Dhofar is poised to welcome visitors from around the world to experience the enchanting Khareef season. Known for its unique weather, stunning landscapes, and a rich array of recreational activities, Dhofar offers an unparalleled escape from the summer heat, providing a serene environment enriched with cool breezes, lush vistas, and cultural diversity. From 21 June to 21 September, Dhofar undergoes a magical transformation during the Khareef season, also known as ‘monsoon’. This period is marked by light rains, intermittent drizzle, and fog that blankets the mountain peaks, with fresh water flowing through springs and waterfalls. The mountains and plains turn a vibrant green, transforming Dhofar into a rare tourist gem with its cool, refreshing climate. Dhofar is home to numerous natural landmarks, including perennial and seasonal water springs, archaeological sites, and pristine beaches. Tourists can explore renowned springs such as Ain Arzat, Ain Jarziz, Ain Sahlnoot, Ain Hamran, and Ain Athum. Additionally, the region hosts archaeological treasures like the Al-Baleed Archaeological Site and Wadi Darbat, known for its waterfalls, lakes, and wildlife—ideal for picnicking, boating, and hiking. This year’s Dhofar Khareef season will feature an array of events and activities that highlight the region’s cultural diversity. Dhofar Municipality has enhanced the lineup with cultural, commercial, and recreational activities, including international exhibitions at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of events, including traditional arts, cuisine, and markets, as well as entertainment for all ages. Highlights include new games at ‘Ittin Square,’ global performances on a state-of-the-art theater, and the largest drone displays ever seen in the region. The ‘Salalah International Cycling Tour’ will return, featuring over 100 cyclists from various …
Read More »Candela supplies flying electric ships to Saudi Arabia’s NEOM
In a landmark deal, the Candela P-12, the world’s first electric hydrofoil ship, will service the planned water network in NEOM, the gigantic, sustainable development taking shape in Northwest Saudi Arabia. NEOM has procured an initial batch of 8 of the foiling, electric shuttle ships, making it the largest announced order in Candela’s history. “The P-12 is designed to create zero-emission water transport systems which have significant improvements over traditional water commuting” says Gustav Hasselskog, CEO and founder of Candela. “Unlike legacy systems with large, slow, and energy-inefficient conventional ferries, the Candela P-12 is a smaller and faster unit, allowing much more frequent departures and quicker journeys for passengers. All daily necessities and services will be just a short boat commute away.” Candela P-12 was launched last year and is set to debut in Stockholm’s public transport during fall 2024. Flying above the waves on computer-guided underwater wings, hydrofoils, the P-12 uses 80% less energy than conventional ships, allowing it to combine long range and high speed for the first time in an electric vessel. With a speed of 25 knots and more than 2 hours of endurance, the Candela P-12 holds the distinction of being the fastest and longest-range electric passenger ship to date. The hydrofoils also unlock a new level of comfort. Passengers will fly smoothly over the Red Sea, as the P-12’s digital flight control system balances the ship 100 times per second by adjusting the hydrofoils’ angle of attack, keeping it stable even in winds and waves. As fuel usage rather than the manufacturing phase makes up the bulk of a ships’ environmental impact, energy efficiency is crucial to curb emissions. Since Candela’s foiling vessels use 80% less …
Read More »SAUDIA ranks first globally in on-time performance for second consecutive time
SAUDIA continues to top the global list for on-time performance (OTP), achieving this milestone for the second time consecutively, according to a report by the independent aviation tracking site, Cirium, for July2024. The report indicates that Saudia has achieved an on-time arrival rate of 88.12% and an on-time departure rate of 88.15%, operating 16,503 flights across its network of over 100 destinations in four continents. His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said: “At Saudia Group, achieving a high OTP has been a shared objective, as it directly impacts guest satisfaction. We’ve successfully maintained it during this year’s peak seasons, a testament to the collaborative efforts of the entire Saudia Group and relevant stakeholders in the aviation industry. Sustaining our leadership in this area requires continuous dedication and resilience in overcoming the numerous challenges within the aviation sector globally.” In the coming years, Saudia will take delivery of 103 new aircraft, aligning with the airline’s strategy to double seating capacity, expand to new global destinations, as well as its commitment to bring the world to the Kingdom in line with Vision 2030.
