Sustainability is becoming an important consideration within the Middle East’s luxury travel sector, especially in the UAE, where 61 percent of residents are willing to pay a premium for more responsible, eco-friendly and sustainable tourism experiences.
According to YouGov’s Global Travel & Tourism Whitepaper 2023: Luxury travel post-pandemic, one in 10 consumers has stayed in luxury eco-friendly accommodation during the past three years. This trend is especially prevalent among high-income travelers, whose sustainable luxury hotel stays have increased by 50 percent during the same period.
The UAE topped global rankings in terms of the value placed on exploring, with almost two-thirds (58 percent) of respondents reporting that travel has become more important to them since the Covid-19 pandemic. In terms of luxury travel priorities, a quarter of those living in the Emirates are looking for great entertainment, whereas 19 percent place the biggest emphasis on premium-quality accommodation when booking trips.
In addition to sustainable luxury travel, consumers’ appetite for authentic excursions is also on the rise within this segment. Over half (51 percent) of affluent tourists have sought more meaningful travel experiences since the pandemic, and more than a quarter (27 percent) are willing to pay extra for secluded villas and chalets. These figures coincide with growth across the Gulf’s travel industry. By 2028, the value of the UAE’s outbound sector is set to reach $30.5 billion, Saudi Arabia is on course to hit USD 27 billion, Kuwait is expected to grow to USD 17 billion and Qatar is likely to exceed USD 13 billion.
Premium travel will be placed under the microscope at ATM 2023 in a session titled “Sustainable Luxury: At What Cost? ” where a range of industry-critical topics, such as the environmental impact of luxury hospitality and the most effective methods of carbon offsetting, will be discussed.
The 30th edition of ATM will explore the future of sustainable travel in line with its theme “Working Towards Net Zero.” Having officially initiated its journey to net zero, the conference program will explore how innovative sustainable travel trends are likely to evolve, allowing delegates to identify growth strategies within key vertical sectors, while providing a platform for regional experts to explore a sustainable future ahead of COP28, which will take place in November 2023 at Expo City Dubai.
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