Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA)  announces the opening of Banan Beach in Ras Al Khaimah by the end of 2021. The hotly anticipated glamping resort will welcome guests for beachside vibes, campfire gatherings, yoga and wellness sessions, making it the ideal spot to enjoy memorable experiences with loved ones. Located on Al Marjan Island, renowned for its beautiful shoreline and relaxed atmosphere, the chilled beach getaway will feature numerous facilities including vibrantly coloured tepee designed tents located around a central firepit, private chalets, family-friendly attractions, barbeque areas, designated spots to practice mindfulness, as well as an outdoor cinema screening a mix of blockbusters and family-favourites for all to enjoy. The new attraction aligns with the Authority’s recently announced Sustainable Tourism Destination Strategy that will see the Ras Al Khaimah become the regional leader in eco-tourism by 2025. All furniture, fixtures, doors, windows and decorations for the chalets and tents, will be handmade by the Banan Beach team using recycled, locally sourced and biodegradable materials. The resort’s sustainability theme will also extend to its dining concepts, with natural and sustainable methods such as wood and charcoal for cookery used in its kitchens, instead of the conventional electricity and gas. Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “Banan Beach is the perfect addition to our growing portfolio of family-friendly outdoor activities in Ras Al Khaimah. The sustainably driven camp aligns with our mandate to invest and launch authentic new tourism initiatives across the Emirate, and underscores our ability to continuously adapt to meet changing traveller needs and the growing desire for experiences in safe, open environments. We look forward to welcoming resident, local and international visitors …

Latvian airline airBaltic has launched direct flights between Dubai and Riga, Latvia. airBaltic now links the both cities with four weekly flights, offering a wide variety of convenient connections to travellers coming from Dubai to further destinations in Europe. Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of airBaltic: “We see a great potential in strengthening the business ties between UAE and Latvia. airBaltic team is glad to launch this new route to Riga which is a vibrant and dynamic city in the Baltic States. The new route will play an integral role connecting the two countries and will be of a significant benefit to travellers both in the United Arab Emirates and Latvia.”   Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports: “We are delighted to welcome airBaltic to the DXB family with the launch of their services between Dubai and Riga. Creating this additional connectivity during the year of EXPO adds to the growing strength of the DXB hub, and we are confident that it will boost the number of visitors travelling between Latvia and the UAE.”   Flights between Dubai and Riga are operated by the Airbus A220-300 aircraft. A complete schedule of airBaltic flights and tickets for the new destinations are available on the company’s homepage at www.airbaltic.com.

Emirates will restart flights to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) from 10 December, responding to the easing of international travel restrictions and an upsurge in passenger demand for winter sun. The world’s largest international airline will resume services to its second London gateway with a daily flight operated by a B777 aircraft, across First, Business and Economy class. Flight EK015, will depart Dubai International (DXB) at 0740 and arrive in London Gatwick (LGW) at 1140, while flight EK016 will depart London Gatwick at 1335 and arrive in Dubai at 0040 the following day (all times are local). The addition of London Gatwick Airport to flight schedules in December will restore Emirates’ UK operations to six gateways, alongside the six times daily A380 London Heathrow service; double daily A380 flights to Manchester, ten weekly service to Birmingham, daily service to Glasgow, and four weekly service to Newcastle. By the end of December, the airline will offer 84 weekly flights to the UK, making it easier for UK customers to access Emirates’ growing global network of over 120 destinations – close to 90% of Emirates’ pre-pandemic network, and for international travellers to visit the UK. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer commented, “We’re very pleased to resume Emirates flights to and from London Gatwick, offering more ways for people and businesses to connect with our ever growing global network. With the UK simplifying travel and accepting international vaccination certificates, we’ve seen a big surge in demand as people have been a lot more confident in booking trips for the coming months and further ahead, be it for business, a winter sun escape or to visit family and friends. Gatwick has long been a …

