Is ‘revenge tourism’ real? Visit your nearest airport

The abnormal airport scene of scattered passengers waiting for boarding between plastic “do not sit here” signs started to become familiar, yet nothing like the start of this summer to prove that it's all (hopefully) in the past. Airports around the world are reporting larger numbers of travelers, forcing some airlines into special arrangements. Is this the 'revenge-tourism' season?

Welcome back to?That Expat Life , a bi-weekly newsletter that highlights the latest news, trends, and conversations that touch the lives of expats in the Gulf. If you like what you're reading, make sure to subscribe using the button above. Would love to hear your feedback, along with what you'd like to read about in the next newsletter using?#ThatExpatLife ?in the comments below.?

As the summer travel season kicks in, the GCC is seeing a surge in inbound and outbound flights from and to major airports. “Since the pandemic, this is the first summer which is looking extremely promising,” a Qatar travel group CEO told Gulf Times . Dubai International Airport has also logged its busiest quarter since the pandemic started.

The returning demand for travel from the GCC to places with cooler weather during the summer months is reason to be more thorough when planning your vacation this year. Start by accounting for longer visa processing times , especially to Europe and the US. Many UAE residents are choosing to fly to Far East destinations instead like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, travel experts told Khaleej Times .

UAE airlines are ramping up their hiring this year with hundreds of roles open as of June, with demand for travel returning to normal. This goes in line with growing fleets of aircraft and the easing of Covid restrictions.

This spike in international movement is affecting traffic in airports all over the world; long lines at security and passport control have been causing warnings in many airports around Europe last week, with threats of airport employees going on strikes. Airports in Canada and the UK have also been grappling with delays due to shortage of staff, prompting travelers to use social media to express their frustration. ???

But is this temporary or a trend to prepare for (logistically and mentally) during this summer?

Travel experts are calling it “the perfect storm ,” where the urge for travel, which has been on hold for two years, meets the impact of previous layoffs around the world.

That apparent urge has caused a new term to come to surface: Revenge tourism ; traveling with vengeance. The seemingly violent phrase describes the urgency of pent-up plans to go on a vacation abroad, delayed because of Covid restrictions with each new variant. It could be a helpful motive to explain the rise in travelers’ numbers and holiday bookings, causing agencies to forecast more spendin g in travel planning this year.

• UAE airlines are hiring more in 2022: Know more about open roles and expected salary - Khaleej Times. Read more .
• Traveling for fun or for work? The lines are getting blurred this season – Arabian Business. Read more .
• Revenge travel: How vacation vengeance became a thing – CNN. Read more .

What are your travel plans looking like this summer? Are you preparing for this travel season in any special way? Share your tips in the comments below.