98% OF UAE TRAVELLERS WOULD BREAK HOLIDAY TRADITION SAYS SKYSCANNER

• 77% of UAE travellers would go for an alternative destination this summer if it meant saving more money*
• Switching up popular holiday hot spots for underrated alternatives (like Tokyo, Bucharest and Sardinia) can save travellers up to 61% this summer as more travellers seek alternative destinations in 2023

Dubai,6 July: According to Skyscanner’s latest research, in association with OnePoll, a huge 98% of UAE travellers are open to travelling to more alternative or lesser-known destinations with more than three quarters (77%) saying they would be likely to swap their holiday favourites for an alternative option if it meant they were likely to save money.

Ayoub El Mamoun, Skyscanner Travel Expert, says,  “The desire for new and alternative destinations appears to be increasing this year, as in 2022, only 41% of global travellers surveyed said that they wanted to explore new places versus returning to an old favourite.We’re seeing a big uplift in the number of searches for underrated destinations from the UAE, including Hanoi (+373%) and Osaka (+332%) to name a few.  With almost half (48%) of UAE travellers yet to book their summer holiday this year, according to our latest research, and 41% of those admitting that they’re still deciding on where to go, Skyscanner is on hand to help find them find a lesser known and cheaper alternative to their usual holiday hot spot.”

Escape the crowds and save AEDs with alternative holidaydestinations this summer

Over three quarters (76%) of UAE travellers already prefer alternative holiday destinations versus the more tried and true classic hotspots (20%), citing cost savings (24%) and the ability to escape the crowds (27%) as their top reasons why.

Skyscanner data reveals it pays to swap. For example, UAE travellers when looking for a European city break could swappopular Paris (with return flights from Abu DhabiAED 308 this August) for the lesser-knowncity of Bucharest(with return flightsfrom AED 171 this August) and save44% on the cost of their flights alone.Head to the old town in Bucharest to discover they city’s exciting past, lively restaurants, large parks and plenty of museums. It is also considered as one of Europe’s safest and most affordable destinations.

Alternatively, UAE travellers looking for a beach holiday could swapPhuket (with return flights from AED 1,697this August) for Sardinia (with return flights from AED 658 this August) and save 61% on their flights.Sardinia is known for its mesmerising beaches, crystal clear sea, extraordinary nature for hiking, and delicious seafood cuisine.

Or UAE travellers wanting that bucket list holiday could swap New York (with return flights from AED 3,014this August) for Tokyo(withreturn flights from AED 2,092this August) and save 30%.Tokyo has so much to offer from second-hand shopping boutiques to laid-back roof-top gardens, and quaint traditional restaurants, they city is full of life and activities during any part of the day.

Skyscanner’s guide to alternative travel according toAyoub El Mamoun,Skyscanner’s (alternative!) destination expert:

1.  Save big on alternative destinations with Skyscanner’s ‘Everywhere’ Search: “When surveyed, UAE travellers estimated summer holiday flights are likely to cost AED 431 return per person on average this year however Skyscanner’s Everywhere Search reveals there are even better deals to be had. Ordered by lowest to highest price from your departure airport to destinations around the globe, an ‘Everywhere’ search can inspire you to go somewhere you’ve never been before, and for a lower price than many traditional summer holiday destinations. For example  Kutaisi (Georgia) from AED 261 return, Salalah (Oman) from AED 269 return or Samarkand (Uzbekistan) for AED 199 return. In fact, ‘Everywhere’ is the top search destination for adventurous UAE travellers on Skyscanner this summer!”
2. Flex those dates: “Searching by multiple dates is one of your best chances of a finding bargain. Flight prices are all based on supply and demand. Because some dates are more popular than others, prices will vary. Skyscanner’s‘whole month’ search tool allows you to see cheap flights at a glance and pick the right deal for you. Consider traveling a day before or a day after your original departure dates, as flying on less popular days of the week can be cheaper.TrySkyscanner’s Savings Generatortool help you find the cheapest week to travel this summer. For example, if you are travelling to Thailand from Dubai, the 5^th to the 11^th August is the cheapest week to fly saving you more than 40%, or Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly!“

Notes to editors:

*Skyscanner x OnePoll research conducted 8-15 May 2023 with 1,000 UAE respondents

**Skyscanner x OnePoll research conducted in April 2022 with 4,000 global respondents

*** YTD searches made on Skyscanner this year for return travel from the UAE

****All live prices included correct on Skyscanner on 3 July2023 and subject to change

About Skyscanner  
Skyscanner is a global leader in travel helping travellers plan and book their trip with ease and confidence. Every month Skyscanner connects with millions of travellers in 52 countries and 30 languages to more than 1200 trusted travel partners so they can find the best flight, hotel or car hire options. 

Making use of the latest technology, Skyscanner simplifies the complexity of travel and provides honest and transparent solutions, searching more than 80 billion prices every day so travellers can be sure they’ve seen the best possible options, all in one place. 

Founded in 2003, Skyscanner has offices worldwide, in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America where traveller-first innovations are developed, powered by data and insights. Skyscanner is committed to helping shape a more responsible future for travel in collaboration with our partners, so that every traveller can explore our world effortlessly for generations come.