UAE outbound trips slump in 2009
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Passengers travelling out of the UAE generated almost US$11 billion (AED 39.5 billion) in 2009 from more than five million trips.
Dubai-based research and consulting firm, Market Vision, found people spent an average of $2,127 (AED 7, 806) per trip, or $140 (AED 514) per night overseas.
However, outbound trips in 2009 fell 5.4% from 2008, while total travel expenditure in 2009 also declined by 18.9% year on year.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourist arrivals were estimated to have declined worldwide by 4% in 2009.
This was a result of the global economic crisis and the outbreak of the H1N1 pandemic.
“In the UAE, the situation was further aggravated by the downturn in the construction and real estate sector that led to job losses, salary cuts and overall downward consumer sentiment in the economy. This negatively impacted outbound travel,” said Market Vision Partner and Director Kumud Sengupta.
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