Qatar Tourism has launched its new cruise season 2024/2025, with the arrival of the luxury cruise ship Resorts World One, which is expected to become the largest in the history of the industry, with 95 cruises, including 33 partial turnovers, 11 departure and return flights, and 4 flights arriving in Qatar for the first time. The luxury cruise ship Resorts World One has launched its first voyage to Qatar and is scheduled to make 23 scheduled visits, carrying 72,000 visitors. Qatar is expected to welcome more than 430,000 visitors from November 2024 to April 2025. During the season, renowned cruise ships such as Minechef 4, MSC Euribia, Aida Prima, Costa Esmeralda, Norwegian Sky and Celestial Journey will dock at Doha Port, reinforcing Qatar’s growing position as a leading global cruise tourism destination. Building on the success of theprevious cruise season 2023/2024, during which Qatar welcomed 73 cruise ships and more than 347,000 visitors, the new season is expected to continue the pace of growth in the cruise sector with a new record performance. During the previous season, Doha Port welcomed world-renowned vessels such as MSC Vertusa , Seaborne Encore, Aida Prima, Artania, Minechef 2, Azamara Journey and MS Rivera. and MS Hamburg and Norwegian Down. H.E. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism, said: “Stimulating the growth of Qatar’s cruise sector is a key component of our National Tourism Strategy 2030, and the 2024/2025 cruise season is expected to see a 30% increase in the total number of vessels, as well as a 24.5% increase in the total number of visitors compared to the previous season, reflecting the growing demand for cruises in the region. With new partnerships …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has successfully concluded its participation in the 43rd World Travel Market (WTM) in London. The three-day event, which attracted thousands of professionals from the global travel and tourism industry, helped SCTDA to reinforce Sharjah’s position as a rapidly growing destination for international tourists. WTM 2024 provided SCTDA with a prime platform to highlight its diverse and rich tourism offerings to a diverse audience of industry professionals, particularly those from Europe, which represents a significant and growing tourism market for Sharjah. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, highlighted the strategic importance of the EU market to Sharjah’s tourism ambitions. “With almost 350,000 European tourists visiting Sharjah this year, which accounts for 7% increase from last year this shows that the Europe continues to be a vital market for us. We anticipate even stronger growth by the end of 2024, driven by our active engagement in platforms such as WTM.” At a well-attended press conference held at WTM on November 7, SCTDA unveiled significant advancements in the emirate’s tourism infrastructure alongside new hospitality projects that promise to enhance Sharjah’s appeal as a destination of choice for cultural, leisure, and adventure tourism. Key highlights included the Sharjah Safari, the largest safari park outside Africa, and the Moon Retreat, an innovative desert glamping experience, which offers a new concept and style of accommodation experiences amidst nature. “Sharjah Tourism” will also highlight the natural and topographical diversity that characterizes Sharjah’s tourism product, ranging from cultural, leisure, environmental, and beach experiences to adventures, alongside hotel accommodation experiences. These projects underscore the emirate’s commitment to expanding its offerings and products in the fields of eco and adventure …

Almosafer entered into a global strategic partnership with Mandarin Oriental. The significant partnership, announced at World Travel Market London 2024, provides Almosafer exclusive access to Mandarin’s highly rated global property portfolio of 41 hotels and resorts, elevating Almosafer’s luxury hospitality segment. The global direct connectivity agreement with a special focus on Saudi Arabia follows the growing demand for ultra-luxury travel among Almosafer’s clients. It will enable Almosafer’s B2B and B2C customers to gain access to Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s global portfolio of 41 properties across 26 countries. Travellers will enjoy direct access to real-time inventory and competitive pricing through Almosafer’s consumer platforms as Almosafer elevates its luxury offerings and enhances its services to high-end customers. The partnership will further enable Almosafer to promote Mandarin Oriental to travellers from Saudi Arabia and beyond. The partnership will also provide the luxury Group access to Almosafer’s extensive network of agents through their Destination Management Company, Discover Saudi, resulting in greater brand visibility and reach for Mandarin Oriental’s KSA properties. Muzzammil Ahussain, Chief Executive Officer of Almosafer, said: “We are delighted to elevate our luxury offerings through our newly inked agreement with the prestigious and iconic Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. While enabling the award-winning hotel group greater brand visibility through our omnichannel portfolio, we look forward to enhancing our unique offerings to our discerning clients through this significant partnership. At Almosafer, we’ve always strived to set industry benchmarks, and I’m confident the luxurious Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will add to the allure of our attractive hospitality portfolio.” Geoffrey Webb, Vice President, Global Sales at Mandarin Oriental adds: “We are thrilled to embark on this strategic partnership with Almosafer, which allows us to expand our …

The Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Coral Touristik GmbH, a leading tourism services provider, and Vtours, a renowned tour operator, on the sidelines of the department’s participation in the World Travel Market. The new agreements demonstrate the Department’s commitment to expanding its strategic alliances with foreign travel and tourism firms in order to share best practices and methods in the areas of hotel reservations, tourism services, and exchange of expertise and knowledge. The move is set to elevate the Emirate of Ajman’s position on the global tourism and hospitality map. The MoUs were signed in the presence of His Excellency Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi, Director General of the Ajman Tourism Development Department, and Ms. Sabine Jordan-Glaab, CEO of Vtours, and Mr. Koray Cavdir, Chief Operating Officer – Central Europe at Coral Touristik GmbH. Commenting on the partnerships, His Excellency Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi said: “We at the Ajman Tourism Development Department are pleased to work with Coral Touristik GmbH and Vtours as part of our efforts to deepen strategic alliances with leading tourism businesses, contributing to the Emirate of Ajman’s standing as a popular tourist destination. We are confident that these agreements will play a pivotal role in developing pathways of communication and facilitating exchange of expertise, thus enhancing our capacity to offer exceptional travel experiences and propelling the Ajman’s tourism industry to new heights.” Among the provisions of the agreements are cooperation in developing promotional plans and strategies, exchange of data and insights, as well as the exploration of new techniques and methods that will improve tourism experiences. The partnerships will also enable the provision of advisory services in support of the department’s objectives …

Developing accessible tourism facilities and activities “makes business sense”, World Travel Market London delegates heard. Ryan Smith, the founder of The Access Agency, said investing in the accessible sector can generate $13 for every dollar spent. He said 25% of inbound tourists to Australia have access needs, adding: “If you do it well, you are not leaving people behind, and you are not leaving money on the table. We are a loyal cohort, we stay longer and go in shoulder seasons. The industry is a bit slow to catch up…but it will eventually catch up.” He told the WTM diversity, equality, accessibility, inclusion and intersectionality (DEAI) summit about how attitudes to disability, government policies, technology and representation are improving, adding: “You can see people with disability in media, in boardrooms. I think that stigma is really starting to become reduced.” He highlighted how adaptive equipment can help wheelchair users to explore the great outdoors, citing examples in his native Australia and his travels to places such as Machu Picchu in Peru. Furthermore, public bodies in Australia are developing accessible beaches and a directory listing more than 70 such sites, which offer beach padding for wheelchairs and special types of wheelchairs. Other facilities include “discovery tents” and all-terrain wheelchairs in Victoria. “If I was a tour operator or developing a tourism product…I would certainly be thinking about how I might integrate this into my offering,” he said. Queensland has designated 2023-24 as the year of accessible tourism, ahead of Brisbane hosting the Paralympics 2032, which has seen more funding for outdoor inclusive and accessible experiences. “We are seeing the private sector start to lean into this as well,” he said, pointing …

Trip.com Group is globally committed to a customer-centric approach highlighting the technology to empower it, as a key to travel’s future. Boon Sian Chai, Managing Director and Vice President, International Markets, Trip.com Group, took the stage as the keynote speaker for the Technology Track taking place at World Travel Market London. Chai’s perspective on customer-centricity was put into context by the moderator Timothy O’Neil Dunne, who told the packed auditorium that what they were about to hear about “[is] not pie in the sky stuff, this is live, in operation, today.” Artificial intelligence underpins most of Trip.com Group’s innovations. He mentioned initiatives including: Trip.Best, a tool that provides personalized hotels, destination, restaurants, and experiences recommendations based on analysing over 100 million user reviews and TripGenie, an AI travel assistant capable of crafting itineraries and answering queries, which has served about 3 million users and elevated engagement. Chai also talked about Hotel + X, a product which allows hoteliers to promote their property on Trip.com as a holistic experience by allowing them to upsell the unique features of the property or its location as a “rooms-plus” package. The 8,000 hotels who have signed up for the product are seeing an average increase of 30% in their ADR, he said. Trip.com Group is taking a global approach to its innovation roadmap, with localisation capabilities built in. Chai noted that travellers in Europe have a greater interest in sustainability, so Trip.com’s points of sale in Europe can surface sustainability information during the search stage and provide recommendations. Conversely in the Middle East, delivering the correct tone of voice of the many languages needed to serve the region’s travellers is essential. Chai also hinted …