Read More »Air India launches branded fares; implements codeshare with Air India Express
At a special interview with TravelTV MiddleEast, Kaizad Postwalla, Head – International Sales North America, Canada and GMEA, Air India, shared the two most recent initiatives taken by Air India. He commented, “We recently introduced branded fare families, aligning with the global industry standards. This was rolled out on August 13th, the key attributes and other details of which are being shared with our travel partners. Another key development is our work on the Code Share partnership with Air India Express. This will allow agencies to use Air India Document to cover both Air India and Air India Express sectors through GDS. We already have a Code Share Agreement & Special Prorate Agreement (SPA) with Vistara, enabling Air India flights to be sold on international routes paired with Vistara’s domestic sectors. These initiatives are designed to significantly expand the network available to our agents, providing them with more options to sell, not just within/to/from India, but beyond. We are particularly focused on promoting International-to-International connectivity, which we aim to highlight to and seek support from our travel partners in the Gulf.”
Read More »DCT Abu Dhabi and Rotana Hotel Management to collaborate to attract more visitors
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Rotana Hotel Management Corp have signed an agreement to collaborate on attracting greater numbers of tourists to the emirate this summer and enhancing the visitor experience, through exclusive promotions and benefits for attractions including Louvre Abu Dhabi, The National Aquarium and Qasr Al Watan. The agreement, which runs until September 2024, reflects DCT Abu Dhabi’s ongoing belief in the power of partnership and collaboration in reinforcing the emirate’s attractiveness as a year-round travel destination offering a wide range of experiences for all to enjoy. It also supports DCT Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030, the ambitious blueprint that signals a new era of expansion and strategic development in the emirate’s travel and tourism sector. The strategy aims to expand hotel room availability from 34,000 in 2023 to 52,000 by 2030, increase visitor numbers from nearly 24 million in 2023 to 39.3 million by 2030, and raise the tourism and travel sector’s GDP contribution from approximately AED 49 billion in 2023 to AED 90 billion annually by 2030. Abdulla Yousuf, International Operations Director for DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Abu Dhabi is a uniquely diverse and family-friendly destination that provides international travellers with enticing experiences year-round. Our agreement with Rotana ensures that visitors will continue to experience the emirate as a welcoming, extraordinary travel destination, renowned for its safety, year-round sunny weather and diverse offering.” Philip Barnes, CEO of Rotana Hotel Management Corp, said: “We are thrilled to partner with DCT Abu Dhabi to support the promotion of Abu Dhabi as a premier destination. This collaboration underscores Rotana’s commitment to enhancing our guests’ travel experiences this summer. By working closely with …
Read More »Gulf Air and Malaysia collaborate for aviation and tourism sectors
Gulf Air’s Chief Operations Officer, Captain Qasim Ismaeel, met with Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture in Malaysia. During the meeting, the two sides discussed aviation and tourism cooperation, strengthened the ties between Malaysia and Gulf Air, and explored new avenues for collaboration in these sectors. They also identified strategies to boost passenger traffic between the two countries. The Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture of Malaysia, along with his accompanying delegation, then took a tour at Gulf Aviation Academy, the training arm of Gulf Air. During the tour, the visiting delegation was briefed on the latest flight simulators housed at the academy.
Read More »flynas signs agreement with Hayyak, giving Nasmiles Prime Members complimentary access to Hayyak Luxury Airport Lounges
flynas signed an agreement with Hayyak to provide flynas passengers with Prime membership of Nasmiles, the loyalty program of flynas, complimentary access to Hayyak airport lounges, while other flynas guests will be able to access the lounges with competitive prices. Stefan Magiera, flynas Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Through this agreement, we are pleased to expand privileges to our Nasmiles Prime status members and flynas passengers by allowing them to enjoy the high-end services and high-quality products Hayyak offers in airport lounges around the Kingdom.” “The agreement shows our solid commitment to enhancing customer experience and increasing and diversifying our rewards to Nasmiles members and flynas guests,” he added. Monther Al Humaynee, CEO of Alkhalejiah Catering, the owner and operator of the Hayyak brand, said: “The partnership between flynas and Hayyak Lounge signifies a momentous achievement in our mutual endeavor to enhance the travel experience for passengers. Leveraging our collective knowledge and assets, I am optimistic about our ability to establish a premium customer lounge that redefines standards in comfort, luxury, and tailored service for all flynas nasmiles members and travelers. Our dedication remains unwavering in collaborating closely with flynas team to guarantee that every aspect, spanning from design to service execution, mirrors the exceptional quality synonymous with both our esteemed brands.” In addition to three flynas lounges available free of charge to flynas passengers with Nasmiles Prime membership status at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and King Fahad International Airport in Dammam, Nasmiles Prime members will now be able to avail complimentary access to 18 Hayyak lounges in different airports around the Kingdom. Meanwhile, flynas passengers with no Nasmilse membership will be able to access …
