Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has announced the launch of its latest route to Chisinau, Moldova, starting on 4 September 2021. With the launch of Chisinau, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has now on sale 25 destinations. The flight to Chisinau will be operated two times per week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Tickets are already on sale on wizzair.com and the airline’s mobile app (also available in Arabic), with fares starting as low as AED 179*. The connection between Abu Dhabi and the city of Chisinau is further expanding the travel opportunities for UAE residents who would like to visit friends and relatives, travel for business, as well as offer unforgettable experiences to those who would like to discover new places. Chisinau is the capital city and the major industrial centre of Moldova, situated along the Bâcu (Byk) River in the south-central part of the country. A city with a rich culture, exquisite architecture, beautiful landscapes, tasty and unique cuisine, Chisinau promises to delight and surprise all visitors. Kees Van Schaick, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi said: “We are happy to announce a new route from Abu Dhabi to Chisinau following the update of the green travel list which included Moldova. As restrictions ease, the demand for travel is increasing and we are committed to providing additional travel opportunities to our customers by expanding our current network with new and exciting routes.” With the recent update of the green list of countries, passengers travelling from Moldova do not need to quarantine on arrival in the UAE capital. Passengers will need to take a PCR test on arrival into the UAE, on the sixth day after arriving, and on day 12 …

Dubai office of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) recently hosted its’ first medical familiarization trip to South Korea in recent months. Invitations were extended to some of the key players in medical tourism industry like Omeir Travel, AlRostamani Travel, AlTayer Travel, Orient and SATA to visit the country from 23rd May until 28th May 2021. It was a special trip for the travel trade delegation as special visas were issued and two-week quarantine waived. South Korea’s health system has been one of the best in Asia with quality health care and state of art facilities. UAE and South Korea has signed an MOU with patient treatment abroad. Therefore, this trip was meant to showcase the up-to-date health facilities, wellness resorts, advanced treatment for spinal problems and to provide a comprehensive understanding of Korea’s excellence in medical programs and infrastructure. Hyunsun Hong, Regional Director said, “Korea is becoming a popular destination for medical tourists from all over the world and an emerging global medical leader, thanks to its skilled medical practitioners with extensive clinical experience, cutting-edge technology, competitive pricing, rapid and efficient diagnostics and, state-of-the-art IT-based medical infrastructure.” During the FAM trip, the agents had visited several hospitals and wellness centers, beauty clinics, met with experts, tried out numerous services offered to medical tourists and in addition spend some quality time exploring shopping, tourist attractions, cruises and dining at halal and international restaurants. The result of this trip was an improved understanding of the range and quality of medical and wellness services accessible to visitors that will encourage them to promote the destination. “Every necessity of a GCC traveler is met in this country, starting from world-class medical care to endless …

flydubai starts its operations to Naples in Italy. The three weekly flights to Naples International Airport (NAP) will commence on 01 July and offer passengers from the UAE more options for travel this summer. A quarantine-free travel corridor has been established between Italy and the UAE enabling passengers to travel between the two countries with less restrictions. A negative COVID-19 test result will be required 48 hours before departure from the UAE. On arrival in Italy, all passengers over the age of two years will be required to take a rapid antigen test. The safe travel corridor with Italy is the latest in a series of agreements signed by the UAE including those with Bahrain, Greece and Serbia. Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said, “We are pleased to see more countries opening up for safe tourism and is a step in the right direction to speed up recovery and boost travel this summer. This is a good sign that confidence in travel is returning and the efforts taken by stakeholders in the tourism industry to safeguard every step of the journey will benefit our passengers. We look forward to restarting our flights to Naples, a much-anticipated destination on the flydubai network.” Commenting on the announcement, Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said: “we are excited to offer our passengers convenient travel options to some of the most popular holiday spots in Europe including Mykonos and Santorini. Naples is another popular destination for the summer and a great starting point to discover the beauty of the Amalfi coast. flydubai has made these European destinations more accessible for passengers from the UAE and the GCC …

