Turkey, Italy, France, Thailand emerge as top summer getaways by GCC : RateHawk
Post Views: 30
According to RateHawk, the top 10 outbound destinations for the entire summer include Turkey, Italy, France, Thailand, Spain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Greece, and the United States. The average transaction value for accommodation bookings is $1551, with an average stay of five nights. Although Indonesia didn't enter the top 10 most-booked outbound destinations, it has become one of the fastest-growing travel choices, showing a remarkable two-fold increase in bookings year-over-year, according to RateHawk. Traditionally, over half (53%) of these bookings are located in Bali, particularly in popular areas such as Ubud, Kuta, and Munduk. The visa-free policy and strong air connections with the GCC region, including a newly launched Saudia flight from Jeddah to Bali, continue to boost tourism to this tropical island.
European destinations, with top choices in cultural capitals such as London, Paris, Milan, Munich, and Barcelona, remain a traditional favorite among GCC travelers seeking to escape the summer heat. The steady growth of tourism to Europe continues, driven by improved connectivity through the launch of new direct routes to popular destinations, including Saudia's flight to Venice and Flydubai's flights to various Greek resorts, such as Corfu, Santorini, and Mykonos. Thailand, another favourite Asian destination among GCC travelers, continues to show steady growth of 48% from last year, especially in areas like Bangkok and Phuket. Travelers heading to Asia typically choose longer stays, often up to one week in just one hotel.
Serkan Ozbay, Regional Director in the Middle East region, commented: 'Summer season in the GCC region traditionally has two spikes in travel demand. The first peak aligns with the Eid Al-Adha holidays, which this year fall between 5 June and 9 June, with Dubai as the most popular choice for a staycation within the region and Istanbul as the most preferred outbound destination. The second peak coincides with the start of the local school break in late June and early July, with bigger interest in long-haul summer getaways to Europe and Asia. Whatever destination travelers prefer, RateHawk helps travel agents find attractive offers from our extensive global inventory of 2.7 million accommodations. Additionally, our consolidation strategy, which combines sourcing from over 320 wholesalers, 100 DMCs, and over 130,000 direct contracts, allows our partners to quickly adapt to growing interest in emerging destinations.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Channel Post MEA
2 hours ago
- Channel Post MEA
UAE Travel Brands Taking Proactive Steps To Defend From Fraudulent Emails
Proofpoint has released new research revealing that 85% of the top online travel sites in the UAE have adopted Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC), a key email security protocol that helps protect users from email fraud. However, only 45% of these sites have implemented it at the highest enforcement level of 'reject,' which actively blocks unauthorised emails from reaching inboxes. The findings are based on a DMARC adoption analysis of the top 20 online travel sites in the UAE, and across Europe and the Middle East. DMARC is an email validation protocol designed to protect domain names from being misused by cybercriminals. It authenticates the sender's identity before allowing a message to reach its intended destination. DMARC has three levels of protection – monitor, quarantine and reject, with reject being the most secure for preventing suspicious emails from reaching the inbox. With travel demand in the UAE continuing to rise, a recent KPMG study found that 77% of UAE travellers use mobile apps or hotel booking services, increasing the volume of digital interactions between consumers and travel brands. But as consumers eagerly plan and book their getaways, this surge in activity – coupled with a high volume of emails and promotional offers from travel companies – creates a perfect storm for cybercriminals, turning dream holidays into costly scams through sophisticated email fraud. Key findings include: The UAE demonstrates stronger foundational email security adoption compared to its European counterparts, with 85% of the top travel sites publishing a DMARC record, reflecting growing awareness of cybersecurity best practices across the country's travel sector. However, there is room for improvement with only 45% of the UAE's top travel sites using the policy at 'reject' level, meaning 55% are leaving their customers, staff, and partners more vulnerable to receiving fraudulent emails impersonating these brands. On average, 88% of the top travel websites across Europe and the Middle East have published a basic DMARC record. However, only 46% of all travel sites analysed are at reject, meaning 54% of the top travel sites across the regions are leaving customers at risk of email fraud. 'Holiday bookings often represent a significant number of high-value financial transactions and bring experiences of high personal and emotional value; this combination makes travellers prime targets for cybercriminals. Attackers actively use sophisticated email fraud, especially during peak holiday season, to exploit vulnerabilities,' says Matt Cooke, cybersecurity strategist, Proofpoint. 'Fake booking confirmations, too-good-to-be-true deals, and urgent payment requests for supposed flight changes are common tactics. These fraudulent communications can appear highly convincing, putting travellers' finances and personal data at risk.' 'Travel companies bear a social responsibility to do everything they can to stop convincing scam emails being sent in their name, to holidaymakers,' continues Cooke. 