flynas, Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air.
“Through initiatives such as our recent ‘Magnificent Saudi Beckons’ webinar, we continue to engage the Indian market and highlight attractions such as Six Flags Qiddiya City and Aquarabia.” Arjun Chadha, India’s country manager for Oman, said the country continues to expand its tourism offerings with attractions that appeal to Indian travelers for families, adventure seekers, luxury and leisure visitors.
Chadha said Oman has a strong air connectivity with India, with direct flights to Muscat from more than 10 cities in India, as well as seasonal and regional connectivity to destinations such as Salalah.
Indian travelers flying long-haul via Doha can turn their transit time into an ‘unforgettable mini-vacation’, a recent launch said. With packages starting at $14 per person per night, the program allows visitors to get out of the airport and experience Qatar’s cultural icons, desert adventures, dining destinations and vibrant locales if they have 24, 48 or 96 hours of free time.
