The aviation sector has become increasingly competitive in tandem with the rapid expansion of the tourism industry in the country. Jeff Topping / The National
The aviation sector has become increasingly competitive in tandem with the rapid expansion of the tourism industry in the country. Jeff Topping / The National

UAE tourism lures big players



The rapid expansion of the tourism industry in the UAE will force companies to raise standards and keep prices in check as competition increases.

The growth of the airline sector is a prime example of this, analysts say, as home-grown carriers expand services and compete among themselves and with major international carriers, which are also adding more capacity.

"Those that have the better service, better connectivity, better timings and performance will gain that market share," said Sunil D'Souza, the UAE country manager for Kanoo Travel.

Mr D'Souza said Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline were already taking some share from other regional and international airlines, helped by a "customer-centric" attitude and competitive rates.

"Other legacy carriers, like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Air India or other carriers, they've also increased their frequency and flights. It is those who have kept customers happy who will thrive."

Similarly in the hotel sector, with new properties opening, the market is expected to become increasingly competitive, particularly in Abu Dhabi.

By the end of the year, several hotels are expected to have opened in the capital, including the Park Hyatt and St Regison Saadiyat Island, as well as Sofitel and Rocco Forte hotels elsewhere.

Room rates are expected to fall because of the additional supply.

Abu Dhabi has the largest expected room growth in the region, up 90.3 per cent on the existing number of hotel rooms if all 13,534 rooms in the development pipeline open, according to STR Global, a hotel industry researchcompany based in London.

It would be easy for hotels to enter fierce price wars as they compete for business, analysts say.

"It's a phenomena that any industry goes through when you have supply and demand," said Henning Fries, the regional vice president, UAE, for Fairmont and the general manager of the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr hotel in Abu Dhabi.

"How that all works together and if there's an equilibrium, and if there's a disconnect between them, then that always has an effect on the price - either in a positive way for the consumer or in a negative way for the industry."

With luxury brands such as Fairmont it was difficult to drop rates below a certain level, he said.

"We would never go and undersell our brand.

"We would harm ourselves permanently if we were to do that. Other operators may take a different approach.

"Other competitors might see it the same way as we do," said Mr Fries.

But there are others, he said, who want to ensure they don't have empty rooms. "Of course if demand is not increasing as fast as supply is, it will have an effect.

"If customers know there is a lot of supply to choose from it will always have an impact on price naturally."

Albert Dias, the co-founder of Musafir.com, an online travel agency based in the UAE, said there was growing evidence carriers in the country were trying to attract passengers from different emirates more actively, with the addition of additional bus services for example.

Etihad has also just launched a free chauffeur service for friends or family flying economy on major routes and living in Dubai, Sharjah or Al Ain.

"There's increasing willingness to reach out to passengers in different parts of Dubai," said Mr Dias.

"On the flip side we've also seen Emirates talking far more than they ever have before about picking up customers from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and bringing them into Dubai." Air fares this year had increased by about 10 to 15 per cent compared with last year, he said, partly because of the rise in fuel prices.

But competition would help to limit rises in fares.

Overall, demand for air travel is growing strongly.

Passenger traffic for carriers in the Middle East increased 8.3 per cent in the first seven months of the year, while capacity grew 9 per cent, despite the regional unrest, according to the International Air Transport Association.

"There are more and more companies travelling frequently, more and more customers travelling frequently, more and more families taking vacations frequently," said Mr D'Souza.

High oil prices meant airlines would struggle to cut fares.

"When the oil price goes around $120 a barrel and beyond, it puts tremendous pressure on airlines.

"That is when they come up with measures like increasing the prices."

There are other pressures too. James Hogan, the chief executive of Etihad, hit out at the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme last week, which he described as a "revenue-generating tax" that essentially exploited environmental concerns.

Company%20Profile
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From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

Glossary of a stock market revolution

Reddit

A discussion website

Redditor

The users of Reddit

Robinhood

A smartphone app for buying and selling shares

Short seller

Selling a stock today in the belief its price will fall in the future

Short squeeze

Traders forced to buy a stock they are shorting 

Naked short

An illegal practice  

Match info

Uefa Champions League Group B

Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Eriksen 80')
Inter Milan 0

Company%20Profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs: 2018 Renault Megane

Price, base / as tested Dh52,900 / Dh59,200

Engine 1.6L in-line four-cylinder

Transmission Continuously variable transmission

Power 115hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque 156Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.6L / 100km

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5