Jameel W. Karaki
Alhor
Saturday,26 February 2011
KUWAIT: Kuwaiti citizens as well as expatiates tend to travel during weekends, Holidays and the national ones for relaxation, tourism or even religious purposes such as minor pilgrimage (Umrah).
This year Kuwait celebrates the 50th anniversary of independence, 20th anniversary of liberation and the 5th of His Highness the Amir's assumption to power. On this occasion, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah granted every Kuwaiti Citizen 1000 Kuwaiti dinars (3,585 US dollars), which to travelling agencies was considered as an economic booster and an opportunity to increase their sales.
Mustafa, a marketing executive who works for an airline company, asserted that his company achieved an unexpected increase in their sales since the announcement of the Amiri Grant in coincidence with the national holidays. "Our sales increased by around 20 percent, and each salesperson books an average of 50 tickets a day and this explains why there are more than 15 flights from Kuwait to Dubai," he explained.
He emphasized that Dubai is the most desired and demanded destination by travelers this year, because it is close to Kuwait, cheaper than before the economic crisis, and also because of the current political instability in Lebanon, Bahrain and Egypt. Mustafa added that the tempting offers and packages also play a significant role for travelers, noting that the majority of those who travel to Dubai are families.
Contrary to Dubai, according to Mustafa, many reservations to Beirut as well as Egypt and Bahrain were cancelled, whereas some travelers changed their destination to Turkey and East Asia such Bangkok and Malaysia.
Khaled who works as a salesman at a travelling agency spoke about religious tourism, where some travelers during the national holidays opted for minor pilgrimage (Umrah) despite the floods in Jeddah.
"This year I noticed a higher demand than the previous year on Umrah trips, which inspired us to create a special department for religious tourism in the future," Khaled said, noting that the Amiri Grant helped the agency by increasing its sales and boosting the market for religious tourism trips to Umrah
He went on to say, "Dubai is the first destination, one of the airlines increased their ticket price from KD 30 to KD 173 and yet all of their flights are fully booked. As for Beirut and Egypt, despite of the political instability, there are some travelers who are still heading to these cities during the national holidays, especially those who own properties."
A source at Kuwait Airways, who asked to remain anonymous, said that "Kuwait airways flight to Jeddah and Dubai are fully booked and there is a trend to adding extra flights to Jeddah". The same source revealed that despite the political situation in Egypt, 60 to 70 percent of the travelers are still heading to Egypt, mostly Egyptians.
Alhor
Saturday,26 February 2011
KUWAIT: Kuwaiti citizens as well as expatiates tend to travel during weekends, Holidays and the national ones for relaxation, tourism or even religious purposes such as minor pilgrimage (Umrah).
This year Kuwait celebrates the 50th anniversary of independence, 20th anniversary of liberation and the 5th of His Highness the Amir's assumption to power. On this occasion, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah granted every Kuwaiti Citizen 1000 Kuwaiti dinars (3,585 US dollars), which to travelling agencies was considered as an economic booster and an opportunity to increase their sales.
Mustafa, a marketing executive who works for an airline company, asserted that his company achieved an unexpected increase in their sales since the announcement of the Amiri Grant in coincidence with the national holidays. "Our sales increased by around 20 percent, and each salesperson books an average of 50 tickets a day and this explains why there are more than 15 flights from Kuwait to Dubai," he explained.
He emphasized that Dubai is the most desired and demanded destination by travelers this year, because it is close to Kuwait, cheaper than before the economic crisis, and also because of the current political instability in Lebanon, Bahrain and Egypt. Mustafa added that the tempting offers and packages also play a significant role for travelers, noting that the majority of those who travel to Dubai are families.
Contrary to Dubai, according to Mustafa, many reservations to Beirut as well as Egypt and Bahrain were cancelled, whereas some travelers changed their destination to Turkey and East Asia such Bangkok and Malaysia.
Khaled who works as a salesman at a travelling agency spoke about religious tourism, where some travelers during the national holidays opted for minor pilgrimage (Umrah) despite the floods in Jeddah.
"This year I noticed a higher demand than the previous year on Umrah trips, which inspired us to create a special department for religious tourism in the future," Khaled said, noting that the Amiri Grant helped the agency by increasing its sales and boosting the market for religious tourism trips to Umrah
He went on to say, "Dubai is the first destination, one of the airlines increased their ticket price from KD 30 to KD 173 and yet all of their flights are fully booked. As for Beirut and Egypt, despite of the political instability, there are some travelers who are still heading to these cities during the national holidays, especially those who own properties."
A source at Kuwait Airways, who asked to remain anonymous, said that "Kuwait airways flight to Jeddah and Dubai are fully booked and there is a trend to adding extra flights to Jeddah". The same source revealed that despite the political situation in Egypt, 60 to 70 percent of the travelers are still heading to Egypt, mostly Egyptians.
