UAE most popular holiday destination for MENA holidaymakers

The UAE has been named the most popular destination for travellers from the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region and is among the top destination choices for global travellers.

The Global Travel Intentions Study 2015 carried out by Visa, the global payments technology company, surveyed 13,603 travellers across 25 countries in January and February.

Ranking ahead of Egypt and Turkey, the study shows that 16 per cent of the 1,637 respondents from Mena chose the UAE as their favourite travel destination within the region in 2015.

The study also looked at future travel trends.

It found 81 per cent of people surveyed from the region are planning to travel for leisure in the next year. Travellers from the UAE are especially prolific holidaymakers with 95 per cent of respondents saying they will travel for leisure in the next year.

"Our latest Visa Global Travel Intentions Study is shining a very positive light on the region and on UAE's industry and what is interesting to see is that people from this region are serious about their leisure time,” said Marcello Baricordi, general manager in the UAE at Visa Mena.

The study found great scenery, interesting attractions and good shopping are the top three drivers for individuals from Mena who are planning their next holiday.

Budget is no longer the primary driving factor when choosing a holiday destination.

While globally, respondents said they put aside a median travel budget of US$2,281 (Dh8,378) per trip, those from the Mena region reported they will spend substantially more.

Of the 25 countries surveyed, travellers from Saudi Arabia said they spend the most — an average of $5,866 per trip. Travellers from the UAE put aside an average travel budget of $2,518 per trip.