dnata continues to enhance its offering to ensure the safety and wellbeing of travellers and help airlines restore confidence in air travel. The company has partnered with the Disinfect Group and Ecas4 Australia to launch a safe, highly efficient and environment-friendly baggage disinfection service at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). Passengers arriving at Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 can take advantage of the innovative solution and have their baggage quickly and safely disinfected before leaving the airport. Disinfect Group’s advanced equipment creates an almost invisible mist that is 100% natural, non-toxic, bio-degradable and can effectively kill over 99,99% of bacteria and pathogens, such as coronavirus, on all types of baggage. Elvis Crook, Diversification Director for Asia Pacific, dnata, said: “We are delighted to launch an innovative service to further enhance safety and customer experience across the Asia Pacific region. Our partnership with Disinfect Group and Ecas4 Australia will enable dnata to engage new customers beyond the airport, supporting businesses that work towards reopening. We are confident that the innovative mist technology, which is harmless to humans but effective in killing viruses and bacteria, will help companies provide additional peace of mind to customers and employees in a post-COVID world.” Dieter Veulemans, the founder of Disinfect Group, said, “Our units add not only a layer of safety but also a level of reassurance to everyone on-site. Our product helps create a sense of safety, allowing customers to re-engage at various types of locations.” Tony Amorico, Director of Ecas4 Australia, said: “Ecas4 Australia has worked with its partners to provide technological solutions that utilise our Electrolysed Water solution to destroy pathogens and the coronavirus. We are keen to see this technology fast-tracked and provide …

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has joined forces with various authorities to ensure establishments across the tourism ecosystem are fully implementing precautionary measures to combat COVID-19 and safeguard the health and well-being of residents and visitors. Since the reopening of the city to domestic tourism in May and international tourists in July, Dubai Tourism adopted a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance with health and safety protocols. Heavy fines and penalties were also imposed against violators of precautionary guidelines. Dubai Tourism continues to conduct joint inspection campaigns in cooperation with Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality and the Department of Economic Development (Dubai Economy), especially across places that attract large gatherings. Penalties for violations range from fines to final warnings, suspension of permits and closure of the facility. Over the last two months, Dubai Tourism has increased its inspection campaigns to ensure that hotels and establishments across tourism touchpoints including retail, leisure, attractions, and events are complying with wide-ranging health and safety protocols outlined by Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management. Following the New Year’s Eve celebrations, Dubai Tourism in coordination with other relevant authorities has conducted nearly 10,000 inspections of hotels and recreational facilities. A total of 274 violations were recorded and 47 facilities closed, marking a compliance rate of 89%. A new set of precautionary measures against COVID-19 that was valid from 2-28  February in Dubai was recently extended until the beginning of Ramadan in mid-April. The new rules cover various sectors and activities with shopping malls; hotel establishments, swimming pools, and private beaches in hotels required to operate at 70% capacity.  Indoor venues, including cinemas and entertainment and sports venues, will continue to operate at …

As the days close in on the greatest networking event in the first quarter, Gulf Travel Show to be held on March 31st and 1st April 2021, Korea Tourism Organisation pledged their support for the second time. Hyunsun Hong – Regional Director, MENA – Korea Tourism Organisation, “KTO has continued to maintain a strong presence across digital platforms over the last one year – staying connected with the travel trade and consumers via webinars, interactive consumer sessions, live footages from Korea, as well as a VR travel experience right from home. Gulf Travel Show presents a valuable opportunity to network, educate and update the trade as we prepare our tourism relaunch.”

