Tourism and travel agencies have confirmed that “ski tourism” has witnessed great demand by Emirati citizens in recent years, in search of adventure and testing new tourist experiences, pointing to five luxury destinations that are at the top of citizens’ interests: Austria, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Japan. The most prominent of which is Courchevel, which is considered the winter jewel of the French Alps, and one of the most popular destinations among travelers from the UAE.
She explained to Emirates Today that the most important factors that Emirati citizens take into consideration when choosing a ski destination are luxurious accommodations, ease of travel, halal food options, and the availability of amenities suitable for families, in addition to the beauty of nature.
She pointed out that ski resorts are not only popular for skiing experiences, but also provide visitors with outdoor activities for children and adults, such as snowshoeing in the French Alps, or horseback riding between snow-covered trees in Japan.
Ski tourism
In detail, the CEO of Al-Rayes Travel Company – Al-Rayes Group, Mohammed Jassim Al-Rayes, said: “Ski tourism has witnessed a great demand by Emirati citizens in recent years, who have begun to go to international winter destinations, in search of adventure and new tourist experiences,” noting that A percentage of them choose the destination to practice this type of sport, while some of them prefer to experience the winter weather, or obtain training courses for this sport.
Al-Rayes revealed to Emirates Al-Youm that “most citizens choose skiing destinations during the months of January and February every year,” pointing out that “with the increasing number of Emiratis who practice skiing, airlines and travel agencies have begun to move towards providing more options and offering packages.” Holidays include airline tickets, hotel reservations, ski facilities, transportation, and other services.
Destinations and costs
Al-Rayes continued: “Winter destinations, such as Switzerland, France, and Austria, are among the most prominent destinations that attract Emiratis annually to experience snow skiing adventures, as these destinations are characterized by modern facilities, in addition to the stunning natural scenery they enjoy,” noting that “these destinations Destinations attract high-income tourists, due to the high cost of spending holidays there.”
He added: “There are other destinations that are less expensive and more popular, such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia, and other countries,” pointing out that there is a passion among Emiratis to experience new and diverse tourist experiences, at a time when many of them find skiing a unique pleasure that combines entertainment and challenge.
Al Rayes said: “Courchevel is the winter jewel of the French Alps, and it is one of the most expensive destinations, and it is also popular with Emirati citizens,” noting that the high cost of spending a holiday in this destination is due to its unique location and the small number of luxury resorts available. .
He explained that “the average price for a week-long holiday in Courchevel, France, may reach about 40,000 dirhams for two people, increasing according to the category of hotel, training classes, and other transportation services.”
Adventure trips
For his part, Director of Entertainment Programs at dnata Travel, Matthew Flemex, said: “There is an increasing interest in adventure trips and multi-destination trips during the winter season 2024-2025,” pointing out that the popular options included European winter markets, trips to watch the Northern Lights, and trips to… Classic skating.
Flemex added to Emirates Today: “The French and Swiss Alps top the list of the most sought-after destinations for ski holidays, while the Courchevel Ski Resort – located in the French Alps, which is part of the (Les Trois Valais) region, is the largest interconnected ski area in The world – one of the most prominent luxury ski destinations in the world, and one of the most popular destinations among travelers from the Emirates,” indicating that the demand includes other destinations such as Italy, and he continued: “We have noticed in recent years “There is an increase in demand for lesser-known destinations, such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, for ski tourism, as cost and modernity are the main factors behind this growing interest.”
Flemex stressed that “demand is increasing for comprehensive travel packages for ski holidays from (dnata Travel), as these packages facilitate trip planning by including activities, ski passes, and après-ski activities, while customizing them to suit the needs of each traveler.”
He added: “One of the preferred options is the all-inclusive Club Med packages in some of the best international destinations for winter sports, as Club Med resorts are destinations in their own right, offering various options for outdoor, sporting and recreational activities, in addition to ski passes, lift tickets, and ski lessons for beginners.” And guidance for experienced skiers.
He pointed out the availability of a ski package from Club Med that includes a seven-night stay at the Club Med St. Moritz Roy Soleil resort, allowing travelers to stay in a “superior” room on an all-inclusive basis, and includes ski tickets, lifts, group ski lessons, and activities. Après-ski, entertainment, kids club, and ski lessons supervised by instructors, with prices starting from 7,300 dirhams per person.
He emphasized that ski resorts are not only popular for skiing experiences, but most resorts offer outdoor activities for children and adults, such as snowshoeing in the French Alps, or horseback riding among snow-covered trees in Japan. When traveling as families or large groups, these activities play an important role in choosing a vacation destination.
Most requested
In a related context, Emily Jenkins, head of the digital products and solutions department at Dubai World Travel, said, “The most popular ski tourist destinations for Emirati citizens include (Courchevel) in France, and (St. Moritz), as well as (Zermatt) in Switzerland.” She added: “We are starting to receive more orders now to Japan, and other destinations such as Azerbaijan and Georgia.”
She stated that Courchevel’s luxurious reputation is a major attraction for Emirati tourists, as its appeal lies in its exclusive accommodations with very luxurious chalets and five-star hotels that meet the needs of the high-end market, in addition to luxurious restaurants, upscale shopping and customized services (VIP services and ski lessons). private).
As for the most important factors that Emirati citizens take into consideration when choosing a ski destination, Jenkins explained that the factors include luxury accommodations, ease of travel, halal food options, and family-friendly amenities, as well as privacy, shopping, natural beauty, and the travel experience.
She said: “Emiratis want to enjoy the snow and winter landscapes in these destinations,” noting that “Dubai World Travel” conducted a survey of its customers last year, and one of the questions was “What type of activities do you want to participate in during vacation?” and the first answer was nature. And adventure, noting that ski and snow holidays fall into this category.
50 thousand dirhams for two people
Travel and tourism agencies have offered holiday packages to “Courchevel” at prices of up to 50,000 dirhams for two people for seven nights, in a five-star hotel facility, and the cost per person reaches more than 25 thousand dirhams, while the package includes: hotel accommodation, airline tickets, Transportation services and ski lessons.
The prices of another package reached about 43 thousand dirhams, for the same period in a four-star hotel, and the cost per person reaches about 21 thousand dirhams, and some offers also require a minimum number of hotel nights.
