“Nearby Destinations” takes over travel offers during the “Union Day” holiday

National airlines and travel agencies have launched offers for vacations in tourist destinations, with prices starting from about 2,400 dirhams, coinciding with the UAE’s 54th Union Day holiday, available for booking now until mid-November, for travel from November 28 to December 3.

The offers include flight tickets and hotel accommodation, which are subject to terms and conditions. Available prices are also subject to availability, and gradually increase as the rate of demand for flights increases, in accordance with the terms of these offers.

The offers are concentrated in tourist stations relatively close to the UAE, and in destinations that do not require a prior visa for residents of the country. Prices vary according to the category of hotel and services requested by customers, while the bulk of the packages require reservations to be made until the end of the third week of this November, and travel coinciding with the Union Day holiday.

Some companies have offered offers for families or groups of more than five people, while some offers are extendable as well as options to upgrade hotel accommodation. Some offers include tour services and transportation to and from the airport.

Holiday package prices start from about 2,400 dirhams to Nairobi, for a three-night stay, while they start from about 3,700 dirhams to the Maldives, for three nights in a “four-star” hotel, while package prices to Cairo start from 2,900 dirhams, and to Colombo from 3,000 dirhams for a three-night stay.

Prices for tourist packages to Krabi, Thailand, start from 3,500 dirhams for a three-night stay in a “four-star” hotel, while prices to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, start from 2,800 for a three-night stay in a “four-star” hotel, and from about 5,000 dirhams to Zanzibar for three nights as well, and from 2,800 to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, and from about 3,000 dirhams to the capital. Georgian Tbilisi, for three nights in a “four-star” hotel.

Prices for offers to the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, start from 3,100 dirhams for a three-night stay in a “four-star” hotel, and to the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, from 3,300 dirhams for three nights.

Boost demand

Executive Director of STS in the Dubai Link Group, Salah Mansour, said that airlines and travel agencies have intensified during the recent period in offering early travel offers related to the Union Day holiday in a step aimed at enhancing the demand for travel towards specific destinations during the holiday, especially nearby tourist destinations.

He added that these offers come within plans to stimulate travel activity and encourage customers to book early, pointing out that obtaining suitable prices requires flexibility in the dates of departure and return. He also pointed out that the announced prices may not be available in the event of late booking.

Mansour stressed the need to read the terms and conditions related to the packages before making a reservation, including the options for modification or cancellation, stressing the importance of knowing the special travel requirements to these destinations.

He pointed out that the offers presented focus on stations that do not require a prior visa for residents of the country, considering that the demand during this period reflects the desire of segments of the country’s population to take advantage of a short vacation to visit nearby destinations that are preferred at this time of the year.

He explained that the location of hotel accommodation is a factor affecting the total cost, as hotels far from city centers, even if they are cheaper, add daily transportation costs, pointing to learning about the advantages of finding accommodation options close to public transportation.

Gradual rise

For his part, the General Director of Al-Faisal Travel and Tourism Agency, Yassin Diab, said that the announced prices are subject to availability, which makes them subject to a gradual increase as demand increases, especially with the high rates of reservations during this period of the year. The cost of the packages varies according to the hotel category, level of services, and length of stay.

Diab added that companies are also focusing on enhancing the flexibility of packages through upgrade options, or extending the period of stay for a fee, which increases the attractiveness of the offers for families, pointing out that the prices currently available are relatively low compared to the peak of reservations expected at the end of November. He stressed that early booking is the most important factor to get the best prices.

He pointed out that many hotels in these destinations in turn offer joint packages in cooperation with travel agencies, which include transportation services to and from the airport, and internal activity programs, noting that the demand for regional flights increases significantly during November and December, which pushes prices to gradually rise as the travel date approaches.

Diab stated that the demand for short trips will continue to grow during the coming seasons, supported by improved air links and the continued diversification of visa-free travel options.

He explained that although integrated tourism packages are considered one of the most attractive options for travelers during the holiday seasons, due to the competitive prices and bundled services they provide, most of the packages are not adjustable after issuing tickets, which means that any desire to change the date or destination may require paying high fees.

. Offers include flight tickets and hotel accommodation, with prices starting from 2,400 dirhams.