Travel Unpacked: Elie Saab brings designer style to new Maldives resort and Etihad adds more flights to Milan

Etihad Airways is adding more flights to Milan, while holidaymakers flocking to the Maldives will be able to stay in a new resort designed by Lebanese courtier Elie Saab from 2029.

In China, the annual travel rush for Lunar New Year is under way. And, Tripadvisor is telling tourists what to expect from travel in the future as beauty voyages and happiness hacking holidays lead the way.

Here is a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.

Elie Saab luxury Maldives resort

The Lebanese couturier is bringing his designer style to a new Dh2.2 billion luxury property development in the Maldives. In partnership with Dubai’s Samana Developers, the luxury fashion house has unveiled its first branded real estate island resort in the Indian Ocean hotspot. It is slated to open in 2029.

Samana Ocean Views will be a 45-minute seaplane journey from Male and feature 190 keys, including overwater villas and pool apartments. Designed by the Elie Saab brand, interiors will have a blend of soft neutral tones and luxury fabrics that complement the resort’s natural surroundings.

“Every piece is designed with a deep understanding of the Maldivian environment, ensuring that the elegance and quality of the collection harmonise perfectly with the unique beauty of the location,” said Massimiliano Ferrari, chief executive of Corporate Brand Maison which produces The Elie Saab Maison Collection.

The development will have a luxury spa and wellness centre; multiple swimming pools and upscale restaurants including speciality Arabic and Japanese eateries; and a dive centre.

Chinese New Year travel rush: UAE, Malaysia and Singapore top wish lists

China’s lunar new year travel rush is under way as billions of holidaymakers make their journeys ahead of the festivities.

Running from January 28 until February 4, the 2025 holiday will mark the Year of the Snake.

“We're seeing a clear trend of travellers departing earlier than the official holiday starts to avoid the rush, with another peak expected on 30th January, most likely driven by those seeking short-haul getaways after spending the first days of the holiday at home or with family,” said Nancy Dai, a market analyst at travel data analytics company ForwardKeys.

Authorities have extended the break by one day to help stimulate tourism this year. Outbound traveller numbers from China are close to pre-pandemic figures, with experts reporting a 48 per cent increase compared to last year.

Destinations offering Chinese visitors visa-free access are some of the most popular. They include Malaysia, Singapore and the UAE. The number of Chinese travellers going to the UAE is 14 per cent greater than in 2019.

Other trending destinations for the holidays include Japan, where numbers have doubled compared to last year; and Russia, where visits by Chinese tourists are up 39 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels. Popular destinations in Europe include France, the UK, Spain, Italy and Germany.

Etihad Airways to fly three times a day to Milan

Etihad Airways has announced that it will add a third daily flight from Abu Dhabi to Milan from November.

The three-times-a-day schedule means Etihad will be offering 12,600 seats per week between the two destinations.

“With our morning, afternoon and evening departures from Abu Dhabi, our flights serve up perfect timings for guests travelling in both directions,” said Etihad Airways chief revenue and commercial officer Arik De.

Starting at Dh398 one-way, flights to Milan will be on sale for a three-day period from January 27. The new service, with a flight time of just over seven hours, will depart Abu Dhabi at about 9am and arrive in Italy just after 3pm.

Tripadvisor travel trends report: Beauty voyages, happiness hacking and zodiac retreats

Tripadvisor, the world’s largest online travel platform, has launched its first Trendcast report. Detailing the trends predicted to reshape travel in the years to come, it is based on search and booking data as well as on insights from reviews on the website.

The report is “a glimpse into the future of travel and the consumer behaviours that we believe will shape our industry in the years ahead,” said Hilary Fischer-Groban, Tripadvisor’s head of research and insights.

The report states that beauty-inspired escapes are trending. Beauty treatment mentions on Tripadvisor have surged by 400 per cent this year, with red-light therapy jumping 433 per cent. Happiness hacking – where adults look to embrace a sense of play on their travels – is also on the rise. Bookings for trips incorporating fun and games keywords are up, and Escape Room bookings have more than doubled since 2022.

Wellness experiences continue to be popular, with a 73 per cent increase in cold plunge experiences mentioned in Tripadvisor reviews. Additionally, spiritual travel is trending, with bookings for trips involving astrology, tarot and full moon experiences surging by 530 per cent over the past two years.

Other trends include sports travel, with bookings linked to sporting events increasing by 219 per cent, and slow travel, with train-related bookings up 143 per cent since 2022.