The third edition of the Gulf Travel Show, the most important virtual event in the region concluded successfully closing with 2500+  one on one business meetings connecting the trade in the Middle East with some of the most important tourism boards, hotels, resorts, destinations, attractions etc from across the globe. Seema Pande, Co-Founder Elev8 shared, “The Gulf Travel Show, as always, did not disappoint. From the set-up, to the demo calls and having a personalized contact during the show all go towards making this a success. Pre-set appointments are always sent to the exhibitors and while being an on-line show, you can end up missing a few, your personal contact will ensure they find their way back to the booth. It was a great platform to re-connect with old contacts and make some new ones. We attended the show with two of our partner hotels, Le Duc de Praslin, Seychelles and the JW Marriott Mauritius Resort and given our experience, I would highly recommend GTS to my industry colleagues.” In the auditorium the sessions conducted by various experts in the fields of travel, hospitality and technology in the region were viewed and shared by the visitors. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was the key topic everyone was looking at as they recently opened its borders and resumed visa on arrival for leisure travelers of the 49 countries that were announced earlier. Saudi Arabia’s vision 2030 has provided a whole new outlook for the tourism industry Sanjeet Director DDP in conversation with Muzzammil Ahussain EVP Seera Group finds out more information with regard to the latest tourism projects in the kingdom. Another important factor currently promoted in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is …

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Al Rostamani Travels announced a partnership that will allow the Al Rostamani Travel to market NCL’s cruises across the Group’s multiple businesses and distribution channels. The agreement marks the beginning of a long-term partnership to grow NCL’s market share in the Middle East while enriching Al Rostamani Travels portfolio with the line’s renowned cruises that sail to more than 300 destinations worldwide, including Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Commenting on the agreement, NCL’s Regional Vice President Business Development Middle East & Africa, Nick Wilkinson, said: “We are delighted to partner with a dynamic and distinguished group such as Al Rostamani, who share our vision of innovation and putting customer experience first. We are seeing great demand for our cruises from the U.A.E and GCC markets and are striving to further strengthen our position in this high-potential region through strategic partnerships.” “We are excited to announce our partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and add sea-cruising to our diverse and growing products portfolio. NCL is a popular brand in our market, offering a wide range of cabins in different categories, so there is always something to suit every customer’s budget who wish to choose cruising as their holiday option. We have the NCL product offering ready for our B2C, B2B & B2E customers and this partnership will help our team to serve the passionate as well as new cruisers effectively and bring value for every dollar they spend. To book NCL cruises, travellers can contact us on email art-holidays@alrostamanigroup.ae or by phone 800-ART”, said Bimal Jain, General Manager of Al Rostamani Travels

utu, the travel tech startup, has announced a partnership with Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, in a bid to disrupt the VAT refund sector. Emirates is the world’s first airline to offer rewards on tax-free shopping. An industry first, the utu Tax Free app offers travelers the opportunity to upsize the value of their tax refund by 25% and earn 4,167 Skywards Miles for every 100 USD on any VAT or GST refund across 50 countries. Shoppers need to download the app, register for the virtual utu Tax Free Card and use the card number on any tax-free form to earn Skywards Miles. To celebrate the launch of this industry-first proposition of rewarding VAT refunds, Emirates Skywards and utu are offering 5,001 Skywards Miles for every 100 USD of VAT refund starting from 11 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. There is no minimum spend requirement or maximum Miles earning limit. Both Emirates Skywards and utu believe in delighting their customers with curated rewards for members to enjoy. “We are thrilled to have Emirates Skywards on board as our launch partner,” said Asad Jumabhoy, Co-founder and CEO of utu. “Collaborating with the Emirates Skywards team has been a seamless process focussed on giving the best to our customers,” he added. “By making a tax refund a reward, we are able to delight shoppers through value and choice while including participation across the travel and tourism spectrum, a win-win for all.” Dr Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Skywards, said: “At Emirates Skywards, we pride ourselves on putting members at the heart of everything we do. This has enabled us to build a loyal …

