As travel trends resume with demand soaring to pre-pandemic levels, solo travel has emerged as a popular trend in the UAE, according to Hilton’s 2024 Trends Report. 75 percent of travellers in the country have embarked on solo trips in the past year.
The increase in preference for solo travel was primarily driven by factors including the desire to relax alone, seeking self-discovery, eagerness to focus on wellbeing and enjoyment.
Over half of the survey respondents in the UAE expressed the intention to post online at least once a day during while travelling as strong Wi-Fi emerges as a priority among room amenities, the survey reveals.
UAE travellers seek new destinations
85 percent of UAE travellers said that they are looking to travel to a destination that they have not visited before, within the next three years 61 percent of respondents are considering planning a solo trip.
Spontaneity emerged as a common factor among most travellers, with over 55 percent choosing to plan holidays a month or less in advance.
Additionally, the influence of social media has risen as a source of shaping travel, 79 percent of UAE respondents revealed that their vacations are booked based on trends seen on social platforms or TV and books.
Commenting on the report, Aligi Gardenghi, Vice President, Operations, Arabian Peninsula, Hilton said: “We’ve seen the travel industry’s dynamic comeback over the last few years, and it’s clear that traveller perceptions are continuing to evolve around the world.
“As a leading global hospitality brand, Hilton is dedicated to understanding and attending to the changing preferences of our patrons, and the insights presented in the latest trend report serve to inform our approach to customer excellence and guest satisfaction.”
With UAE emerging as a leader in sustainability, ahead of COP28 this year, respondents unveiled that credentials such as TripAdvisor Green Leaders and GreenKey Global are ‘somewhat or very important.’
Following that, dining plays a key role in travel experience with over 40 percent ordering room service on a daily during travel.
“As next-gen travellers from the UAE seek to prioritise solo travel, working holidays, original destinations, and environmental responsibility, we remain committed to delivering pioneering hotel experiences that push the boundaries of modern hospitality and lay the foundations for the future of a discerning and perceptive traveller population,” Gardenghi added.
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