13-06-2025
Aida Al Busaidy: Why To Staycation Over Vacation
Communications strategist and story teller Aida Al Busaidy on staying put and holidaying the old-fashioned way this summer
Ever realised just how exhausting it is to plan a trip? I don't know about you, but going on vacation sometimes feels like a lot of work. I would love to be one of those people who just close their eyes, point their index finger to a place on the world map, jump for joy and exclaim, 'Yes, I am definitely catching a flight to see that said mountain.' Honestly, when you reach a certain age, careful planning coupled with an 'I-am-only-a-five-star-hotel' traveller mindset means I need to make sure everything is just right. That includes the weather too. And full disclosure, I pack 24 outfits for a seven-day vacation. After all, I could need more than one outfit change in a day for the 'gram.
Travelling as a whole opens your world and heart to so many things if you allow it to. The experiences, the food, the people and most all the creation of long-lasting memories. I, for one, actually have physical albums in which I select the best moments of a holiday – around 15 to 20 highlights – and print photos out so that when guests come over, I go old-school and pull out pictures that take them along my visual journey. Everyone else might go the iCloud route, but I choose to ground my memories in photo albums that double as time capsules for future generations.
Let me drop some facts for you. According to Zion Market Research, the global tourism market size was worth $11.39 trillion in 2023 and is predicted to grow to $18.44 trillion by 2032 with a compound annual growth rate of roughly 5.5 per cent between 2024 and 2032. What can we deduce from this? This industry will continue to grow, and international travel with certain niches like medical tourism or wellness seem to be particularly trending now.
Let's not forget local tourism too. Staycations – holidaying in your home country – began becoming popular around the 1940s and have become a phenomenon since. When overseas travel was restricted due to the pandemic, it was great seeing how people explored nearer pastures, and emerged with a renewed connection to their home town or neighbouring cities.
As much as I want to tick off a few more cities and countries on my very long bucket travel list, this year we have opted to stay home for the summer. Our plan? Mainly to declutter, catch up on sleep and read – something I miss doing. From exhilarating experiences to indulging in the local gastronomy landscape and soaking in stunning views, my plan is to staycation in Dubai's top properties. Because who wouldn't want to be spoiled just a little bit even if its just 23km down the road from your home? And yes, we do live where everyone else chooses to vacation.