Dubai has underlined its status as a wedding destination of choice for couples looking to celebrate their big days and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with wedding planners to create exceptional, safe experiences. Leading the way globally as the sector recovers in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau, recently hosted the latest edition of its Global Wedding Excellence Retreat, highlighting the city’s comprehensive offerings and creating stronger relationships with the wedding planner community. With the strategic focus on the tourism and events sectors in Dubai, the city has established itself as a destination of choice for couples celebrating their special days, thanks to its wide range of hotels and venues, diverse and world class gastronomy, easy accessibility for guests and local expertise. Along with other business, leisure and social events, weddings have resumed and been taking place safely and successfully thanks to the city’s effective response to the pandemic. Building on this, Dubai this week hosted 17 wedding planners from India to explore the latest offerings and get a better understanding of the experiences and services available in the city. Taking place 23-26 September, the 4th edition of the Global Wedding Excellence Retreat was supported by stakeholders from across Dubai, with a tailored itinerary to showcasing both new and established hotels, venues and attractions. Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “Amid the wider growth of Dubai’s tourism and events sectors, the city has established itself as a leading destination wedding option, appealing to couples and planners looking to create memorable experiences. Showcasing the city once again to wedding planners has provided us with …

Abu Dhabi has significantly expanded its eco-tourism offerings with the announcement that new marine protected sites across the emirate have now been made accessible to the public. The newly unveiled areas will give residents and visitors a host of new options for exploring the emirate’s coastline and waterways, with the initiative also supporting the emirate’s maritime industry.  The announcement was made at the Monaco Yacht Show by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), in partnership with the Environmental Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), Abu Dhabi Maritime and Abu Dhabi Ship Building. The Monaco Yacht Show, the annual luxury trade show specialising in the maritime industry, took place from 22 to 25 September. It was attended by hundreds of yachting enthusiasts and professionals, including captains and crews, as well as yacht management companies, yacht agents and owners.  A new marine reserves map of the capital and its waters, which outlines the new areas open to the public, is the latest addition to the emirate’s growing portfolio of tourism offerings. Known for its pristine beaches and islands, the UAE capital used the Monaco event to demonstrate its capabilities as a superyacht destination by showcasing its offerings and plans for the marine industry. “Abu Dhabi’s marine sites are a significant part of our tourism sector,” said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi. “Our strategy involves expanding our tourism offerings in a sustainable manner that caters to the growing demand for more activities across the destination. The newly announced marine protected sites will not only support the growth and success of yacht management companies in Abu Dhabi but will …

The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) in Saudi Arabia is taking the concept a step further by carving a luxury hotel into a rock mountain for its future guests to literally immerse themselves in. Set in one of the most dramatic desert landscapes in the world, the Desert Rock resort is being integrated into the stunning mountainside and offers panoramic views of the mountain canyons below and a canopy of stars above. As part of The Red Sea Project, TRSDC recently revealed a first look at Desert Rock’s designs, which are intended to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s spectacular natural beauty and Nabatean heritage.  “Since the inception of the Desert Rock project, creating a development that combines luxury, sustainability and an immersive experience for our guests has been at the heart of it all,” said John Pagano, TRSDC CEO. “We cannot wait to welcome guests to enjoy a stay at this unique property.” Inspired by the surrounding beautiful mountains, volcanoes and wadis, Desert Rock will feature 48 villas and 12 hotel suites. A variety of accommodation styles will be available to best meet guests needs, from ground level dwellings to crevice hotel suites midway up the mountain. An impressive feat of engineering, a select number of rooms will sit within the excavated rock-scape, giving guests access to stunning views of Saudi Arabia and opportunities for star gazing, all from the comfort of your room.  The unique rock formations included in the resort architecture were produced by a series of cataclysmic seismic events thousands of years ago, and so the architecture has been designed to keep this natural beauty while also reducing energy consumption, supercharging the ecosystem, and regenerating native flora. This innovative architecture …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) reaffirms its commitment to empowering professionals in the tourism sector by launching the Hadaf Initiative, which offers rewards and incentives to SCTDA-licensed tour guides. This initiative, which is part of SCTDA’s plan to support national talent interested in establishing a career in Sharjah’s tourism sector, also opens more opportunities for those interested in obtaining a tourist guide license in the emirate. The Hadaf initiative is being launched in conjunction with the World Tourism Day, which falls on September 27 each year. The Hadaf program comprises three main strategies. The first being the hosting of virtual workshops centered around training tour guides to develop relevant skills, keeping pace with the latest global trends within the sector. The training will moreover aid tour guides in increasing their awareness of the importance of having accurate data regarding tourist destinations, as well as the culture and heritage of Sharjah and the UAE in general. The second is for SCTDA-licensed tour guides to receive incentives in appreciation of their efforts in serving the tourism sector and Sharjah visitors. As part of the incentives, tour guides will receive the Hadaf e-card, which provides special discounts and exclusive packages. As for the third one, the Authority will have observers and experts participate in the tours and evaluate the performance of tour guides during their interaction with tourists. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said: “The Hadaf initiative, which will initiate the virtual workshops, field inspection tours, and the Hadaf reward card, is part of our commitment to support and reward licensed tour guides and encourage young talent in the tourism sector. This also reflects our confidence in …

flydubai became the first airline to operate direct air links to the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana from the United Arab Emirates. The inaugural flight FZ 1789 from Dubai International (DXB) to Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport (LJU) touched down just after 14:00 to a water cannon salute and a warm welcome from the airport and government officials. flydubai and Fraport Slovenija, the operator of Ljubljana Airport (LJU), held a press conference at the airport prior to the arrival of the carrier’s inaugural flight. The press conference was attended by local media, travel agents and representatives of government bodies. Speaking at the press conference, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “we are excited to see our network in Europe grow to 20 points in 17 countries, many of which had very few or no direct links to the UAE. flydubai’s direct flights to Ljubljana will strengthen the ties between our two countries and help stimulate tourism, trade and investment opportunities in the future. We look forward to welcoming on board our passengers from Slovenia, especially as our city gets ready to welcome the world as Expo 2020 Dubai opens its doors to visitors from beginning of October.” Slovenia will be among the 191 participating nations taking part at the anticipated Expo 2020 Dubai. The Slovenian pavilion is designed to be a floating green oasis that inspires sustainable solutions. His Excellency Oto Pungartnik, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Arab Emirates, said: “The new flydubai route between Dubai and Ljubljana will have a positive impact on the growth of tourism in both countries. We are convinced that the tourists from UAE will enjoy the hospitality of our people …

Etihad Airways will be operating more flights to Seychelles from October to provide leisure holidaymakers and families with convenient travel options to the tropical paradise. The national airline of the UAE will upgrade its Seychelles service from four to five weekly flights from 7 October, as well as operate seven additional services between 15 and 24 October to coincide with the half-term holidays. These additional flights have been scheduled to provide families with younger children with more travel options during the school break. Martin Drew, Etihad’s Senior Vice President Sales and Cargo, said: “This is the perfect time to discover the beauty of Seychelles, with balmy temperatures and calm waters ideal for snorkelling, diving and enjoying its picture-perfect beaches. “Seychelles is a one-of-a-kind destination, and with vaccinated travellers in the UAE being able to fly there and back without quarantine, it is the perfect destination for a short getaway or a longer family holiday.” Etihad Airways has launched a sale on fares to Seychelles, valid only on etihad.com until midnight on 2 October. Available on a first come, first served basis, guests can enjoy return fares starting from AED 1,795 in Economy, for travel in October and November 2021. Located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Seychelles is a short 4 hours and 35 minutes flight from Abu Dhabi.  Etihad Airways flies to the largest island of Mahé which is home to the capital of Victoria. Travellers will need to present a negative PCR test before boarding Etihad Airways flights. For up-to-date travel guidelines, visit etihad.com. Flight schedule between UAE and Seychelles effective 7 October. Subject to change.    

As Dubai further consolidates its strategic partnerships in the domestic and international markets in the post-pandemic period, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has highlighted the pivotal role played by global hospitality partners in accelerating the city’s tourism recovery. At a meeting with the General Managers of Marriott International hotels in Dubai, Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Tourism referred to the critical support provided by Marriott in showcasing the city as a safe must-visit destination, further instilling confidence among global travellers. During the meeting, Mr. Kazim recapped the efforts made by stakeholders and partners like Marriott International to help bring about industry stabilisation, and also shared a positive industry overview underlined by the steady growth in international visitation and high occupancy levels in the first seven months of 2021. He highlighted the fact that Dubai was ranked second globally ahead of London and Paris in terms of hotel occupancy with hotels enjoying 61% average occupancy levels from January – July 2021. Mr. Kazim also emphasised the importance of leveraging all efforts to attract more international visitors, especially benefiting from the Expo 2020 Dubai and the UAE Golden Jubilee celebrations. With the hospitality sector employing a local and expatriate workforce that boasts unrivalled service excellence, Dubai Tourism also stressed the need for hotels to use the Dubai Way online platform created by the Dubai College of Tourism, which is aimed at ensuring that hotel staff impart standardised information and instructions and provide exceptional guest relations. Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Tourism, commented: “The growing industry momentum is the result of a robust strategy that was developed to manage the pandemic under the visionary leadership and guidance of …