Wego and Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism have signed an agreement to promote Oman tourism attraction sites in the GCC region. Oman has opened its borders to visitors from the GCC and it recently announced that it is open for travel for COVID-19 vaccine holders from 1 September 2021. The Sultanate has eased its travel restrictions, lifting flight prohibition for people travelling from previously banned countries. It is implementing precautionary measures and following through with the vaccination drive across the country, ensuring safe travel for everyone. All travelers to Oman should present a vaccine certificate containing a QR code that states they have received two doses of a vaccine that is approved in Oman (Pfizer BioNTech, Oxford Astrazeneca, Covishield AstraZeneca, Sputnik, Sinovac, Moderna, and Sinopharm, or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson). The last dose of the vaccine needs to have been received not less than 14 days before the arrival date. Travelers should have done Pre-registration via (https://covid19.emushrif.om ) and upload the vaccine certificate as well as the COVID-19 PCR certificate, both containing QR Codes. Over 550,000 searches were performed on Wego’s platform in Q3 2021 from the GCC to Oman. Out of these searches, 34% from KSA, 27% from UAE, 16% from Kuwait, 14% from Qatar, and 10% from Bahrain. Haitham bin Mohammed Al Ghassani, Director General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in the Sultanate of Oman said: “We are glad to partner with Wego. Oman has always been at the forefront of tourism, and this partnership reflects our commitment to continue the positive momentum in months to come. We are confident that this association will help us to promote Oman …

Emirates has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Seychelles Tourism Board at Expo 2020. The agreement reaffirms the airline’s commitment to the island-nation and outlines joint initiatives to promote trade and tourism to the country. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ SVP Commercial West Asia & Indian Ocean, and Sherin Francis, Principal Secretary Tourism Department, Tourism Seychelles. The agreement was signed in the presence of H.E. Mr Sylvestre Radegonde, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Tourism and Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer. The ceremony was also attended by Emirates executives: Orhan Abbas, SVP Commercial Operations Far East; Abdulla Al Olama, Regional Manager Commercial Operations Far East, West Asia & Indian Ocean; Oomar Ramtoola, Manager Indian Ocean Islands; Silvy Sebastian, Business Analysis Manager West Asia & Indian Ocean; and executives of Tourism Seychelles: Bernadette Willemin, Director General Destination Marketing Tourism Seychelles; and Noor Al Geziry, Tourism Seychelles Middle East Office. Ahmed Khoory, SVP Commercial West Asia & Indian Ocean at Emirates, said: “Emirates has shared strong ties with Seychelles since 2005 and the island nation remains a very important market for us. The agreement signed today is a strong testament to our commitment and support to the island-nation. We thank our partners for their ongoing support and we look forward to continue growing our successful partnership.” H.E. Mr Sylvestre Radegonde, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Tourism, said: “Emirates airline has been constant and steadfast with their support towards Seychelles and we are indeed grateful for that. Therefore, we would like to express our support for the coming year with the hope that it will be a better year for both Seychelles and the airline.” The …

Etihad Airways has announced the launch of flights to the holy city of Medina from 27 November 2021. Medina will be served three times weekly from Abu Dhabi using a modern two-class Airbus A321. Fatma Al Mehairi, Vice President Sales UAE at Etihad Airways, said: “We look forward to reconnecting Abu Dhabi with Medina, a city of enormous historic and religious significance for Muslims around the world. Our flights will support the growing demand for religious travel and strengthen the existing air links between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, a key travel market for Etihad Airways.” The service has been timed to provide religious, leisure and business travellers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with convenient flight options as well as connect seamlessly to major cities in the Indian Subcontinent and Asia for those travelling to and from Medina through Abu Dhabi. Located in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, Medina is a three-hour flight from Abu Dhabi. The city is home to Prophet Mohammed’s Mosque and burial site and an important holy place for Muslim pilgrims. The country’s two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina are allowing full-capacity attendance for worshippers who are fully vaccinated following an easing of restrictions earlier in October 2021. Medina will be Etihad’s fourth destination in Saudi Arabia after Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh. The route was established in 2014 but was temporarily suspended in 2020 as a result of travel restrictions following the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests flying to Medina are not required to quarantine if they are fully vaccinated with either two doses of Pfizer, Oxford AstraZeneca or Moderna, or one dose of Johnson & Johnson, or have received two doses of Sinopharm …

