Middle East’s Luxury Travelers Prioritize Sustainability

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration within the Middle East’s luxury travel sector, especially in the United Arab Emirates where 61 percent of residents say they are willing to pay a premium for more responsible, eco-friendly and sustainable tourism experiences, according to YouGov’s Global Travel and Tourism Whitepaper 2023. One in 10 consumers has stayed in luxury eco-friendly accommodation during the past three years, the whitepaper found. This trend is especially prevalent among high-income travelers, whose sustainable luxury hotel stays have increased by 50 percent during the same period. The United Arab Emirates topped global rankings in terms of the value placed on exploring, with 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 country are looking for great entertainment, whereas 19 percent place the biggest emphasis on premium-quality accommodation when booking trips.

Qatar Tourism announced the relaunch of the Hayya platform on Monday as it looks to simplify the tourist visa process in the country. The revamped Hayya platform will now become the single portal for all tourist and business visas to Qatar unifying visa processes for tourists, residents of Gulf countries as well as companions traveling with Gulf citizens. Tourists who require a visa to enter Qatar can apply through the Hayya platform, or through the application on their smartphones. The tourism sector forms an important pillar for Qatar’s economy and initiatives such as these reflect the longer-term strategic vision to position the country as a leading tourism destination in the region. The Hayya platform, which facilitated the entry of over a million visitors during the FIFA World Cup last year, is a key component of this strategy, as it simplifies visa processes and makes it easier for tourists to visit Qatar. Hayya holders will enjoy seamless travel and connectivity into Qatar as it will be enabled for e-gate entry at Hamad International Airport. For those entering Qatar via land at the Abu Samra border, the Hayya platform will provide a pre-registration option for faster entry of vehicles. “The Hayya platform is the legacy which we build upon, inviting visitors from all corners of the earth to visit our country,” said Saeed Ali Al Kuwari, CEO of the Hayya platform.

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