Sustainable and regenerative tourism was in the spotlight on the second day of World Travel Market London, along with other key issues such as diversity and digital marketing. Speakers at WTM London’s first Regenerative Tourism Summit said the travel and tourism sector needs to see a “paradigm shift”. Tina O’Dwyer, WTM London’s Sustainability Advisor, asked delegates: “Are we brave enough to leave behind a paradigm that has worked well for us in the past?” Anna Pollock, Founder of Conscious Travel, highlighted warnings from the World Trade Organisation of a “polycrisis” – a cluster of global risks, including the climate crisis, adding: “Sustainability is not enough.” Other speakers showcased how regenerative tourism is helping revive and support destinations, including peat bogs in Ireland, Loch Ness, Majorca and Flanders. Sustainability was also a major theme for the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO). Andreas Fiorentinos, GNTO Secretary General, said the country is poised for another record setting year in 2024, with projected arrivals reaching approximately 35 million tourists, and total revenue expected to rise by 10% to about €22 billion – “driven by a robust increase in international arrivals and a growing emphasis on sustainability”. He pointed to developments such as an eco-islands initiative in the Aegean and investment in other sectors such as mountain tourism, hiking trails and ski resorts to help spread tourist arrivals across the seasons. Developing accessible tourism facilities and activities “makes business sense”, delegates heard at the WTM diversity, equality, accessibility, inclusion and intersectionality (DEAI) summit. Ryan Smith, the founder of The Access Agency, said investing in the accessible sector can generate $13 for every dollar spent. He said the public and private sectors are developing more facilities …

According to the latest WTM Global Travel Report, travellers are actively starting to avoid destinations which are exposed to extreme weather. The report, in association with Tourism Economics, found that 29% of travellers from key global markets have avoided visiting a destination in past 12 months due to concerns about inclement or extreme weather. Gen Z – travellers aged between 18 and 34 – are more likely than the average to avoid destinations exposed to extreme weather, with more than two in five (43%) admitting to reconsidering where to go. Extreme weather – such as wildfires, flooding, unusually high temperatures – is widely accepted to be a direct result of man-made climate change. Evidence is emerging that extreme weather events will become more prevalent and widespread as the climate continues to warm. The report references an MIT study which introduced the concept of “outdoor days” as a way to measure the impact of climate change through to 2100. Outdoor days are defined as days on which outdoor activities can be undertaken in comfort. The WTM study pulled out the data for some popular destinations and found that Thailand, for example, will have 55 fewer outdoor days. In contrast, Canada will have 23 more. Tourism Economics data in the report shows that only a slight majority (53%) of travellers say that they attempt to minimise their carbon footprint when travelling. At the same time, nearly two in three (65%) of travellers acknowledge that travel has a negative impact on the environment. That disconnect can be closed by travel sellers helping travellers to make climate-friendly and sustainable choices. Booking.com figures from 2023 are quoted, which showed that 74% of travellers want more …

Rotana announced plans to open Bloom Arjaan by Rotana on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, and Yasmina Rayhaan by Rotana in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), in 2025. The latter will contribute to Rotana’s goal of tripling its current key count in the Kingdom to 6,000 over the next three years. In addition, work is also underway on another six Edge by Rotana properties in the MENAT region. Launched as a new brand in 2022, Rotana currently operates seven Edge by Rotana properties in the UAE and KSA, with plans on track to reach a target of operating 30 Edge by Rotana properties across the region by 2027. Rotana unveils its ambitious regional and international expansion plans at the World Travel Market (WTM) London. Driving the group’s global expansion is the development of 43 new properties in 24 cities in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Türkiye. The new properties will add 9,049 rooms to Rotana’s inventory, taking its total keys to 30,301 globally. Commenting on Rotana’s expansion plans, Philip Barnes, CEO of Rotana, said: “Rotana’s ambitious development plans underscore our commitment to expediting growth in the sector and developing offerings to suit ever-changing customer demand. Drawing on our rich heritage, we look forward to welcoming more guests to Rotana properties across the globe soon to experience our signature hospitality offering and enjoy moments of treasured times.”  

The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) announced its new partnership with Chapter Zero Egypt, a collaboration poised to transform the hospitality industry’s approach to sustainability and propel the concept of Net Positive Hospitality throughout the region and beyond. Chapter Zero Egypt is a vital member of the global Climate Governance Initiative, working alongside the World Economic Forum to equip boards with the necessary skills, tools, and processes to meet their fiduciary responsibilities in the face of climate change. This initiative aims to enhance climate governance across organizations, providing engagement opportunities to develop essential knowledge and practices. The partnership, signed during the Annual Conference of Chapter Zero Egypt, marks a significant step in the Alliance’s ongoing mission to advance sustainability within Egypt’s hospitality sector. Through collaboration with Chapter Zero Egypt, the Alliance aims to: • Enhance Awareness: Develop comprehensive educational programs focused on the importance of sustainability and best practices within the hospitality industry. • Mobilise Expertise: Engage leaders from various industries to lend their expertise in the practical implementation of sustainable practices. • Facilitate Dialogue: Organise roundtables to share insights, recommendations, and tackle pressing sustainability challenges. • Access Financial Solutions: Offer pathways to secure funding for sustainability projects in the sector. Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration: “We are delighted to partner with Chapter Zero – Egypt to share our knowledge and expertise in addressing sustainability challenges within the sector. This groundbreaking partnership will foster collaboration throughout Egypt’s hospitality industry and strengthen our commitment to sustainability and climate governance.” Ayman Salah, Founder & Executive Director of CHAPTER ZERO EGYPT highlighted the importance of cooperating with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance …