South African demand for Dubai continues to grow, with about 120 000 South Africans travelling to the destination on Emirates last year.
In a report, Emirates said Dubai attracted a steady mix of leisure, business and religious travellers from South Africa. The airline found that its Johannesburg-Dubai route contributed to 65% of its South African traffic, followed by Cape Town with 20% and Durban with 15%. In terms of the busiest season, January and February were the most-travelled months of the year, accounting for 30% of the total traffic to Dubai.
The report explained that religious travel remained a key segment. Many South African pilgrims use Dubai as a gateway to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah, connecting to destinations such as Jeddah and Medina.
Leisure travellers, who make up the bulk of the market, are opting for Emirates’ economy class, which accounts for 78% of South African bookings.
“Whether for leisure, religious celebrations or work, the trend toward repeat travellers is strong, with many returning to destinations they've visited before,” said the report. Emirates revealed that its Dubai-South Africa routes stood out, with a 63% repeat rate, well above the 55% repeat rate for the airline’s other destinations.
“The figures speak for themselves and it's clear that the city continues to attract repeat visitors for its unbeatable combination of accessibility, affordability and broad appeal,” said Emirates.
