The Middle Eastern travel market is poised for major growth in the next few years, according to new research from travel industry research authority Phocuswright.
Jeff Strachan: Middle East online channel poised for growth.
As Internet penetration increases, so does the population of young adults ready to travel and as the region’s technology infrastructure improves and more people buy smartphones, travelling gets easier.
“Travellers in the Middle East still flock to traditional agents, and so offline bookings account for nearly three-fourths of the market,” says Jeff Strachan, research analyst at Phocuswright.
“But with many of these agents now adopting a hybrid offline/online approach, and with smartphone usage exploding among the region’s young, digitally-savvy travellers, the online channel is poised for rapid growth,” he added.
Report highlights include:
- The Middle East travel market is set to grow at a fast clip, from US$72 billion in 2014 to nearly US$98 billion in 2017.
- A technically savvy, young population will drive online penetration from 25% in 2014 to 36% by 2017.
- Offline gross bookings will continue to have the highest share, but will decline from 75% in 2014 to 64% in 2017.
Phocuswright’s Middle East Online Travel Overview Second Edition provides detailed analysis into consumer leisure/unmanaged business travel behavior, and highlights key trends and developments shaping the region’s tourism industry.
• Contact Eugene Ko at media@phocuswright.com for more information on the Phocuswright new research.
• Featured image credit (online travel booking): nicomenijes iStock
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