77% of MENA travellers are willing to get vaccinated for travel

Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), released its survey on travellers’ behaviors and MENA travel trends for Q1 2021, revealing that 77% of people in the region plan to get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available in their country.

“Over the next few quarters, we expect tourists to prioritise destinations that have vaccinated most of their population and which have successfully managed through Covid-19,” the survey said.

A total of 45% respondents have plans to travel within the next month or less. The survey also unveiled the most popular holiday types of choice for MENA travellers, with 36% choosing luxury vacation and 26% a leisure trip with their families.

According to the data, the leisure destinations that saw the highest growth in search volumes over the course of the first quarter were Seychelles (62%), Thailand (45%), Maldives (40%), UK (30%), Norway (29%) and Spain (19%).

Mamoun Hmedan, managing director in MENA and India, Wego, said: “The speed of rolling the vaccine in tourism destinations will have a crucial impact on people travelling again. As the authorities in the GCC region continue to go above and beyond and lead the vaccination drive, we believe more travellers will be reassured to travel in the coming months, as our recent survey reveals. The pandemic has also changed travellers’ behaviours and the majority are opting for relaxation and wellness holidays in luxury and leisure destinations.”

As for the experiences that had the highest demand in 2021, there has been an increase in domestic activities and local adventures as travellers are experiencing leisure activities in nearby destinations. Travellers are also showing interest in tailor-made trips, looking for social distancing and fresh air without taking away the sense of adventure.