Tourists plan from home; residents decide on the spot
Visitors often research before they fly: hotels, brunches, yacht tours and beach clubs. That means targeting people searching from the UK, India, Europe and the GCC, in their own time zone, weeks before the trip.
Residents decide in the moment. They open Google Maps or Instagram at 7 pm and pick something within a short walk or drive. Reviews, photos and opening hours win those decisions more than any ad.
Seasonality is extreme here
The Marina is busy from October to April and noticeably quieter in the summer. I plan budgets around that: build audiences and reviews in the slower months, then spend hard when visitors arrive. Holiday home operators also need to watch how direct bookings compare with the big platforms, since commission eats margin.
