Italy and Turkey are emerging as top destinations for luxury travellers from the Middle East and North Africa.
According to YouGov research, the highest proportion of Middle East and North Africa (Mena) residents (17%) holiday within their home region, but Italy was the second most popular choice, attracting 10% of travellers, followed by Turkey at 5%.
The highest propensity to choose luxury accommodation was among travellers from Bahrain, where 34% said they usually stayed in luxury hotels. This compared with 27% from the Gulf countries as a whole.
ATM exhibition manager Nadege Noblet-Segers said that more than half of Mena residents arranged all aspects of family travel themselves, but 72% of Mena residents would book an all-inclusive luxury package if they were available.
She added that the Gulf countries had some catching up to do in this area of the market: “This is a phenomenon that has not as yet manifested itself in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries - apart from the Rixos Bab Al Bahr in Ras Al Khaimah - although it has long been a cost-friendly family option in Egypt’s key coastal destinations.”
Mena residents had some of the world’s most generous travel budgets, the seminar was told. They primarily choose to stay in four or five-star hotels, with 20% flying first or business class. The poll revealed that 17% of residents spent between $3,000-$5,000, with 9% spending $5,000-$7,000 and 14% spending over $7,000.