Guests visiting Global Village in Season 26 are set to experience numerous enhancements that have been made across the park. The UAE and wider region’s leading multicultural family destination for culture, shopping, and entertainment is working around the clock to complete key attraction and infrastructure improvements ahead of this month’s official re-opening. Guests at Global Village will once again be able to discover unforgettable experiences, explore their favourite attractions, enjoy unmatched shopping, see awe-inspiring entertainment and savour exquisite treats from around the world from October 26, 2021. The walkways have been modified to avoid bottlenecks on busier days and smooth guest flow between popular outlets and pavilions. In addition, more seating areas have been introduced in key areas to improve guest comfort. Muhannad Ishaq, Senior Manager – Guest Relations at Global Village, said: “We listen to our guests and improve the experience every season based both on guest feedback and data that we gather concerning guest flow or observation. It’s very important that we constantly question ourselves so we can continually surpass guest expectations. As part of this season’s infrastructure upgrades, we have introduced more seating areas, adjusted some of the paths to improve guest movement, improved our main stage experience and much more. We will continue to strive to make every visit as enjoyable and comfortable as possible, and satisfy our guests’ growing appetites for wonderful entertainment and family fun.” At Global Village, exciting experiences come alive in new ways with key developments in the vast outdoor space. The seating area around the Main Stage has been expanded to accommodate a greater number of guests, and enhancements are underway to improve the Audio Visual quality. The digital experience at …

The second day of the Gulf Travel Show 3.0 closed with over 700 one on one business meetings. It was the perfect networking opportunity with agents sharing their enthusiasm to meet partners  attending the event. HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa Chairman Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority shared, “GTS continues to be a valuable platform for the Gulf Travel Industry, providing opportunities to engage and reconnect with key industry players from all over the region.  The engaging panel discussions and sharing of knowledge made GTS 2021 an informative and fruitful experience. We, at SCTDA, were very pleased to participate at this event, taking the chance to showcase Sharjah’s natural and cultural attractions alongside the emirate’s newest hospitality and infrastructural developments and ongoing safety measures as we move forward into a new and successful tourism chapter.” Auditorium sessions were in full swing today with travel expert Nasir Jamal Khan – CEO Al Naboodah Travel opening the floor under the theme “Strategies for attracting visitors post covid” the panelists included three of the most proactive tourism boards during the pandemic Daniel Rosado – Director – Spain Tourism, Siobhan Naughton – Marketing Executive Middle East and Asia at Tourism Ireland and Claude Zammit–  Senior Manager Destination Marketing –  Malta tourism. New partnerships and way forward in travel was the next in the agenda with travel professional Manu Mehrotra – General Manager – Al Tayer Travel with panelists Pierre Thomas – Cruise Director – Swan Hellenic Cruises and Stephen Winter – International Cruise Director – Ponant Cruises. Next on the agenda was Malaysia the World’s Healthcare Marvel moderated by Devika Jeet  – Director DDP with panelists Norhaslina Othman Vice President Facilitation – Malaysia Healthcare …

The German Federal Government has included Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to the German safe list, reducing COVID-19 implemented restrictions for travellers. The news follows the previous inclusions of Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to the list. The reduction in restrictions applies to all travellers twelve years and above regardless of individual vaccination status, with visitors now able to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel, a valid vaccination certificate, or proof of recovery. “The new travel regulations for GCC visitors makes travel to Germany easier and more appealing for travellers,” commented Yamina Sofo, Director of Sales and Marketing of the German National Tourist Office. “The winter season remains an important travel period for Germany, and this news will support regional travellers’ interest in exploring the array of festive seasonal markets, spa and wellness retreats, and outdoor sporting activities across Germany.” The EU issues and updates its recommendations to member states regularly. The safe list is reviewed and revised every two weeks by the EU authorities and members states. For full entry requirements to Germany, visitors are advised to refer to www.bmi.bund.de.    

Hotelbedsthe announced a new agreement with Experience Hub, the one-stop destination partner and promotional arm of one of the world’s fastest growing leisure and entertainment destination – Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. This partnership is designed to introduce Hotelbeds’ portfolio of travel buyers from the GCC, wider Middle East, Europe, Russia and CIS to the entertainment, lifestyle and leisure destination in the heart of Abu Dhabi with the aim of elevating it to the top of their travellers’ wish lists following the recent announcement regarding the easing of restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers to the UAE’s capital. Through this collaboration, Hotelbeds’ clients will have access to special rates for Yas Island’s accommodation and their award-winning theme parks. Travel agents will be able to save up to 30% on room bookings at a range of hotels on Yas Island and in Abu Dhabi with theme park access. The promotions will feature in Hotelbeds’ main distribution channels – Bedsonline, targeting retail travel agencies and Hotelbeds, for wholesale distribution. Yas Island offers a diverse mix of award-winning leisure and entertainment experiences. In addition to three amusement parks – Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi – and the record-breaking CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi, the island also features Yas Marina Circuit, the award-winning Yas Links golf course, as well as Abu Dhabi’s largest mall, Yas Mall with more than 400 international brands and a 24-screen cinema and The Fountains – a world-class dining area with stunning views of the fountains.  More than 165 dining experiences are available to enjoy across the Island and eight hotels to choose from, including W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, Hilton Abu Dhabi …

Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) kicked off its participation at Expo 2020 Dubai this week (Sunday) with an event dedicated to encouraging travellers to take another look at what the country has to offer as the ‘new normal’ emerges for world travel. Taking place at the Azerbaijan’s nature-inspired pavilion in the Sustainability District, the event provided a unique opportunity to discover how the country has re-focused its efforts on the expansion of its burgeoning sustainable tourism industry. Inspiring travellers to turn over an eco-friendly leaf was the overarching message conveyed, with key spokespeople, including Florian Sengstschmid, Chief Executive Officer of ATB, underscoring how sustainable tourism policies are crucial to future-proofing the country’s tourism industry and boosting Azerbaijan’s COVID-19 recovery. “Borne out of the disruption caused to the tourism industry last year, Azerbaijan has sought to embrace the new opportunities presented by people looking to travel more safely. We are extremely fortunate that our climate and diverse landscape make socially-distanced travel experiences possible, celebrating the very best of what the country has to offer. In doing so, we have been able to unlock the full potential of Azerbaijan’s diverse natural and cultural offerings, as well as the great talent and resilience of its people”, said Mr. Sengstschmid. “Expo 2020 Dubai provides an ideal platform to share our long-term commitment to sustainable tourism and innovation in the heart of its Sustainability District, and we look forward to welcoming new and returning Middle East travellers to see a new side of Azerbaijan.” Among many sustainable tourism offerings introduced at the event, Slow Food Travel was emphasised with a key focus on inspiring visitors to indulge in the rich diversity of locally-grown food. As one …

Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi International Airport are ready to welcome a large volume of passengers over the half-term break. The airline has provided travel tips to make the journey as convenient and smooth as possible. Check the destination requirements. With travel restrictions changing frequently, Etihad recommends visiting etihad.com/destinationguide to check the latest updates before the journey begins.   Verified to Fly? Visit ‘Manage my booking’ on etihad.com to share covid-related travel documents. Approval will be shared by email giving passengers confidence that all required documents are in place, and allowing fast-track airport check-in at the ‘Verified to Fly’ desks.   Check-in online and arrive early. During peak times, Economy Class check-in for non-US flights opens four hours before departure and closes one hour before departure. Business and First class check-in closes 45 minutes before departure. For US flights check-in closes two hours before the flight. Boarding for all Etihad Airways departures closes 20 minutes before departure. Or, enjoy Etihad’s Home Check-in service.   When travelling to the US, benefit from the US Customs and Border Protection facility (USCBP), meaning all immigration and customs formalities will be completed in Abu Dhabi before departing. Guests must present themselves at the USCBP facility no later than 90 minutes before departure.   Check the flight timing and departure terminal. Given the significant increase in passenger numbers, Etihad Airways will relocate check-in for Economy class guests on the following flights to Terminal 1 on 15 October: EY653 to Cairo (CAI) EY2317 to Riyadh (RUH)   Check the baggage allowance before leaving for the airport: the cabin baggage policy is 7kg for Economy class and 12kg for First and Business class guests. Maximum cabin baggage dimensions …

The first day of the third edition of the Gulf Travel Show ended with its pre-planned meetings for VIP buyers with 320+ meetings. SanJeet Director DDP Group opened the show welcoming all the exhibitors and buyers to the third edition of the Gulf Travel Show. The special industry expert sessions started off at the auditorium with one of the latest trends in the region, the craving for space tourism findings by Zafar Shah, Research Director- Data Products, YouGov MENA followed by Regional trends in flight searches and post pandemic options presented by Dean Wicks Chief Flights Officer Wego, next in line was the update of travel trends in the region with Stewart Smith – Managing Director MEA – Sojern. Hotel industry has been silently working their way over the past 18 months, Mark Willis – CEO Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India shares the latest growth plan for Accor and Bastien Blanc – Managing Director – KSA and Bahrain IHG Hotels and Resorts shared about IHG in Saudi Arabia. Tourism Malaysia is participating for the third time at the third edition of the Gulf Travel Show (GTS) from 12 to 14 October 2021. As a platinum partner, Malaysia is having its own virtual pavilion with 13 booths consisting of Tourism Malaysia Dubai, Tourism Malaysia Jeddah, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), together with three (3) Destination Management Companies (DMC)/ tour operator partners, one product partner, as well as five hotels and resorts from the island of Langkawi. Following this year’s participation, Mr Manoharan Periasamy, the Senior Director of Tourism Malaysia’s International Promotion Division for Asia & Africa says that GTS 2021 is a platform that allows industry …