Rayna Tours announced its plans for expansion into new destinations, along with the appointment of a CEO to lead the company’s tourism businesses sector. The company’s expansion plans include establishing new destinations in the main European, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries, to create a comprehensive fully fledge products for the travel and tourism industry and communities. Since its inception in 2009, Rayna Tours has established itself as a leading player in the tourism and hospitality industry in UAE. With a major focus on adopting technology across all facets of its businesses and a commitment to excellence, Rayna Tours has been at the forefront of creating innovative travel solutions for its partners across the globe. To accelerate its growth strategy, Rayna Tours is pleased to welcome Mr. Senthil Velan, an accomplished leader in the tourism industry, as its new CEO. With over two decades of a proven track record of success in driving business growth in some of the leading DMCs in the region. Velan is ideally positioned to lead the company’s expansion into new markets and to build upon the company’s strong reputation. Mr. Velan will take over the CEO duties from the company owner and founder Mr. Manoj Tulsani who will continue to oversee the whole group of companies with a major focus on initiatives such as driving overseas expansions in addition to leading the innovation and technology developments across the group. In his new role, Mr. Velan will be responsible for accelerating the growth of Rayna Tours and its various tourism ventures, assets, and brands across the Middle East. He will oversee the company’s operations, strategic planning, and business development initiatives. “We are thrilled to welcome Senthil to …

An overall 106 plus partners from the four European destinations with 13 partners from Tourism Ireland, 27 from Germany, 45 from Switzerland and 21 from Austria attended the event to meet with over 110 plus travel trade from the GCC countries. The summit is the most important year on year as GCC’s most preferred summer escapes would be the European destinations and these four nations have equally enjoyed the best summers post covid and expect for this summer to be a record season. Speaking with tourismbreakingnews, Yamina Sofo Director German National Tourist Office GCC shared, “We had nearly 250 participants this year for the Discover Europe Summit, 27 from partners from Germany, we have more than 100 buyers from all six GCC countries. We are so happy that they all came together to Dubai to discuss business, get updates and support each other. Europe is an all year around destination but especially from this region summer is very popular we have a strong nature and culture focus, so that’s where all of us Switzerland, Germany, Ireland and Austria are very strong.” Aisling Mc Dermott, Manager Middle East and Asia, Tourism Ireland reiterated, “this is Tourism Ireland’s second time participating in Discover Europe Travel Summit and this is a fantastic showcase of Europe and this is why Tourism Ireland participates in it. We host 100 buyers from the Middle East for two days, with 13 partners from the island of Ireland along with our suppliers and partners from Germany, Switzerland and Austria. This is a very exciting event for us because we really draw on the attraction of Europe and Ireland as a beautiful destination in Europe.” Matthias Albrecht Director GCC …

The kingdom is poised for a major expansion in its hospitality sector by creating 315,000 hotel units by 2030, according to global real estate consultancy Knight Frank. Knight Frank stated that this growth will highlight the increase in hotel room inventory in Saudi Arabia to become larger than Dubai’s current 140,000 hotel units. The development of the hospitality sector is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification plans. Faisal Durrani, Partner and Head of Research in the Middle East, explained, “The size of the hotel room units planned to be delivered in the Kingdom is unbelievable, with the total number of rooms likely to reach nearly 450,000 hotel rooms. To illustrate, the UAE today has a total of approximately 200,000 hotel rooms, including Dubai’s 140,000 hotel units, meaning Saudi Arabia is poised to grow by up to 58% greater than the UAE. The bulk of the success of Saudi Arabia’s future tourism and hospitality market will be its local tourism sector. The sector is already thriving, with 65% of Saudis already traveling within the Kingdom one to three times a month. But what is surprising is the fact that 58% of Saudis we spoke to as part of the 2023 Saudi report choose not to stay in hotels.” Speaking about the need for diversity in accommodation options, Durrani explains, “The prevalence of large families travelling together may be a factor, as can cost, quality and location. Our Saudi Report 2023. Only 17% of planned hotel fittings are for 3-star or lower-class hotels, and with 56% of KSA residents under the age of 35, the demand for different hotel accommodation types will continue to emerge as an important consideration for the …

