The number of families booking trips for the upcoming UAE National Day holiday has more than doubled from last year.

Emirates Holidays, the largest wholesale tour operator in the Gulf region, has seen its bookings increase significantly for this segment of customers, making up one-third of the company’s total reservations volume for this holiday period.

“We’ve seen booking confirmations come in the moment the National Day holidays were announced,” said Robin Parry, Vice President of Emirates Holidays. For all customer segments, the top holiday destination this year is the Maldives followed by Turkey, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Some are also taking advantage of the long holiday period to take extended trips to further-afield destinations, such as Orlando in the US.

Holidaymaker, Ms Natalia Nekhaeva, chose a six-day, five-night trip to the Maldives for her family of five. “When the National Day holiday dates were announced, I jumped at the chance to take my husband, mother and two children on a trip to spend some quality family time. We are looking forward to a relaxing experience soaking in the sun and sea and the beauty of the Maldives,” added Ms Nekhaeva.

Photo courtesy Atmosphere Kanufushi Maldives