In order of popularity, the ten most booked destinations are: Thailand, Turkey, Italy, UK, Greece, Maldives, Bali, Mauritius, Switzerland and Oman.
DUBAI, UAE – With the Eid al-Adha break fast approaching, dnata Travel, the UAE’s longest serving travel provider, has revealed the most popular holiday hotspots over summer in 2023. In order of popularity, the ten most booked destinations are: Thailand, Turkey, Italy, UK, Greece, Maldives, Bali, Mauritius, Switzerland and Oman.
dnata Travel’s experts have also revealed an 18% increase in international holiday bookings from June to September 2023 so far, compared to the same timings in 2022.
As the most popular destination, Thailand is taking 23% of dnata Travel bookings across the summer. Within the country, the capital city Bangkok, alongside the islands of Phuket and Krabi are the top three locations for UAE travellers.
Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure UAE at dnata Travel, commented: “A pent-up demand is driving travellers to explore more of the world, including lesser-known places and varied locations across popular hotspots. In addition to the ever-popular destinations of Thailand, Turkey, Italy and UK, we have seen a notable increase in travel to Greece in particular, compared to the same period last year.
“Thailand is our top growth destination, with demand driven by a rise in availability of flights, the country’s incredible value-for-money proposition, world-class accommodation, and varied experiences.”
A majority of summer bookings are for Eid al-Adha, where dnata Travel’s top ten international destinations remain consistent. Across the summer, 80% of bookings are for international travel, while the remaining 20% cover UAE staycations. Bookings to Hong Kong, Japan, South Africa, and Denmark are trending compared to 2022, with Austria, Spain, Singapore and Sri Lanka also growing in popularity.
dnata Travel experts continuously monitor trends and work with long-standing international partners to offer exclusive rates and added extras for the local market, alongside the latest in travel inspiration.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