The first ever virtual webinar was conducted by McArthur Glen for the Middle East clientele. The event was attended by specialised agents in the Middle East region such as UAE, Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. San Jeet Director Buzz Travel Marketing welcomed all the agents from across the region and shared an overview about the luxury shopping destination. “Travel resurgence is taking place in a big way and people are now looking at going for holidays and we like to see the good times ahead of us inshallah, everything will be wonderful, even better than 2019. Each one of you who has joined us today is an expert handling the Middle East traveler and is very familiar with their demands and needs of the Middle East traveler. so the customer remains the same. We also understand at this moment of time everyone is looking at Europe as it is the only continent which has opened up to a great extent to the Middle East traveller.” San Jeet shared that shopping is part and parcel of travel whether they travel for leisure or business, shopping is an integral part of travel. “We are presenting a chain of high quality designer outlets with designer products from 25% to 70% all luxury chic products with authentic outlets of the high end brands. All these designer outlets are in one place so it makes it extremely easy for the travellers. You can just walk across and compare different brands which is very much family oriented. Children are well looked after as they have special areas, food wise there is ample amount of variety including halal cuisine, coupled with hands free …

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) – the organisation responsible for delivering the required infrastructure, host country planning and operations, and legacy projects for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ – has signed an agreement with Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, to manage operations and deliver services to Qatar’s host country real estate portfolio through the end of 2022. The agreement was signed in Doha, Qatar, in the presence of H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. H.E. Ali Al Kuwari, Minister of Finance and Chairman, Katara Hospitality, and H.E.  Hassan Al Thawadi, SC Secretary General, were also in attendance. Engineer Yasir Al Jamal, Chairman of the SC’s Operations Office, and Vice Chairman, Technical Delivery Office, signed the agreement alongside Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Accor, and Katara Hospitality’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Humphries. The agreement will see Accor provide personnel to operate what will be the largest serviced real estate operation in the world, and include front office (check-in/check-out), operational supplies and equipment as well as housekeeping services among others. The agreement will make use of the country’s full real estate portfolio, further illustrating Qatar’s commitment to sustainability.   H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the SC said: “This groundbreaking agreement is another example of how Qatar’s approach is truly historic – not only in terms of setting the highest delivery standards, but also for legacy planning. By making full use of existing residential apartments and villas in Qatar, we can offer visitors a range of affordable and comfortable options; while also ensuring we have a sustainable hotel market that does not leave …

IHG® Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of a Management Agreement with The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), an affiliate of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to open the InterContinental Resort Red Sea in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Situated within the premium Red Sea Development destination, the new InterContinental Resort is scheduled to open during Phase One of The Red Sea Project’s development. Activity for the first phase of development is well underway and is on track to be completed by the end of 2023. Speaking on the announcement, Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said: “With a strong legacy in the country, we remain committed to leveraging the growth opportunities that are aligned with Saudi’s Vision 2030 and the priority destinations highlighted within the Saudi Tourism Strategy. We are excited to partner with The Red Sea Development Company, one of the world’s most ambitious regenerative projects, to strengthen our offering in Saudi Arabia and collaborate on sustainability related initiatives to protect the natural, historical and cultural environments that make this destination unique. These initiatives are in line with IHG’s Journey to Tomorrow, a 10-year action plan focused on commitments to drive change for people, communities and the planet. We also look forward to building scale in the Kingdom to deliver a landmark development that will cater to the needs of diverse guest profiles expected to visit the country in the coming years.” The announcement comes during Intercontinental Hotel’s and Resorts’ diamond anniversary celebrations, marking 75 years of pioneering luxury travel with a celebration of rich heritage, iconic hotels and exclusive experiences.  The brand has become synonymous with bold exploration, travel and cultural discovery and …

Spain Tourism hosted its first post-pandemic travel and trade roadshow in Saudi Arabia& UAE as part of its initiative to target travellers of the region. The first event took place in Jeddah on the 25th of October 2021, at Jeddah Hilton, followed by  Riyadh on the 26th, at Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya and the third at Intercontinental Dubai festival City last Thursday following all covid protocols. There were over 60 participants at all cities who met with the different tourism regions in Spain such as Barcelona, Madrid, Costa del sol, Valencia, Andalucia along with DMCs, hotels, and shopping outlets. Attendees included key players in various travel and tourism sectors which gave them the opportunity to have one-to-one meetings with all the Spanish partners. Speaking about the Spain Tourism Roadshow, Daniel Rosado, Director of Spain Tourism – GCC commented: “Spain Tourism is extremely excited to host its first post-pandemic roadshow in GCC as part of our dedication to further engage and develop our connections with the GCC market. As part of our continuous efforts to strengthen the connections between GCCs outbound travel professionals, MICE specialists and Spain Tourism’s travel industry partners, the event was a great opportunity to further develop new joint opportunities, create new holiday packages for locals and expats in the UAE and increase visitation from the region.” Spain is a one-of-a-kind destination, showing traces of many cultures and civilizations evident in the ancient Roman architecture, medieval castles, and buildings of the Golden Islamic era. Spain is also home to 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and offers a wide variety of lifestyle experiences including exclusive luxury and gourmet experiences, entertainment, and shopping, making it ideal for families and groups …