As part of its commitment to Vision 2030 in establishing tourism as an essential driver of growth for the future of Saudi Arabia and promoting the kingdom as a world-class travel destination with endless tourism experiences, Zahid Travel Group is proud to announce the establishment of GoZahid Destination Management (GoZahid DM). One of the leading personalities in the tourism sector Samir Mehta will lead GoZahid DM, he commented, “So the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 is groundbreaking from his Royal Highness, the Crown Prince. And as Zahid Travel, part of Zahid Group, we’re really proud to be part of this vision. I have come on board to establish the destination management part of the business in Zahid Travel, which has strong history and has been in existence for over 62 years. The entire Saudi Tourism ecosystem and what we have seen here at ATM, I think that’s been pretty much the talk of the town. You’ve seen in the last couple of days at ATM and how Saudi Arabia has presented itself from the Tourism Board, AlUla, NEOM, Red Sea and all the stakeholders that have been present here, the optimism that they’re projecting, the hospitality with open arms inviting the rest of the world, is a hugely positive message. There have been Saudi women who are showing their skills in Arabic Calligraphy and making bookmarks with names for ATM visitors. There’s a Saudi gentleman who’s been showcasing weaving techniques right here, there is so much cultural history. Adventure, nature, history, culture, and, of course, the fact that doors to pretty much the last country, which has such a long history, are being opened to international tourism, is something which I believe …

In a recent interview with Yamina Sofo – Director of – German National Tourism Office (GNTO) in Dubai for GCC countries shared with us that they are hopeful about summer as most tourism establishments opens for guests in Germany.  At the press conference it was revealed that Berlin would be one of the first destinations to open for fully vaccinated travellers with those recommended by the EU whereas other travellers may have to undergo PCR tests, however, more details are to be shared very soon. Sofo reiterated, “we are very hopeful for the summer, so already by next week, a lot of the tourism establishments are reopening for guests from Germany itself, the neighboring countries, and then hopefully summer and maybe already in June for overseas customers. So it’s going to be in phases. But by the time our valued GCC guests can travel to Germany, Germany is well up and running and the safety standards are very high and in place. The GCC countries are the third most important overseas market for Germany incoming tourism so they’re very high and extremely important for our tourism industry profits, and they’re highly appreciated and welcomed. So over time in 2019, we had 1.6 million guests overnight, guests from the GCC countries. Last year the number was lower unfortunately, but we had to reach 300,000. So this shows really the eagerness of GCC travellers to come to Germany even in the most difficult situations, and we appreciate that a lot. So we are very hopeful because we know the industry, we know the guests here – they have their suitcases packed. They are ready to go, and so we anticipate a very …

Air Seychelles will operate more flights from Dubai to the Indian Ocean paradise this July to provide travellers more choice and convenience when planning their Eid al-Adha holidays. The weekly flights starting from 2 July until 24 July 2021 will depart from Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 on Friday mornings, returning from Seychelles International Airport every Thursday afternoon, providing visitors a full week of adventure in the Seychelles. To offer greater connectivity over the upcoming Eid break, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles will operate an additional flight on 19 July 2021 from Dubai. Economy Class travellers can take advantage of the attractive fares starting from USD343 (AED 1,259), whilst Business Class travellers can book their seats at the starting fares of USD1,020 (AED 3,743). All fares are inclusive of taxes. Flights are now on sale via Air Seychelles website at www.airseychelles.com and through travel agents. Travelers to the popular holiday destination, irrespective of vaccination status, must have a negative COVID 19 PCR test certificate taken within 72 hours, with completed mandatory Health Travel Authorization at seychelles.govtas.com prior to departure from Dubai. With the average temperature ranging from 25 to 27 degrees Celsius in July, visitors can look forward to a break from the Dubai summer heat. Island hopping between the main islands, Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, famous for their white sandy beaches and vibrant coral reefs, will ensure tourists experience a picturesque and memorable escape. The flight schedule from Dubai Terminal 3 to the Seychelles from 2 July until 24 July, 2021.

Qatar Airways marks a significant milestone in the rebound of international leisure travel with the resumption of four weekly flights to the famed holiday destination of Phuket, Thailand, starting 1 July. In addition to its 12 weekly Bangkok flights, the airline will operate a total of 16 weekly flights to Thailand, providing seamless connectivity for its passengers travelling from Europe, the Middle East and United States. As Thailand reopens to holidaymakers from around the world, fully vaccinated travellers will soon be able to visit once again whilst also enjoying the award-winning hospitality and service available on Qatar Airways and at its hub, Hamad International Airport, the first and only 5-Star COVID-19 Safety Rated Airport in the Middle East. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker said, “With the resumption of flights to Phuket, Qatar Airways marks a significant milestone in the recovery of international tourism. We are proud to have lead the industry, setting the benchmark for safety, innovation and customer service throughout the pandemic. “We know many of our customers are eager to get back flying and return to some of their favourite holiday destinations, such as Phuket. Famed for its many exotic beaches, family friendly atmosphere, turquoise waters and delicious local cuisine, Phuket is an ideal destination for a summer getaway. We look forward to working with our partners in Thailand to support the recovery of their tourism sector.” Launched in 2010, Phuket became Qatar Airways’ 93rd destination at the time. The resort destination is a magnet for holidaymakers, particularly from Europe, the Middle East and United States. The route will be served by the airline’s modern and sustainable Boeing 787 Dreamliner with seating …

