Tourism Breaking News
Visa’s latest travel data highlights how family travel is taking center stage in the UAE’s outbound tourism landscape, with children increasingly influencing how and where families spend their holidays. Outbound leisure travel spend surged 48% compared to the rest of the year (RoY), as UAE residents took advantage of school holidays to combine visits to family abroad with international leisure trips. The study also found that 40% of leisure travelers took multiple trips this summer, averaging 14 days per trip, with premium cardholders driving 88% of spend and a 17% rise in premium segment spending. Summer 2025 marked a strong increase in family travel, which accounted for 20% of outbound trips, nearly double the RoY average of 12%. Ticketing spend grew 48% compared to RoY, with families of two to five people spending an average of $2,195 on tickets alone. London remained the leading international destination, with 7% traveler share, followed by Muscat (7% traveler share). Riyadh followed with 6% of traveler share, alongside Istanbul (5%) and Bangkok (5%). Brasilia, 12,000 km away, was the farthest destination visited by UAE travellers. The study underscores the rising influence of children on family itineraries. Spending on amusement parks soared 150% by UAE-issued cards. On average, UAE travelers spent $145 per card on entertainment and $925 per card on accommodation, while spending at toy merchants surged 70% globally.
“Summer travel has always been a family affair, but it is interesting to see how children are increasingly shaping where and how families spend their holidays,” said Salima Gutieva, Visa’s VP and Country Manager for UAE. “These insights help us, as well as our partners across banks, governments, and merchants, design travel experiences that are more rewarding, seamless, and family-friendly. By leveraging data-driven personalization and exclusive partnerships, we can enable our cardholders to maximize value while enjoying memorable trips.”
Visa’s analysis reveals that summer travel is becoming more experiential, with families at the center of this trend. Banks and tourism authorities have an opportunity to create targeted travel rewards, collaborate with key international and local merchants for exclusive benefits, and design early-booking incentives tailored to families.
