With summer just around the corner, UAE travellers are thinking about holiday plans and Switzerland is the country most want to visit.
According to the latest data from dnata Travel — a leading travel provider in the UAE — not only is Switzerland the most favoured destination, but Europe as a whole is the most popular region.
The consumer survey found 43 per cent of respondents want to spend their next holiday in Europe. Island destinations in the Indian Ocean — such as the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles — were the second most desired region.
When it comes to which countries in these regions are the most popular, Switzerland, with its mountain peaks, quaint towns and rolling green pastures, came out on top. It was closely followed by the Maldives — a haven for sun-seekers — and Turkey, which is popular for its cities and Mediterranean coastlines.
Japan, which has recently introduced eVisas for all UAE residents, and European stalwart Italy complete the top five.
All-inclusive holidays are also gaining popularity, with 37 per cent of travellers expressing a desire for an all-inclusive stay as part of an “ideal travel package” this year. And when it comes to the different experiences that holidaymakers would like to have, wellness, nature, cruise and safari trips are trending.
“We conducted our latest survey at a time of high demand, with every expectation that this will continue to grow,” said Meerah Ketait, head of retail and leisure at dnata Travel. "Locations such as Europe are popular for the diverse landscapes on offer, from a modern or historic city break to a beach escape, or an island retreat. Experiences focused on wellness and nature are also trending for travellers in 2023."
The most popular time for summer travel will be in July, says dnata Travel, which is also when most schools in the UAE begin summer break. Other travel peaks are expected in June, August and December.
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Bookshops: A Reader's History by Jorge Carrión (translated from the Spanish by Peter Bush),
Biblioasis
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Read more about the coronavirus
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