After a successful webinar of the southern regions of Spain – Andalucía & Costa del sol the tourism board of Spain in GCC will conduct the second in their tri-series on 23rd March 2021 at 12noon UAE time focusing on the main cities of Spain-Madrid & Barcelona. Daniel Rosado -Director, Spain Tourism GCC, “Madrid, is famous for being an open city with all kinds of people from anywhere in the world. In addition to its famous museums, busy streets dotted with all kinds of shops, restaurants with world cuisine, or unbeatable nightlife, Madrid will surprise you with its charming, tranquil historic spots, with traditional and family-run century-old bars where friends meet up for a drink, all kinds of neighborhoods, and cultural centres that offer an alternative type of tourism. Madrid has an authenticity that is hard to match. It is welcoming and diverse. Madrid is, without a doubt, one of Europe’s most interesting & popular cities among GCC travelers. Namratha Rose -Manager – Marketing & Trade Relations – Spain Tourism GCC, “I am positive this tri-series webinar for Spain will cover all aspects and all major destinations in Spain. This will enable the travel trade across GCC to relate better with their client´s preferences &  requirements and propose apt itineraries  to ensure they have the best experience in Spain when the borders open to welcome tourists again.”

Emirates and TAP Air Portugal has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the codeshare partnership currently in place between both airlines. The new agreement will see customers of both airlines benefit from seamless connectivity on many new routes across the Americas, North Africa and East Asia. Emirates and TAP Air Portugal will also explore ways to enhance the co-operation on their respective frequent flyer programmes including reciprocal earning and redemption opportunities and popular benefits such as lounge access. In addition, both airlines plan on supporting each other’s stopover programmes in Dubai and Lisbon, with Emirates also supporting TAP Air Portugal as it looks at potential expansion opportunities in the UAE. Subject to required regulatory approvals, the expanded agreement is expected to come into effect from 01 May 2021, will provide customers with seamless booking, ticketing and travel benefits across 70 destinations on both airlines’ networks. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said, “Emirates and TAP Air Portugal have enjoyed a mutually successful codeshare partnership for the past eight years. We are delighted to expand this relationship and look forward to delivering even more benefits to our customers.” Arik De, TAP Air Portugal’s Chief Revenue & Network Officer said: “TAP Air Portugal is pleased to enhance our Emirates partnership, allowing our guests greater geographic access. We look forward to taking Emirates customers to more cities within Portugal, to our destinations in the Americas and North Africa, and for them to benefit from our Stopover Portugal program.”

According to a recent YouGov survey, commissioned by Reed Exhibitions, the organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2021, the amount of money that Middle East travellers spend on international leisure travel, will begin to exceed 2019 pre-COVID levels, in as little as three years. This is supported by forecast analysis carried out by Tourism Economics (TE). “This is very encouraging,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, which will take place in-person at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) 16-19 May 2021. “In 2019, spending on international leisure travel in the Middle East was significant, representing 47% of the total overall travel spend, compared with 37% spent on domestic leisure travel and 8% each on international and domestic business travel. “In 2020, spending on international leisure travel was only 20% of the amount spent a year earlier. However, this year, spending compared with 2019, will recover to around 50%. It will increase to 75% in 2022 and 95% in 2023, until 2024, when spending in this segment will exceed pre-COVID levels by up to 10%,” added Curtis. “Leisure travel will lead the recovery, initially through domestic and short-haul travel, which peaked by as much as 85% of all overnight arrivals in the Middle East during 2020. This will gradually return to normal over the next four years at around 70%, as international travel becomes more popular and takes greater market share,” said Curtis.

Cleartrip released new research findings and travel trends through its ‘Travel Insights Report’, disclosing an optimistic consumer sentiment for travel despite the current challenging environment. Commenting on the report announcement, Stuart Crighton, Founder and CEO, Cleartrip, said, “One of the keys to recovery will be the travel industry’s ability to respond to the changing needs of passengers and our survey provides insight into latest traveller sentiments. While it is encouraging that travellers are eager to travel again, it is the responsibility of the industry to build confidence and enable customers to make the right travel decisions with accurate real-time information on safety and travel requirements.” Adding to the findings and Insights Report reveal, Amit Taneja, CCO, Cleartrip said, “The pandemic has had a significant impact on customer behaviour. We anticipated safety and uncertainty to be a primary determinant of travel plans. In an attempt to increase customer confidence to travel, we have built TravelSafe and Flexifly, with the objectives of providing a curated view on all safety concerns that customers may have around travel and providing them with the flexibility to amend their booking with no additional charges, in case of a change in plans.”

