United Arab Emirates citizens were hoping to take a vacation for the nine-day Eid Al Fitr festival, but the increasing cost of airfare to famous tourist spots has put a damper on their plans. Dismayed visitors are reeling from news of ticket rates for some places that have jumped by an astounding 400 percent.
The founder and CEO of Tahira Tours and Travels, Firoz Maliyakkal, has stated that the steep increase in prices is due to a number of factors. These include the fact that these destinations are perfect for short getaways for UAE residents due to their affordability, favorable weather, ease of travel, and visa-on-arrival facilities. Unexpectedly, tickets sold out due to tremendous demand, leaving only a limited number of choices that are also selling out quickly.
The extended Eid holidays, coupled with school vacations, provide an opportunity for flexible planning, especially for families, as noted by Libin Varghese, Operations Head at Rooh Tourism and Travel. The picturesque landscapes and pleasant weather of Caucasian countries further fuel the desire to travel during this period.
Airline costs have soared, with one-way tickets to Tbilisi, Georgia, costing as much as Dh1,500 and Yerevan, Armenia, costing as much as Dh1,100, according to a study of airfares across different locations. Flights to other popular tourist spots, such as Baku and Serbia, have also soared in price. Airfares to Pakistan and India, on the other hand, have stayed about the same or even increased somewhat.
Raheesh Babu, COO of Musafir.com, highlights a notable surge in travel demand from the Gulf region to India during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday season, attributing it to the extended break and coinciding school vacations. However, this surge in demand has led to a notable uptick in airfare prices on certain routes, with increases ranging from 40 to 50 percent during the holiday season.
The combination of extended holidays, high demand, and limited availability of tickets has resulted in a sharp increase in airfare prices for popular tourist destinations, impacting the travel plans of UAE residents during the Eid Al Fitr holidays.