Accor expands its luxury footprint in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a new property – Fairmont Red Sea – a luxurious family, wellness and nature focused resort part of the upcoming landmark The Red Sea Project (TRSP). TRSP is being developed as an exquisite ultra-luxury destination within a pristine 28,000 square kilometer area. Once complete, it will offer visitors the exclusive opportunity to explore a unique and diverse region of the world, including experiences for nature lovers, outdoor adventurers, cultural explorers and wellness seekers. With more than 200 km of untouched coastline, an archipelago of more than 90 unspoiled islands, dormant volcanoes, rich nature and marine habitats, and ancient archaeological sites, the destination will set new standards in sustainable development and further position Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map. The group is partnering with the Red Sea Development Company, a closed joint stock company owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Company. “We are pleased to partner with the Accor Group for the expansion of the Fairmont brand at our Red Sea destination. The Red Sea Project aims to deliver a unique barefoot luxury experience to our guests, and the name Accor has become synonymous with luxury the world over. We are proud to have the Group’s prestigious Fairmont brand at the development and look forward to working together to set a new global benchmark in regenerative luxury tourism. This is truly a milestone moment for the brand, for TRSDC and for the Kingdom,” said John Pagano, CEO at TRSDC.   Fairmont hotels are well-known for offering more than luxurious rooms, exceptional dining and outstanding locations: through heartfelt service, the delivery of meaningful experiences and a true and …

Mosaid Travel & Tourism Services (MTTS), one of the leading travel companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has renewed its partnership with Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR), the leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, to support its strategic plans and recovery. MTTS will continue to access Sabre’s marketplace of more than 400 airlines, 750,000 hotel properties, and hundreds of tour operators, rail, car and cruise providers, enabling it to sell personalized travel packages from suppliers around the world. Through the next generation travel agency desktop, Sabre Red 360, MTTS will deliver an intelligent and consultative service to its travellers and create compelling shopping experiences. “The travel industry is undergoing many changes driven by new travellers’ expectations and market demands,” said Nadir Kazalbash, General Manager, MTTS. “Our renewed partnership with Sabre will help us continue to focus on our growth and expansion plans, while deploying intelligent solutions to respond to evolving market trends.  Sabre will help us support our travellers, who are expecting new levels of personalization, increased choice, control and flexibility.” Despite the challenges in today’s travel industry, MTTS continued its expansion plans and has grown to cater to customers in all major cities of Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Dammam, Makkah, Madinah and Khamis Mushayt. “MTTS has proven its resilience throughout the pandemic, and we are proud to extend our collaboration to help it achieve its goals,” said Faisal Kayal, Saudi Arabia Country Manager, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “Now more than ever, tech-savvy Saudi travellers are expecting new levels of personalization and are seeking reliable consultative services throughout their journeys, thus our suite of intelligent solutions will help the travel agents at MTTS become …

As the Philippines opens its borders, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is making strides and developing new activities to welcome visitors while ensuring that all international safety regulations are followed at each site. Promotion of new attractions in various locations is one of these strategies. The Philippines is a location unlike any other, with over 7,000 islands offering visitors a one-of-a-kind experience. Whether it is unwinding on the beaches or in the mountains, taking in the colourful city life, or immersing oneself in indigenous culture, the Philippines offers unique experiences for all types of travellers. Here are eight activities and experiences that are particularly Filipino and can be tried in different locations of the country: 1. Cycling around Intramuros on a bamboo bike: Bambike Ecotours offers a chance to explore the historic walled city of Intramuros. The handcrafted bamboo bikes come in a variety of styles for a safe and pleasant ride around Old Manila’s unique charms, with Bambassadors acting as guides. 2. Zooming through Banaue’s winding roads on a wooden bike: Tourists can try out the Ifugao mode of transportation in the mountains of Banaue, which consists of hand-carved wooden scooters that can reach speeds of up to 50 km per hour. These bikes, which are built from scraps of wood and fragments from old rubber tyres, are a testament to the indigenous tribe’s wood carving talents and resourcefulness, which their forefathers carved by hand into the mountainside. 3. Testing balance on bamboo stilts in Cebu: Visitors can see the Philippines from a slightly higher vantage point thanks to the Kadang-Kadang (Karang) or Bamboo Stilts. Tourists in Cebu can test their balance and speed by putting on a pair …