Radisson Hotel Group announced the signing of Radisson Blu Resort, Riyadh Hills Itlalat, and Radisson Blu Resort, Riyadh Hills Shalalah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Despite the challenges due to the pandemic, Radisson Hotel Group is continuing its strong expansion as one of the fastest-growing companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With over 45 hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments in operation and under development, Radisson Hotel Group and its investors remain committed to increasing its presence and promise towards the Kingdom. As the economic and commercial capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh is the largest city within the Kingdom and remains a strategic destination for the Group’s expansion. Over the past years, major international companies who have established their regional headquarters in Riyadh have once again endorsed the capital’s ambitions to become one of the top business cities in the world. The city has also announced the launch of a series of megaprojects with aim of beautifying the capital and aligning its urban development goals with the ambitious Vision 2030. Whilst the Kingdom continue its efforts to become one of the leading business hubs, Riyadh has also been adding multiple entertainment and leisure ventures to attract tourists from both the country and abroad. From shopping malls and parks to desert trekking and museums, Riyadh has a range of different activities to try. Elie Milky, Vice President Business Development, Middle East, Cyprus, Greece and Pakistan, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “We are proud to announce our new partnership with Al Haqbani Holding and Al Khair Capital Saudi Arabia. The signing of both Radisson Blu Resort, Riyadh Hills Itlalat and Radisson Blu Resort, Riyadh Hills Shalalah will positively contribute to Saudi Arabia’s …

Shurooq has announced the launch of two new beach development projects, worth a total of AED 197 million, complete with world-class public amenities to develop the emirate’s retail, tourism and hospitality infrastructure and enhance Sharjah’s appeal as an ideal leisure and adventure destination for residents and visitors. The upcoming AED 110 million Al Luluyah Beach project, located on the eastern coast of the emirate in Khorfakkan, and the AED 87 million Al Hira Beach project in Sharjah city, will include facilities suitable for all visitors, children’s playgrounds, restaurants, cafes and retail outlets. The Al Luluyah Beach development plans also includes a women-only beach, public beaches, and swimming pools These plans were announced by HE Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of Shurooq, during a live interview he appeared on the “Direct Line” program which airs on Sharjah Radio and TV, affiliates of the Sharjah Broadcast Authority yesterday (Sunday, May 30), where he highlighted that the new developments reiterate the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to further develop the emirate’s infrastruce in a way that supports leisure, social interaction and community development by offering residents and citizens world-class public amenities.

To provide efficient passport renewal services to a vast population of Filipino nationals living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), The Republic of the Philippines has extended their collaboration with VFS Global for five years by signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on 7 May 2021 in an official ceremony that was held in Manila, Philippines. KSA is one of the countries in the Middle East with the highest concentration of Filipino workers. To enhance customer experience and provide greater accessibility to customers in the KSA, the DFA outsourced the administrative and non-discretionary task of the passport renewal process to VFS Global in 2019. Subsequently, three Philippine ePassport Renewal Centres were launched in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar in October 2020. Prior to the launch of ePassport Renewal Centres, Philippine residents in the Kingdom had to visit the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh or the Consulate in Jeddah for passport renewal. Customers now have an additional avenue to complete the process. In addition to the Centres in KSA, VFS Global also operates two ePassport Renewal Centres located in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, which are also part of MoA extension. Upon signing the agreement, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido J. Dulay said, “Partnering with an established outsourcing champion like VFS Global enabled the DFA to multiply its presence in the Middle East at zero cost to the Philippine government. With the renewal, we can now look at widening and implementing similar service centres in other countries.” Attending the virtual signing ceremony, Chris Dix, Head of Business Development, VFS Global, quoted, “On behalf of VFS Global, I would like to thank the Department …