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Travelers from MENA Speak About Their Travel Plans after COVID-19

A new and interesting survey conducted in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries asked travelers residing in this region about their post-COVID-19 plans. As many domestic and some international destinations are starting to accept customers, it is curious to know how people feel about traveling and what their holiday plans are. Are they going to choose a hotel in Dubai or a Jeddah hotel, or maybe they plan to make long-haul international flights once they are available, or maybe they choose to stay at home and do not travel this year at all.

It looks like “not travel at all” is not an option for people from the MENA region. According to the survey results, 60% of the respondents want to travel as soon as domestic and international flights are available again. That being said, travelers want to know that air carriers, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses take the necessary precautions to keep them healthy. Currently, the GCC countries are developing precautionary measures that allow traveling in the region again.

The coronavirus has made a significant impact on the hospitality industry around the world. The MENA countries are no exception. To help the industry and boost the economy of the region, most MENA countries will introduce their precautionary measures in the nearest future. Just like in many parts of the world, intra-regional travel will be available first, and international travel is expected to resume in the coming months.

When asked, when they would like to travel, respondents from MENA replied that a holiday within the next three months would be the best. 40% of the respondents are willing to enjoy a relaxing getaway vacation as soon as it is possible. As the restrictions are being eased in most MENA countries, these plans can come true very soon. In the United Arab Emirates, people can already travel within the country, so Dubai hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls are waiting for new customers. Beaches and limited water activities become available soon too.

The survey underlined that people remained optimistic and are eager to return to their usual lifestyle. As it was mentioned before, a relaxing gateway is the most popular journey types. Family trips and flights to see the family members are the second most popular choice. Almost one-third of the respondents picked it. When it comes to the MENA region, Egypt might be a hot destination this year. The country is slowly reopening, and hotels resume their work.

21.05.2020

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