It is time to join the platform and re-connect with partners from across the globe for two whole days of networking with the travel trade at Gulf Travel Show 2021. Keep 31st March and 1st April 2021 from 10am to 6pm UAE time free to ensure that you renew your partnerships before the borders open. The one and only virtual trade show that provides the opportunity to conduct business by networking on one on one basis to proactively re-establish relationships ensuring that business will soon follow with the new rules and regulations that will be in place with news of borders to open up soon with vaccinations being a key driver to the travel industry as a catalyst. Pledging support for the second time is Tourism Malaysia as a diamond partner with many new tourism boards, hotels, travel management companies, international agencies, tour operators etc. The specialized sessions will feature key travel, tourism, and hospitality experts from across the Middle East share their insights on the industry through one on one sessions and panel discussions. The first edition of the Gulf Travel Show successfully concluded in November 2020 with 40 plus exhibitors, 6000 one-to-one meetings, and 2,500 visitors from 59 countries. A brand new digital experience awaits you with a platform that depicts that of a real live event, with our state-of-the-art technology. As you enter the event, you will be transported to the venue with a very easy-to-manage menu that enabled you to really enjoy the event without any hassle. The hosted buyers will have the opportunity to earn points while visiting each booth and increase chances of making connections and in the end will be incentivized.

Majid Al Futtaim has opened a variety of world-class entertainment experiences at City Centre Al Zahia including the largest cinema and largest bowling alley in Sharjah as well as the region’s leading family entertainment centre, Magic Planet. VOX Cinemas City Centre Al Zahia is taking the cinematic experience to the next level with cutting-edge audio-visual technology and an array of signature concepts including three GOLD auditoriums for moviegoers who want to indulge in fine dining, a KIDS auditorium and party room for little movie fans as well as a new cinema offering, which features comfortable double couches for a shared experience. Cameron Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas and Majid Al Futtaim Leisure & Entertainment said, “Movies are a vital part of social life and, we’re extremely excited to open the largest cinema in Sharjah, which offers audiences an exceptional cinematic experience with advanced technology that can’t be replicated at home. VOX Cinemas City Centre Al Zahia marks our fourth cinema opening across the region in the wake of Covid-19 and reaffirms our unwavering confidence in the industry. Cinemagoers have demonstrated time and time again the desire to experience the shared, exhilarating and unrivalled experience of watching a movie on the big screen and, the recent reopening of movie theatres in Los Angeles and New York, is a major step towards recovery of the box office.” Mitchell added, “We’re also thrilled to be adding to our portfolio with an all-encompassing entertainment venue which features a dynamic selection of interactive and immersive attractions for the whole family. The family entertainment category is evolving and, as a customer-centric brand, Majid Al Futtaim is continuously diversifying its offering to ensure …

The first session in a tri-series webinar of Spain Tourism was concluded with over 180 agents across the Middle East region. Starting off the session, Daniel Rosado Bayon – Director –Spain Tourism GCC stated how the first webinar will take place focusing on four key areas; Malaga, Cordoba, Granada, and Seville. “Spain developed a travel safe campaign and all information pertaining to it could be accessed via the website. Many precautions and measures have been taken by Spain focusing on summer travel upon confirmation by the EU. Connectivity-wise, before the pandemic, had the best connections over the national carriers from UAE, Saudi, and Qatar etc. There are certain exceptions where people can still travel to Spain. They must show a health control form which needs to be filled or over the app and have it completed and show the QR code on arrival and negative PCR test 72 hours to boarding are some of the criteria. However, the situation is controlled in Spain, almost 70% of the country will be vaccinated soon. We are helping agents as much as we can to obtain the knowledge necessary before the borders open and after it does open we hope to conduct fam trips with of course keeping safety and security regulations in mind.” Costa del sol was presented by Belen Perez Gascon – Business Development Manager – Costa del Sol Tourist Board and Pilar Carrión – Executive Consultant Tourismo Promotion – Costa del Sol Tourist Board followed by Andalusion Soul with Antonio Montejo Romero – Tourism Promotion Department – Tourism and Promotion Area of the City – Malaga City Council and Seville presented by – Diego Juárez – International Promotion & MICE …