Qatari expatriates explore Eastern European countries as new summer resorts

With summer around the corner, citizens and expatriates are exploring new destinations worldwide to spend the forthcoming holiday season. Travel industry sources have reported a shift in preferences, going by the demand for air tickets to various destinations, according to The Peninsula.

Countries like Australia, the US and China have become favourite destinations for citizens as they tend to diversify their trips, with introduction of several new flights.

On the other hand, several East European countries like Georgia, Bosnia and Azerbaijan have emerged as new attractions for expatriates due to cheap tour packages and simplified visa regulations, say industry sources.

Despite the popularity of several new tourist spots, European cities like London, Paris and Madrid (Spain) traditionally remain the favourite holiday destinations of most Qataris while Dubai retains its position as the main shopping stop.

“We have seen a change in places people choose to travel for holiday. Europe remains the most preferred destination for Qataris. Some of them also go to Asian destinations like Thailand and Malaysia. However, there is an increase in the number of citizens choosing countries like Australia, the US, China and the Maldives, as they tend to explore new destinations and because new flights are introduced to some destinations. We expect this new trend to have an impact in the coming summer holidays,” a travel executive told The Peninsula yesterday.

He said South East Asian destinations like Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have been traditionally popular among expatriates.

However, recently, Eastern European countries such as Georgia, Bosnia and Azerbaijan are fast gaining popularity, mainly due to less cost and easy visa processing.

According to travel industry sources, a three-day visit to Georgia including air fare would cost around QR 3000 and even less to Azerbaijan at around QR 2500.

Countries like Georgia now provide on arrival visas to visitors from Qatar.

“Tariffs for a travel package to Georgia excluding airfare would start from QR 1500 and the airfare would be an additional of QR 1500 during the summer. The prices are more or less similar to other East European countries as well. It could be cheaper than traveling to their home countries during summer,” said a travel adviser.

Separately, air fares from Doha to various destinations abroad have shot up as families have started booking flights for the summer school holidays.

Expatriate families will start leaving for holidays by mid-June, with schools set to close on June 22.

The prolonged summer vacation will end by the second week of September.

According to industry sources, flights to Colombo, Cairo, European cities including London and the Indian cities of Chennai, Mumbai and Kozhikode and Kochi would cost 75 percent to 100 percent more during the travel season compared to the off-peak fares.