As Dubai attempts to return to normal life and resume international tourism and hospitality, a majority of UAE residents believe the move will benefit the economy, but are also concerned about sharing public spaces with tourists, a recent survey by market research and data analytics firm YouGov revealed.
 
When asked about their concerns of sharing public places with tourists, the majority of respondents (56 per cent) claimed to be very or somewhat concerned about sharing shopping spaces with them. Among the different age groups, concern is highest among young adults (between 18-24 years) while it is the least among respondents aged 45+ (64 per cent vs 44 per cent).
 
Just above half (53 per cent) are worried about dining in at the same restaurant as these visitors, as well as being in the same tourist spots with them (52 per cent). The survey also reported a notable difference between the level of comfort among the genders. Women are much more likely than men to be worried about eating in the same restaurants as tourists (60 per cent vs 49 per cent).
 
It is interesting to note that fear about being present in all the listed public areas along with tourists is higher among Asian expats than respondents from other nationality groups.
 
In general, these concerns are likely to be influenced by the country of travel origin, with seven in ten (69 per cent) UAE residents agreeing with the statement ‘My concerns with international tourists depend on the country they are travelling from’.
 
Even though there is apprehension about welcoming international travellers, the majority (83 per cent) believe opening up the country to tourists will have a positive impact on the economy. UAE residents think this decision is most likely to benefit hotel and airline industries (62 per cent each). Respondents aged 45+ are most likely to believe in this possibility (at 72 per cent) as compared to the rest of the age groups.
 
Some residents think cultural destinations and shopping malls (37 per cent and 32 per cent) will also benefit from this move, while fewer believe this step will prove advantageous to Restaurants (25 per cent) and Leisure & Entertainment venues (24 per cent).
 
YouGov Omnibus data collected online among 1,000 respondents in the UAE between July 15 and 22 using YouGov’s panel of over 6 million people worldwide. Data is representative of the adult national population in UAE. - TradeArabia News Service

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