Dubai: Try to make a reservation at a five star hotel in Dubai, it doesn’t matter whether it is in the business district or by the beach. Chances are, you won’t get one, or you’re willing to spend more than you budgeted for.

The same can be said for any sort of rest and leisure activity planned in Dubai for the last half of 2021. In fact, until the end of January, all tourism-related activities in the city are solidly booked, according to industry sources. “Most of the flights, restaurants and hotels are already full,” said Avinash Adnani, managing partner of Pluto Travels.

“Ground transportation is difficult to obtain, as are short cruises; and staycations are also busy. There’s a lot of movement planned until the end of January, and it’s mostly from non-Asian markets like Kuwait, Europe, Russia, etc.

The rates for five-star rooms are well within the range of MAD 3,000 and above, and hotels are expecting a new phase of strengthening in the coming days.

The city has been busy adding new experiences for its residents and visitors alike, most notably the Ain Dubai wheel that towers over this part of the city. For those who want to be always connected, the 48 cabins of Ain Dubai come with 5G connectivity, nothing less.

“The city continues to create new destinations and each one adds to the overall feel of Dubai,” said one hotelier.

It is therefore fitting that the latest tourism-focused campaign launched by Dubai brings together all of the city’s strengths. The #DubaiDestinations promotion, launched on Monday, December 14, aims to create more stories about what it means to visit / stay in Dubai. These will be narratives framed and disseminated by residents and the community at large.

“Thanks to the Christmas festivities and New Year’s celebrations, we are seeing spikes in room rates during these phases,” said Praveen Shetty, president of the Fortune Group, which operates six four-star properties in the city. “Dubai has always been seen as a must-see destination for the New Year.

“DSF 2021 starts earlier this year, so we expect things to rebound by the last week of December. “

With the occupancy rate of five-star hotels rising to over 80 percent, some of this rush in demand is rubbing off on vacation homes as well. “On the luxury side of the vacation rental market, we are seeing rates increase by North American, European and Russian travelers,” said Vinayak Mahtani, founder of bnbme, a vacation home operator. “Even the volumes coming from Indian visitors are on average higher even if the flights from India become more expensive.

“Overall this is a great mix for Dubai, where the client is focused on finding experiences and wanting to enjoy Dubai rather than looking for discounts.”

Yousuf Fakhruddin, CEO of Fakhruddin Properties, testifies to this. “The demand for short-term rentals and hotel apartments has increased as it allows travelers who want a comfortable place to stay without checking into a hotel. There has also been a significant increase in the number of local expats opting for short term rentals over traditional rentals. one-year lease format. They meet the key end-user requirement of having a place to relax with no deposits, no commissions, no hidden fees, no penalties and no monthly end-of-month payments. “

But some market sources believe the influx of Indian tourists could have been higher. “The Indian tourism and travel market is not growing at the speed we wanted,” Adnani said. “The main reason is that a return ticket will cost no less than $ 2,000.

“In addition to this, the policy of mandatory rapid PCR testing at airports and the rise of the Omicron variant has created a sense of uncertainty for travel from India. We may have to wait until the end of January before the real traffic from India begins. “