CzechTourism in cooperation with the Embassy of the Czech Republic in the UAE will be participating at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) for its 30th edition that is taking place from 1st – 4th May 2023 bringing a delegation of eight Czech partners. Travel from UAE to the Czech Republic has seen a surge in 2022 with a year on year increase of 330.61% in average number of nights over 2022 and 2021. In 2022, Czech Republic welcomed over 84,000 number of overnight stays from travellers of Saudi Arabia for an average length of stay of 6 days. CzechTourism will be meeting and networking with representatives from top tour operators, airlines, media and key stakeholders from the travel industry to discuss cooperation and collaboration opportunities to promote Czechia in the Middle East region. Marek Kroutil – international markets manager, CzechTourism added “We are very excited and looking forward to being back at the global prestigious event – ATM 2023 after three years post the Covid-19 recession and be a part of the travel fair. We are very flattered to see the numbers growing back to the Czechia from this region. Travellers from the Middle East visit the destination for spa, summer holidays with family, MICE groups as well as with our efforts to promote other products like Christmas markets, we have noticed that winter activities are slowly gaining popularity too. I am proud that our spa towns were awarded with the UNESCO as the great spa towns of Europe and gulf travellers consider Czechia as a preferred spa and wellness destination.” CzechTourism in the Middle East is targeting the country in the region as a premium destination targeting families, experiential …

Munich Tourism is gearing up for its 25th year of participating at the Arabian Travel Market, to raise awareness of the region with travel partners and agents from Gulf countries and further develop existing relationships. The GCC features in the top five most important foreign markets for Munich, underlining its importance as one of the most popular sources of travellers. Munich Tourism’s partners at the show include hotels, destination management companies (DMC), and medical tourism. The city’s three five-star hospitality partners, Bayerischer Hof Munich, Sofitel Munich Bayerpost, and Louis Hotel Munich, along with apartment hotel Central Hotel Apart will be present. DMCs include Studiosus Incoming, and Emissa Travel along with Breuninger – a recently launched luxury department store in Munich – representing the luxury shopping experience, will evidence the plethora of things to do in the German city. In addition, Munich has also been an important destination for medical tourists from the GCC, and to cater to this audience there will be two suppliers from this segment which are Oberberg Clinics and Seralux. Clemens Baumgärtner Head of the Department of Labor and Economic Development and as such responsible for tourism in Munich, said: “We have been loyal participants of the Arabian Travel Market for over 25 years, and the event is a lynchpin in our annual international plan, particularly as we witness the growing interest of GCC-based travellers to Munich. We aim to strengthen our existing relationship with the region’s travel partners and build new ones at this year’s legacy show.” Baumgärtner added: “We welcome GCC travellers to Munich and explore the city’s wonders and experience its incredible tourism offerings; be it for leisure, business or medical visits, Munich caters …

Cruise Saudi will join global travel professionals to consider the future of the travel and tourism industry and create business opportunities during the four-day showcase. This year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM), held at Dubai’s World Trade Centre, has seen a 27% YOY rise from 2022 in exhibitor participation making it the largest professional tourism event in the region. Speaking ahead of ATM, Cruise Saudi’s CEO, Lars Clasen said: “Arabian Travel Market is the leading international travel and tourism trade event in the GCC. Cruise Saudi is confident in unlocking further business potential throughout our participation and we look forward to being present alongside leading industry stakeholders and peers.” Cruise Saudi’s objective is to contribute to Saudi’s tourism industry growth through attracting 1.3 million cruise passenger visits by 2035, in line with Vision 2030’s plan to increase total GDP from the tourism sector to 10%.  Mr. Clasen confirmed that he was excited to showcase Cruise Saudi’s rapid growth and how it supports Saudi’s position as a prominent new tourism destination. “Saudi offers superior connectivity to the rest of the world – approximately 250 million people in Europe, Asia and Africa, live within a three-hour flight from the Red Sea or Arabian Gulf.” “Cruise Saudi has been spearheading the development of a fully integrated, world-class cruise industry in the country,” Mr. Clasen continued. Since the company’s launch in 2021, Cruise Saudi has completed two successful cruising seasons and is more than halfway through its third season, opening areas of Saudi previously untouched by international tourism. Mr. Clasen outlined Cruise Saudi’s expansion plans adding: “With the support of the government and our partners, we have been able to develop three ports – Jeddah …

In the heart of Dubai’s bustling financial district, Emirates launched a new City Check in and Travel Store, enabling customers to conveniently book travel, check-in for flights, drop luggage, shop for travel essentials, and save time at the airport. Located in the elite ICD Brookfield Place in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the state of art facility will be open from April 27. As part of Emirates’ continuous investment into enhancing customer experience, the City Check-in and Travel Store has a prime and premium location for busy professionals in Dubai’s finance hub and allows customers to drop their luggage as early as 24 hours and up to 4 hours before a flight, arriving at the airport at leisure. Customers can visit the space and check in anytime from 8:00am to 10:00pm daily, beginning their travel experience with seamless service via self check in kiosks, at dedicated desks with Emirates agents, or with the help of the world’s first ever check in robot assistant – Sara. Sara is an innovative portable robotic check-in system, who can match faces with scanned passports, check passengers in, and guide them to the luggage drop area. With an eye-catching 2.5 metre LCD screen showing the latest destination content from Emirates, and more screens showing an interactive touchscreen map, the City Check-in and Travel Store is a stylish and spacious contemporary space which offers the opportunity to book tickets, browse travel merchandise, drop luggage, and check in – with paid valet parking and self-parking ensuring an elevated, hassle-free check in experience for Emirates passengers. Visitors can also get expert advice and offers on trending destinations, while dedicated travel consultants can assist with purchasing tickets for future …

