WC, Dubai expo: 400% rise in Telangana flyers to UAE

HYDERABAD: It’s destination United Arab Emirates (UAE) for many from city and elsewhere in state. Bookings with travel agents have risen by 400% as it’s a double delight for flyers this month — the pandemic-hit Dubai Expo 2020 kicking off after a year’s delay and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (WC) pitching tent in the Gulf emirate.

“There is about 400-500% increase in demand for UAE tickets now,” said Abdul Majid Faheem of Travel Agents Federation of India-Hyderabad.
The ticket prices have also exponentially increased, with a one-way ticket from Hyderabad to Dubai now going for anywhere between Rs 14,000 and Rs 25,000
Apart from Expo and WC, even leisure travellers are heading to UAE as it was one of the few international destinations allowing tourists.
“Even those having transit flights, are preferring to spend a day or two in Dubai,” Faheem said.
Daniel D’Souza, president & country head, SOTC Travel added: “Lockdown fatigue and easy access to a short-haul flight have created a demand for UAE from our Telangana/Hyderabad source markets. Expo 2020 Dubai and T20 WC are clear drivers. We are 100% up in demand with a 3x uptick in bookings for Dubai compared to August-Sept and this is growing in October.”
Cricket being nothing short of a religion in India, the faith and fun attached to it has clearly trumped the fear of Covid.
“My friends and I are here to watch the match. We have planned it in such a way that we can also take a vacation,” said Naveen S, a resident of Madhura Nagar in the city, who landed in Dubai on October 15.
For others it’s the need to make up for lost business opportunity in the last year. With the World Expo at hand, many decided to mix business with pleasure as they could finally spend quality time with family members living there.
“I will be heading to the expo in November,” said Avion Holidays MD Siraj Ansari, adding that he would be there to promote tourism.
Likewise, Praveen Raju K, co-chairman of FICCI Arise and founder of Suchitra Academy, said that he would be at the Expo in December for the school education week to promote best practices followed in India.
The GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) data also revealed that Dubai, Doha and Sharjah were the favourite destinations among international travellers from city.