|
Staycation. It's a fusion of "stay" and "vacation" recently coined to describe a stay-at-home holiday. And it's an emerging buzzword among Americans, who have certainly been experiencing a change in the economic climate.
As fuel prices soar and their economy sags, many Americans have put off plans to travel abroad. They have opted to spend their holidays either at or near their homes.
Before oil prices escalated, consumers were basking in a golden era of cheap flights. Tickets to different cities across the globe, especially to places you had never heard of, were generally within consumers' reach. Thus, people were encouraged to travel. Airlines, and the travel industry in general, reaped the benefits. It seems those days are gone.
During his recent trip to Dubai, Rolf Schafroth, Kuoni Group's head of strategic business division destinations, warned that the rising cost of fuel could have a painful impact on the travel industry. He said rising fuel costs are pushing up the prices of tickets and holiday packages.
Airlines reportedly spend one third of their budgets on fuel. As fuel prices rise, airlines are forced to pass on the cost to consumers because they are under intense pressure to boost revenues and cut costs. Just last month, three big US airlines hiked domestic prices by up to $60 roundtrip. The US low-cost carrier AirTran also jacked up the prices of leisure tickets by $30 and business fares by $50.
The same story can be said in the UAE. A report by Dubai-based recruitment consultant Kershaw Leonard showed that from 2007 to 2008 economy tickets to London increased by 11 per cent, Philippines by seven per cent, Mumbai by six per cent, Paris by three per cent and Singapore five per cent.
With holiday costs getting more expensive, it seems a home-based vacation is indeed a sound choice, not only for Americans, but for anyone who is on a tight budget. People have been conditioned to think that vacation means travel. Actually, there are some fun things you can do to enjoy a holiday without hopping on a plane.
Hotels in the UAE offer lower rates during summer. Maybe you can take advantage of that. And if that's out of your reach, how about exploring some places around the country that you've never visited? What about biking, boating, kayaking, or simply lazing around the beach? The city has always been known for its indoor ski resort, in case you forgot.
And, hey, the Dubai Summer Surprises has just kicked off. It should be worth your time. Organisers have said 100 events are lined up for the 65-day festival. If Dubai's sun is too hot for comfort, just ditch the outdoors. Sure, there would be plenty of fun things to do at home.
The purpose of a vacation is to take a break from work, spend some time with yourself or hang out with friends. You don't have to travel to have fun. All it takes is a little bit of imagination. One of the biggest rewards you can get out of a home-based vacation is saving money, since you don't have to pay for expensive air tickets, hotel, or food. So, staycation, anyone?
|
