Category Archives: Govt

Addressing G20 delegates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, said: “Saudi Arabia shares and celebrates the G20’s dedication to boost tourism growth and to put sustainability at the heart of our work. ”Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to make its rapidly expanding tourism sector sustainable and a powerful force for forging closer cultural links between the world’s nations at the G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in Brazil. Reflecting on the meeting’s overarching theme of “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet”, Al-Khateeb added: “There is more than just an economic benefit from the strides we are making to improve connectivity. They also provide the chance for people from around the world to explore the rich culture of Saudi Arabia and for our people to experience the wonders of other countries and cultures.” The high-profile gathering in Belém is bringing together not only the G20 nations, of which Saudi Arabia is the only permanent member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as 32 additional guest countries and international organizations. Saudi Arabia approved the creation of the G20 Tourism Working Group during its presidency in 2020 and among the Ministers’ key objectives at this meeting in Belém finalizing a report by the Working Group that details measures taken by its members to promote robust, sustainable, and balanced global tourism growth. During the event in Belém, His Excellency met with ministers and senior political figures from Brazil, India, Italy, Spain and Japan, as well as with His Excellency Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of UN Tourism and Julia Simpson, President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). In addition to meeting with global leaders, His Excellency also joined a WTTC Public-Private Dialogue to coincide with the launch …

H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council shared that UAE is looking at positioning itself as a leading global tourism destination and increase the sector’s contribution to the national GDP to AED 450 billion by the next decade. These were expressed by H.E. Bin Touq who represented the UAE at the G20 tourism ministers’ meeting 2024, held recently in Brazil. H.E. Bin Touq elaborated on various initiatives and policies implemented by the UAE to foster domestic tourism. These endeavours have played a significant role in establishing a distinguished tourism infrastructure in the country in line with international best practices. Additionally, the UAE has prioritised the development of premier and diverse tourism destinations and offerings, while also ensuring the provision of superior services. The tourism sector contributes significantly to the UAE’s economic diversification efforts, seamlessly aligning with the objectives outlined in the ‘UAE Tourism Strategy 2031.’ The strategy aims to position the UAE as a leading global tourism destination and increase the sector’s contribution to the national GDP to AED 450 billion by the next decade. H.E. expressed his appreciation to the Republic of Brazil for organising the G20 Summit and acknowledged Brazilian presidency’s endeavours in ensuring the event’s success. H.E. expressed his gratitude to the G20 members and international tourism organisations attending the ministerial meeting for their concerted efforts in promoting the sustainability of global tourism. In addition, H.E. Bin Touq highlighted the continuous growth in tourism exchanges between the UAE and Brazil. The total number of Brazilian tourists who visited the UAE in 2023 exceeded 183,000, reflecting a remarkable rise of 46.4 per cent when compared to the 125,000 visitors …

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has reinforced its commitment to becoming a global tourism leader by signing a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA). The agreement, finalized during the Global AI Summit in Riyadh, emphasizes the Kingdom’s focus on leveraging advanced technology to support its Vision 2030 objectives. Tourism, a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, has already surpassed expectations. In 2023, the Kingdom reached its target of welcoming 100 million annual tourists—seven years ahead of schedule. Now, Saudi Arabia is setting its sights even higher, aiming to attract 150 million tourists by the end of the decade. This rapid growth underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to developing its tourism infrastructure and embracing innovation, with AI playing a central role in this transformation. At the heart of this next phase of growth is the integration of artificial intelligence. The partnership with SDAIA is designed to embed AI across the tourism sector, enhancing operational efficiency, personalizing visitor experiences, and optimizing resource management. The MoC outlines plans to establish a Center of Excellence for AI in tourism, deploy AI-driven technologies, and create data-driven strategies to continually refine and elevate the sector’s offerings. His Excellency Anas Al-Sulai, Assistant Minister of Tourism, emphasized the transformative impact of AI on Saudi tourism. “Saudi tourism is growing at an incredible pace, and we are seeing visitors from all over the world choose Saudi Arabia as their destination. As we continue this upward trajectory, we recognize the critical role of technology in enhancing the visitor experience. From the moment travelers land at our airports to every experience they have in our country, AI will be a key …

The General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha’at) is planning to host a series of events during “tourism week” in Madinah, to be held from 25 to 29 August 2024. Monsha’at will conduct eight workshops as part of the week-long event, covering topics such as innovation in tourism, tourism routes, tour guides, and showcasing successful local tourism businesses. The event is part of a nationwide efforts to boost the tourism sector; similar events will take place simultaneously in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al-Khobar. According to Monsha’at, this aims to help local entrepreneurs and investors by highlighting investment opportunities and government support programs for small and medium-sized enterprises.