'Implementing DMARC technology to its fullest level of 'reject' allows travel companies to massively reduce the risk of that happening, protecting both their brand and all of the holidaymakers at the same time., it's a win-win.' Proofpoint advises consumers to follow these tips to stay safe when booking and managing travel online: Secure your bookings – and your accounts. Use strong, unique passwords for travel accounts and booking sites. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible to add an extra layer of security. Watch out for fake travel deals – and websites. Be wary of unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true. Scammers create convincing fake websites for airlines, hotels, or comparison sites to steal money and credentials. Always book through official sites or reputable, verified agents. Navigate away from phishing trips – and smishing scams. Stay alert to phishing emails or smishing (SMS phishing) messages regarding flight changes, booking confirmations, or visa applications that demand urgent action or personal details. These often lead to fake login pages designed to capture your information. Don't get detoured by suspicious links. Avoid clicking directly on links in unsolicited emails, social media messages, or pop-up ads, especially for special offers or urgent alerts. Instead, type the official website address directly into your browser. Check reviews before You book. Fraudulent travel offers, websites, and apps can look deceptively genuine. Before providing payment details or downloading a new travel app, invest time in researching the company, reading independent online reviews, and checking for customer complaints.
TAG 91.1
5 hours ago
- TAG 91.1
UAE carriers suspend, reroute flights after Israel strikes Iran
UAE airlines have suspended and rerouted a number of flights to Tel Aviv and Tehran on Friday due to the temporary closure of airspace over Iran and Israel. Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport and Iranian airspace have been closed until further notice after Israel launched attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military on Friday. In a statement sent to ARN News, a flydubai spokesperson confirmed that its services have been impacted. "Flights to Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Iran and Israel have been suspended and a number of flights have been cancelled, rerouted or have returned to their destination of origin," the spokesperson added. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways said it has cancelled "select services to and from Tel Aviv on Friday, June 13, in response to ongoing regional developments". Four flights to and from Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi stand delayed and two have been cancelled. Airlines are "monitoring the situation in the region closely and adjusting flight schedules accordingly", with "safety of our passengers and crew... our top priority". Passengers have been advised to check with their airlines or booking agents for regular updates. Emirates Airline already have a suspension on flights to Tel Aviv.
Khaleej Times
6 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Israel attacks Iran: Some UAE flights cancelled, delayed
UAE airlines on Friday said some of their flights were cancelled and delayed due to Israel's attack on Iran on Friday morning. Abu Dhabi-based national carrier Etihad Airways cancelled select services to and from Tel Aviv on Friday, June 13, as Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israel's air defence units stood at high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran. Etihad said its affected flights were: · EY595 from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Tel Aviv (TLV) – Cancelled · EY596 from Tel Aviv (TLV) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Cancelled · EY593 from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Tel Aviv (TLV) – Delayed by approximately 4 hours · EY594 from Tel Aviv (TLV) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Delayed by approximately 4 hours · EY597 from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Tel Aviv (TLV) – Delayed by approximately 12 hours · EY598 from Tel Aviv (TLV) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Delayed by approximately 12 hours The UAE carrier said it is assisting impacted guests with alternative travel arrangements. Guests are advised to check the status of their flight at the Etihad website, or its app. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. 'This remains an evolving situation, and further changes or disruptions may occur. Etihad continues to monitor developments closely in coordination with the relevant authorities. The safety of our guests and crew remains our highest priority, and we regret any inconvenience caused,' said Etihad Airways. Temporary closure of airspace Meanwhile, flydubai said that due to the temporary closure of airspace over Iran and Israel in the early hours of 13 June, some flydubai flights have been impacted. 'Flights to Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Iran and Israel have been suspended and a number of flights have been cancelled, rerouted or have returned to their destination of origin. We are monitoring the situation in the region closely and adjusting our flight schedule accordingly. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority. We are in direct contact with passengers whose travel plans have been affected,' said the Dubai-based carrier. It advised passengers to ensure that their contact details are up to date and check the status of their flights on its website. Importantly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation against Iran will continue for many days. Israel reportedly targeted Iran's nuclear, military sites and missile sites early hours of Friday.
