DUBAI // Cairo has topped a list of the most popular travel destinations, according to travel site Expedia.com.
The company revealed its list of the top 20 outbound markets for UAE residents last year.
Egypt’s capital was the most popular destination, followed by Jordan’s capital, Amman, and Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.
“Expedia outbound passenger data examining the most popular destinations for UAE residents found that three Mena cities topped the poll,” said Eman Barhoumeh, Expedia’s director of e-commerce.
“In terms of international destinations, London is ranked in fourth place, illustrating its enduring popularity within the Middle East, ahead of New York, in ninth place, and Paris ranked at 15.”
Istanbul came in fifth, ahead of Bangkok at sixth, Doha at seventh and Manila at eighth.
“Cairo experienced the most substantial growth, with more than a 70 per cent increase in bookings last year in comparison to 2013, closely followed by Riyadh,” she said.
“We also witnessed a sizeable increase in flights to Colombo, with more than 55 per cent, followed by Beirut and Kuwait City at 45 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively.”
Expedia expects Cairo, Beirut and Amman to be the top travel destinations in June and July this year, according to bookings and year-on-year comparisons.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