Read More »DCT Abu Dhabi upskills future hospitality and tourism talent through its youth summer camp
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) celebrated the graduation of 57 Emirati students from its Tourism Youth Summer Camp 2024. This initiative aligns with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and the newly launched Tourism Strategy 2030 by empowering over 60 students annually to drive growth in the emirate’s tourism and hospitality sector. Completing its 11th edition this summer, the two-week programme introduced participants aged 16–21 to Abu Dhabi’s tourism and hospitality sector. The graduation was attended by participants, their families, key industry partners, and government officials, including: Fergus Bugg, Senior Vice President of Guest Experience at Miral Destinations, Salama Al Shamsi, Culture Sites Management Department Director at DCT Abu Dhabi, Ziad Makhlouf, Director of HR at Abu Dhabi National Hotels, Amna Al Suwaidi, Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (NAFIS); Maral Jule Bedoyan, Education and Learning Resources Manager at Louvre Abu Dhabi. Saleh Al Geziry, Director General of Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Across 11 highly successful editions of the Tourism Summer Youth Camp, DCT Abu Dhabi has strategically fostered growth within the sector, fulfilling our mandate to build capacity and meet tourism demand now and for years to come. We are proactively encouraging and engaging talented Emiratis, who represent the future of travel and hospitality in Abu Dhabi. We are committed to championing our youth, ensuring they are empowered to contribute to the sustainable development and economic growth of the emirate.” During their five-day placement at 22 prestigious Abu Dhabi hotels (ranging from 4- to 5-star), students rotated through various departments, including the front desk, food and beverage service, kitchen, recreation, and events. This experience provided them with a comprehensive understanding of the …
Read More »Business aviation movements at Dubai South grow by 7% in H1 2024
The Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Dubai South continues to achieve outstanding private jet movements, with 8,472 movements in the first six months of 2024, a growth of 7% over the same period in 2023. This achievement reflects the growing maturity of the business aviation ecosystem and reinforces Al Maktoum International Airport’s status as the leading airport for international business aviation movements in the Middle East. The growth in private jet movements this year follows a record of 16,657 movements in 2023, with a forecast for these movements to reach 18,000 by the end of 2024. In his comments, HE Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, said: “We are pleased to see continuous growth of business aviation movements year after year, and we anticipate these figures to further grow as a result of the new developments of aircraft hangars and maintenance facilities in Dubai South and the hosting of MEBAA Show, the region’s leading business aviation event, in December 2024. At MBRAH, we will continue with our mandate to position Dubai as the aviation capital of the world, in alignment with the government’s vision.” MBRAH offers global aerospace players high-level connectivity and is a free-zone destination for the world’s leading airlines, private jet companies, and associated industries. Located in and developed by Dubai South, MBRAH is also home to maintenance centers and training and education campuses.
Read More »Atlys launches in the UAE, simplifying visa applications for travellers
Atlys officially launched in the UAE to simplify visa applications for travellers. Atlys has been committed to eliminating the hassle and stress associated with visa applications. With its expansion into the UAE, the company aims to provide seamless and efficient visa processing for the region’s large expatriate population. Founded in 2021, Atlys has processed over 1.2 million visas across more than 100 countries. With a growth rate of 200% over the past two years, Atlys has become a trusted name in the visa application industry. The company prioritizes exceptional product experience, customer loyalty, and an innovative approach to solving travel-related challenges. Visa applications have long been a source of anxiety for travelers, with complex requirements and uncertain outcomes. Atlys was created to address this issue. The company’s mission is to make visa processing as simple and stress-free as booking a flight. “Travelers cite visas as the most frustrating pain point, and we’re starting by automating that completely,” said Mohak Nahta, CEO and Founder of Atlys. “Our mission is to enable every person on Earth to travel freely, and this mission has two components – access and empowerment. We’re excited to bring Atlys to the UAE, a country that embodies seamless connectivity and where travel is an essential part of life.” With 92% of the UAE’s population consisting of expatriates, many of whom face visa challenges when traveling, the UAE provides the perfect environment for Atlys’s innovative solution. Although UAE nationals enjoy a strong passport, most expats do not, making Atlys’s services invaluable in this market. Sakshi Jain, General Manager of Atlys UAE, emphasized the importance of this launch, stating, “UAE is the world’s tourist hub with millions of tourists flowing in …
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