dnata Travel Reports 400% Increase in Bookings to 2020’s Largest Travel Growth Destination in Q1 2021

Dubai, UAE, 24 May 2021: The UAE-based travel brand, part of the dnata Travel Group, has previously revealed that throughout its 60 years the UAE has always remained the number one travel destination of choice for its citizens and residents, with travellers exploring more of the emirates than ever before in 2020.

This trend looks set to continue in 2021, and in an even bigger way for Ras Al Khaimah, with dnata Travel reporting a 415% increase in travel bookings to the emirate between January and April 2021, compared to the same timeframe last year.

Emily Jenkins, Head of dnata Travel Leisure UAE, commented: "At dnata Travel, we witnessed strong demand for domestic travel overall in 2020, with Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah seeing particular increases in bookings and room nights compared to previous years. We are seeing similar trends in 2021 so far, with staycation bookings in demand across the country, and Ras Al Khaimah once again coming out on top in terms of growth."

"We are also seeing the growth of international holiday traffic from the UAE in 2021. Traveller confidence has grown, particularly in travel to destinations that have now been open for tourists for a significant time and with clear regulations, offer no rules for quarantine on arrival, and direct flight options. Popular holiday destinations include the paradise Indian Ocean islands of the Maldives, Seychelles and Zanzibar, the mountains of Georgia and the historic cities of Egypt."

"With pent-up demand for travel at an all-time high, UAE residents continue to discover new places locally, whilst also making plans for international travel. We have witnessed an enhanced appreciation for the incredible landscapes, attractions and unrivalled range of luxurious resorts on our doorstep, with the UAE continuing to represent our number one travel destination. Travellers are spending more time on staycations, and staying for longer, at iconic hotels and new openings alongside some hidden gems across the emirates."

A travel survey dnata Travel conducted with thousands of people across the UAE last year revealed that 91% of domestic travellers wanted to experience more of the UAE in 2020/2021, with Ras Al Khaimah proving the most popular choice for a staycation, followed by Fujairah and Dubai respectively.

Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, commented: "Ras Al Khaimah is incredibly diverse and offers a multitude of experiences for people of all ages and interests. Our strong tourism strategy and enhanced safety measures have helped our hospitality industry to bounce back quickly resulting in impressive occupancy rates across our hotels at the beginning of this year, where we led in average daily rate across the nation. Our resounding recovery also saw us lead the nation in terms of RevPAR and ADR in 2020, especially across key occasions such as Eid Al Adha and New Years Eve, where we recorded a stronger performance in comparison to the same time period across the past three years."

The most popular resorts for extended stays in Ras Al Khaimah with dnata Travel in 2021 so far have included 5-star resorts dotted across the emirate from the white-washed villas of Santorini-style The Cove Rotana Resort, to the home of one of the UAEs largest swimming pools, Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort, and the uber-luxurious Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, which offers innovative spa treatments and panoramic sea or golf course views.

"We are looking forward to continuing strong hotel occupancy rates in the near future, driven by ongoing interest from the domestic market, as well as increased international access via new flight routes between key feeder and emerging markets, including Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. We also have an exciting pipeline of new adventure and cultural attractions coming to the emirate, that is set to drive further interest in Ras Al Khaimah as a must-visit destination, as travel restrictions are eased,"added Phillips.

Working with the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, dnata Travel is offering some exclusive staycation packages to stay at its most popular resorts with added extras including All-Inclusive offers, complimentary stays for children, and more, from AED160 per person, per night. Find out more atdnataTravel.com, contact the dnata Travel experts via call on 800 dnata (36282), WhatsApp on 05 666 dnata (36282), or visit a dnata Travel retail outlet across the UAE.