Sales of luggage have surged at various hypermarkets and travel accessories shops in Qatar since the start of Ramadan.

Speaking to Gulf Times, a merchandiser at a leading hypermarket in Doha said many residents buy such items during the holy month in time for the Eid al-Fitr holidays and vacations.
People also look to take advantage of the special promotions and discounts offered by retail outlets during Ramadan, according to him.
The merchandiser said they were selling on average 50 pieces of luggage per day, an increase of around 30 compared to the corresponding period last year.
“It sometimes goes beyond 50, especially during the weekend, and we are expecting the number to further increase by the end of this month when it is payday and Eid will be just a few days away,” he noted.
One hypermarket is offering QR50 vouchers for every QR200 purchase while another store is looking to woo buyers with its QR499 promotion for a set of three.
The merchandiser said different brands normally drop their prices during Ramadan to compete with others and attract more buyers.
“People also have different preferences - some prefer luggage made of polycarbonate (hard shell) while others go for the nylon or polyester ones,” he noted. “The demand for all types is very high.”
An Indian customer last month told Gulf Times that he prefers to buy luggage made of hard materials for “safety purposes.”
A shop in one of the malls, which sells high-end luggage, has also witnessed an increase in sales this Ramadan. A staff member said they were expecting sales to surge in the coming days, especially a week before the Eid al-Fitr holidays.
Sales of other travel items, such as passport holders, bags for gadgets and universal adapters, among others, have also risen at the shop, he said.
Meanwhile, sales of gadgets such as smartphones and tablets are at a “moderate level” this time compared to last year, according to some merchandisers.
A long-time merchandiser said a lot of customers normally wait for the Eid al-Fitr holidays before buying laptops and other gadgets in order to take advantage of the promotions on offer.
“We usually launch our promos during Eid when people go to the malls and spend their time with their families to shop,” he added.