In a recent interview with tourismbreakingnews.ae Nuwal Fadhilah Ku Azmi, Director International Promotion Division, North and East Asia, covering Asia and Africa shared that they are expecting a double increase in terms of tourism numbers from the GCC. Last year, Malaysia welcomed 164,568 tourists from the region, representing a substantial increase of 85.88% compared to 88,534 tourists in 2022. Therefore, we are optimistic that the arrivals from this region will double compared to last year. In mid-2024, Malaysia’s tourism sector showed strong recovery and growth in tourist numbers compared to previous years. Malaysia experienced a significant increase in international arrivals in 2024, with a 28.9% growth from January to June compared to the same period in 2023. Specifically, the West Asia market saw a rise from 56,592 tourists in the first half of 2023 to 85,559 tourists in 2024, an increase of 51.2%. Malaysia has been actively refining its strategies to attract visitors from the West Asian market. Tourism Malaysia will continue to collaborate with national carriers and foreign airlines through the Charter Flight Matching Grant (GSPC) to increase air traffic from the West Asian market to Malaysia. As of now, the number of flights for the year 2024 is 138 per week with a seating capacity of 41,956 from the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman. Leveraging air connectivity to increase arrivals to Malaysia and rejuvenating offerings will further enhance Malaysia’s appeal as a preferred tourist destination in this region. Tourism Malaysia and Emirates signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MOC) for a joint promotion campaign at the Arabian Travel Market 2024. In general, our marketing approach for 2024 is geared towards high-impact and fast conversion strategies by …

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 …

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.

The Ministers’ Summit at World Travel Market in association with UN Tourism and WTTC will see more than 50 tourism dignitaries and leaders from across the globe debate the potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies to transform the tourism industry. With an increasing demand for innovative solutions that can revolutionize how we experience and interact with destinations, the industry is on the brink of profound change as a result of technological advancements. The Ministers’ Summit, which takes place on Wednesday 6th November, will debate the transformative potential of AI and emerging technologies in shaping the future of travel and hospitality against the ethical implications of its deployment. This year the Summit, run in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNTourism) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), will be moderated by a well-known BBC journalist, bringing together both the public and private sector, to ensure a fair but thought-provoking discussion. Now in its 18th year, this year’s Summit aligns with World Travel Market’s TravelPower campaign, which aims to convey the potential of tourism industry to drive positive change. Ministers will discuss how AI promises enhanced experiences and streamlined processes, and how to ensure that these advancements align with ethical standards. Another key discussion point will be how equitable access to AI technology is essential to prevent existing socio-economic disparities from becoming even further entrenched. Ministers will debate the best ways to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that all stakeholders, regardless of their background or resources, have access to the benefits of AI in tourism, one of the main priorities laid out in the UN Secretary-General’s report on Science, Technology and Innovation for sustainable development. WTTC …

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and SETI Institute announced their collaboration agreement as part of a long-term vision to further the development of AlUla Manara Observatory as a leading destination of the future, for space research, discovery and astro-tourism. AlUla is an ancient desert oasis located in North West Saudi Arabia with more than 200,000 years of recorded human history and ancient heritage sites with 7000 years of successive civilisations. The AlUla Manara Observatory is part of an ambitious plan to develop AlUla into a premier destination with a focus on sustainability, community and cultural and knowledge enrichment. As part of the agreement, the SETI Institute will facilitate installation of a Laser SETI instrument at AlUla Manara Observatory. LaserSETI, an optical SETI project, monitors the sky for laser flashes that could indicate the presence of extra-terrestrial technology. The LaserSETI station would be part of a broader network scanning the entire northern hemisphere night sky from various locations. Naif Almalik, AlUla Manara’s Executive Programme Director, said, “This collaboration enhances AlUla’s evolving role as a dynamic hub for science and knowledge exchange. It will equip AlUla Manara with the instruments needed to observe the cosmos in extraordinary detail and establish AlUla as a premier destination for research and astro-tourism. Just an hour’s drive from AlUla’s center, the observatory will inspire local youth to pursue diverse careers in advanced STEM fields, supporting the growth and economic diversification of Saudi Arabia in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions. “ Additionally, the SETI Institute will support in developing data analysis systems for some of the telescopes housed at AlUla Manara Observatory and provide expertise in hardware and instrument development. The SETI Institute’s Centre …

According to the latest figures released by Qatar tourism, during the first seven months they received a total of 2.956 million visitors which is an increase of 26.2 per cent from the same period last year. During the month of July 2024 they welcomed 317,000 visitors. Saudi Arabia maintains its position as the number one source market with 0.86million visitors followed by India with 238,000 visitors and Bahrain with 135,000 visitors. Other top source markets on top are Kuwait, Oman, the US, UK, UAE, Germany and China.