Bahrainis Shift from Europe to Cooler Gulf Breaks

Demand is driven by well-organised and high-quality tourism services

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

- Airfares are rising due to higher operating costs  

- Some airlines have introduced additional fees of up to $50 per ticket

- Hotel prices remain stable in most destinations 

Bahrainis are booking cooler, closer holidays this summer, with Salalah and Saudi Arabia’s southern highlands gaining ground as parts of Europe and East Asia lose about 40 pc of last year’s demand, travel office owners said.

Bookings have risen for Salalah in Oman and for Asir, Abha, Jazan, Najran and Al Baha in Saudi Arabia, where mountain weather and shorter travel times are drawing families seeking a summer break without long-haul flights.

Outside the Gulf, the Caucasus and Central Asia have also moved up the list, with Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Georgia among the destinations now drawing more Bahraini travellers.

Travel and tourism expert Waad Makki said world events and fast-moving regional conditions had led many people to rethink their travel plans, leaving them keener on nearby and safer options.

She said shorter, safer trips had become the first choice for many travellers who wanted a holiday without long flights or added hassle.

‘From my work as executive director of a travel and tourism office, I see that the move towards nearby and safe destinations has become the preferred choice for a wide share of travellers,’ she said.

She said individual bookings this summer had been good for Turkey, Azerbaijan, East Asia and Europe, as travellers sought to use the summer break while keeping room to change their plans.

Travel offices, she said, were offering flexible bookings that allow full refunds when emergencies or new developments prevent a trip from going ahead, under the agreed terms.

She said trips were being prepared for Dhofar’s khareef season in Oman and the Asir season in Saudi Arabia, both known for mild weather, scenery and cultural activities.

The aim, she said, was no longer only to send travellers to a destination, but to give them fuller trips with new activities, local experiences and different places to stay.

Ms Makki said the Dhofar and Asir programmes were built around quality, with selected visits, private activities and varied stays that allow travellers to see the destination in greater depth than standard holiday packages.

‘Travel is not a luxury, but a human need,’ she said. ‘It gives people a chance to renew themselves, move again and discover new places and experiences.’

Travel and tourism expert Hassan Al Nafea said summer bookings were middling and around 40 pc lower than in 2025, but the choice of destination had changed.

He said many Bahrainis were now looking for milder weather, easier access and entry rules that spare Gulf travellers from visa paperwork. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania were among the countries benefiting from that shift, he added.

‘Demand has risen for Salalah in Oman and southern Saudi Arabia,’ he said. ‘Many citizens are looking for mild weather and ease of access.’