Travel agents will see their margins slashed for the next five years as the Holy Month of Ramadan moves further each year into peak summer holiday selling period.
Traditionally a period when Muslims prefer to stay at home, rather than to travel out of the country, Ramadan is set to impact holiday sales until 2017.
| Advertisement |
Speaking at Arabian Travel Market, Gordon Price, director of Gold Coast Tourism explained that the Arab market traditionally visited the Gold Coast in Australia for a period of up to three months in the summer, but due to Ramadan starting in August this year, the summer season had been reduced to just 45 days.
“We will see the summer season decline over the next few years until 2017.”
“Our bottom line will be impacted and travel agents will be impacted. As a destination we are taking this extremely seriously,” he said.
Price said it was imperative that the travel trade worked out ways to stimulate demand for travel during Ramadan. The Gold Coast is promoting a ‘Ramadan lounge’, iftars and nighttime activities for its Muslim guests during Ramadan.
“We can’t remove the stigma of travelling during Ramadan,” said Price. “But we can try to meet cultural and religious needs.”
Dina Al Herais, vice president, commercial operations, Emirates Holidays agreed that it was traditionally unusual for families to travel during Ramadan, but pointed out that as the Holy Month moved further into July this would become more common.
“As Ramadan moves forward into July, which is the start of the school holidays there’s going to be a need for families to get out. We encourage the National Tourism Boards we work with to consider Ramadan and how to cater to it,” she added.
Search our database of more than 2,700 industry companies
