Flying to Dubai may get cheaper

Mumbai: Crisis throws up the best bargains. Tour operators are saying that Dubai’s financial troubles could lead to packages becoming cheaper this winter.
However, this would depend upon the region’s pace of recovery as these are early days yet. As of now, a package for three nights/four days costs around Rs 30,000 inclusive of air fare and accommodation. This, say travel pundits, could fall by 10%.
If one excludes the vast number of Indians who work in the emirate, Dubai is largely known as a conference and shopping destination which competes with Singapore and Malaysia, countries closer to India. Dubai received around 2.64 lakh Indian tourists between January and June this year, a growth of 13% compared to the same period last year.
In 2008, Indian arrivals to the region jumped 20% to 4.93 lakh. Industry observers say that Dubai benefited from the influx of Indian tourists with the Americans and the Europeans cutting down their visits due to the global meltdown. The Arab nation is largely an outbound destination, however, travellers usually avoid the region between June and September because of extreme humid weather conditions.
Kuoni India’s outbound division COO, Kashmira Commissariat, said, “The outbound traffic will not be affected due to the Dubai debt concerns. Travellers planning to visit Dubai will now look for better deals and offers . Also, with the Dubai Shopping Festival taking place soon, tourists will opt for this destination.”
28/11/09 Reeba Zachariah/Economic Times

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Categories: Foreign Nov 2009