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 is ready to welcome the global travel, tourism and hospitality community to the UAE from Monday 1 to Thursday 4 May. The 30th edition of the show will host over 2,000 exhibitors, representatives from more than 150 countries and an anticipated 34,000 attendees. Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in collaboration with the emirate’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), this year’s conference will once again form a central component of the UAE’s annual Arabian Travel Week. In line with its theme, ‘Working Towards Net Zero’, ATM 2023 will provide a forum in which participants can forge new connections, share knowledge and showcase innovations with the potential to expedite the global travel sector’s journey towards decarbonisation. Vasyl Zhygalo, Managing Director of RX Middle East and Portfolio Director of WTM, IBTM and RX, said: “Following the very successful WTM Africa and WTM Latin America earlier this spring it is great to now see the international travel community engage with Arabian Travel Market. We’ve seen a robust increase in exhibitor growth across all show areas and it’s exciting to be able to welcome back our Chinese colleagues after remaining covid restrictions were lifted in the region.” “With sustainability an ever-increasing consideration for the travel industry, and indeed across the WTM and IBTM event portfolios, it’s never been more important for the sector to interact with ATM 2023’s theme, ‘Working Towards Net Zero’ and explore the vast array of business trends and opportunities showcased around this topic at the show.” Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, added: “ATM 2023 will provide a platform for a diverse array of public and private-sector speakers, all of …

Sharing insights to their travel plans and preferences, the majority 43% of respondents expressed the desire to travel to Europe for their next holiday, followed by the Indian Ocean islands (20%). The most popular countries on travellers’ bucket lists include Switzerland, the Maldives and Turkey. A majority 28% of respondents plan to book leisure travel two to six months in advance, compared to a matter of days or weeks in previous years. Travellers are also booking more extensive holiday packages, with 37% of travellers adding ‘all-inclusive’ as part of an ideal travel package in 2023. A majority of respondents plan to travel in July 2023, while other travel peaks expected this year include April, June, August and December. The results of a widescale survey conducted by dnata Travel, the UAE’s longest serving travel provider, revealed Europe as the most desired destination for UAE travellers in 2023. Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure at dnata Travel, commented: “We conducted our latest survey at a time of high demand, with every expectation that this will continue to grow. Locations such as Europe are popular for the diverse landscapes on offer, from a modern or historic city break to a beach escape, or an island retreat. Experiences focused on wellness and nature are also trending for travellers in 2023. “Our experts constantly monitor trends to offer the best possible, tailor-made holiday packages to UAE travellers.” Based on the results of the survey and overall booking trends, dnata Travel experts are sourcing a wider range of extensive holiday packages for 2023 working with its partners, worldwide. As an example, Club Med’s premium all-inclusive ‘summer mountain’ offering in Europe will form a focus for the …

Earth Hotels, a thoughtful and design-conscious hotel group for the ‘Earthly’ traveller, will open the first of its GCC-based properties in Q1 of 2025. Earth Shore, Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah will offer state-of-the-art rooms, a sustainable approach to build, and will provide visitors with an escape that inspires the adventurer within. Earth Hotels are designed to be softer on the environments that they inhabit, through careful consideration of construction methods, material selection, and energy conservation. The impressive new project Earth Shore, Marjan Island is being developed to reach an area of 300,000 sq, with 265 keys including resort rooms, GOAT terrace suites, and two-bedroom Sky Villas.  The destination will have direct beachfront access, a 13,000 sq ft social hub “sticky lounge”, and a signature stylish beach club with a dining and event space for up to 500 people. Alan Honein, Founder & Chief Executive Citizen at Earth Hotels, said: “Earth Hotels is set to be recognised for its dedication to sustainability and innovation. We are proud to have secured five individually unique hotels across the GCC and beyond, with an impressive total project value of more than 205 million USD. We hope to deliver our guests a unique set of lifestyle experiences that stand out in a crowded market.” Commenting on the buyer opportunity that the new RAK-based hotel will bring , Rami Moukarzel, Co-founder & Managing Partner at Earth Hotels, said: “We are excited to be offering individuals the dream of owning a slice of a beachfront lifestyle hotel through a unique and inclusive investment plan. This is a rare opportunity in leisure hospitality sector of the UAE, which promises to offer fruitful returns for hotel unit …