Tourism demand to increase this year
One of the most exciting aspects of the hospitality industry is how fluid it is, in the way it responds to what is happening in both local and global markets, and to the shifting consumer expectations that influence them. The UAE tourism industry experienced a significant boom after Expo 2020, and now we are seeing the positive effects of FIFA World Cup 2022, with hotel rooms in high demand despite an increase in proaches in 2023, tourism in Dubai should continue to see an upward trend this year as well, supported by the growing confidence among travellers and the industry.
We have just concluded our budgeting exercise for 2023 and our BU heads have projected aggressive numbers for next year. We hope to achieve revenues higher than what we have achieved in the past several years. Our “dipstick survey” with a large spectrum of our customers has sown a result that business travel is set to grow further in 2023. And so is the MICE business too. We have found, about 62 per cent of our corporate customers have amended their travel policy towards last quarter of 2023, paving the way to more business travel in 2023.
For some time now tourism destinations have been slowly taking the topic of ‘sustainable tourism’ more seriously and during 2022 we saw an acceleration of this, meaning 2023 could be a tipping point. This is in part being driven by increased consumer awareness of sustainability issues, and thus demanding higher standards. But equally destinations are starting to ask themselves about the economic contribution of the visitors versus their environmental impact, so that they can target those that offer them the most sustainable tourism model overall.
In spite of the fact that many nations will not open their doors to tourists from other parts of the world and the global economy will continue to be unstable, the number of people travelling will increase significantly in 2023. The decision-making process for travellers is heavily influenced by considerations regarding their health, convenience, safety, and flexibility. Many people also look for environmentally friendly travel options, such as places to stay, things to do, and restaurants. The provision of a personalised experience for guests remains an indispensable requirement.
In 2023, Maldives’ tourism mechanism specifically on island resorts must focus on travel advisors. As the world continuously evolves nowadays and so with its people becoming practical and wise. The travel agent/ operators in alliance with a certain resort are who the travellers need as they decide to explore the island they want to know. With the knowledge that the agent has regarding everything the tourists desire to know about the island, the tourists will be guided to arrive at the best decision based on their goal of visiting the destination.
The whole world was watching Qatar last year with the World Cup being hosted right on our doorstep here at Mondrian Doha. Viewers have seen how much Qatar has to offer with our growing cultural scene, traditional authentic experiences, a range of attractions to suit all types of travellers and our warm and welcoming hospitality. Following on from this momentous event, we are expecting a substantial boost in tourism interest and a host of opportunities brought into the city, not just for Mondrian but for Doha as a destination.