Category Archives: Govt

The German National Tourist Office-Gulf countries (GNTO) hosted a B2B travel trade networking lunch in the Kingdom of Bahrain in partnership with Lufthansa Airlines. The aim of GNTO’s series of B2B events is to promote Germany as a year-round travel destination and to highlight the latest tourism attractions for the year 2020. The event was attended by the German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain His Excellency Kai Boeckmann together with selected Bahraini travel trade professionals, key opinion leaders, and media. His Excellency Kai Boeckmann said, “Diversity is a key element that Germany offers and I’m delighted to invite Bahraini tourists to visit my homeland to enjoy a memorable visit.” Mark Pey, General Manager Sales, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain & Yemen, Lufthansa Group said, “Today’s networking event has been one of huge importance to us, year on year we’re seeing an increase in Bahraini nationals visiting Germany and choosing Lufthansa as their airline of choice. Lufthansa first started operating to Germany from Bahrain on April 2, 1985, and is proud to continue connecting the countries by offering customers premium products and services.” Nicole Zaspel, Sales & Marketing Manager for the Gulf countries at GNTO, an affiliate of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) shared, “The GCC market, is the third-largest non-European source market behind China and the United States and is very important to us. We’ve seen incredible growth with 1.8 million overnight stays by GCC nationals in 2018 compared to 7,70,000 overnight stays in 2009, which demonstrates that the annual number of overnight stays has grown by 130% over the past decade.”

VFS Global officially inaugurated its new Abu Dhabi Joint Visa Application Centre at a more comfortable and premium location in terms of amenities and infrastructure. The newly relocated centre is situated at Level B2 (Lower Ground), The Mall, World Trade Centre, Khalifa Bin Zayed the 1st Street (Airport Road), Abu Dhabi. Spread across 24,000 square feet, the new centre serves 28 client governments and is expected to process over 100,000 visa applications annually. The centre is equipped with 72 application submission counters and can accommodate up to 1,500 applicants a day. For customers seeking luxury and convenience, the Abu Dhabi centre offers 24 submission counters in its Premium Lounges. The new centre is dedicated to the memory of the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Former Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Founding Father of the UAE. Representing the UAE government and having unveiled the statue of His Highness Sheik Zayed – H.E. Dr. Ahmed Al Banna, Ambassador of the UAE to India, said, “Abu Dhabi is thrilled to welcome the seamless and automated VAC experience that this centre will deliver to travellers from Abu Dhabi.” Commenting on the launch of the new centre, Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group COO for Middle East, South Asia & China, VFS Global, said, “The launch of the new Abu Dhabi centre, which is one of the biggest in the region, reflects our vision to provide world-class facilities to match the UAE capital’s strong demand for best-in-class visa application services.”

In a bid to promote the destination as a touristic hub in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia took several initiatives recently. Her Highness Princess Haifa Mohammed Al Saud – Vice President of Strategy and Planning, Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) stated that they have launched four types of visas to provide an opportunity for more travellers to visit the kingdom. In this regard, there are 49 countries who could apply for the visit visa option online to book their visa within just three minutes or visa upon arrival. For the remaining countries they can still go to the embassy and apply for the visa. There are four different travel purposes under this scheme; Umrah, leisure, visit family and MiCE. You have different options, it is a 300 Riyals visa with multiple entry for 90 days and valid for one year. There is an additional medical insurance that could also be obtained at the time of application for the visa. Her Highness stated, “In terms what we are doing to further attract people to the destination we conducted a consumer surveyor with 20,000 pool of people from 17 countries and we have realised that one of the key issues is awareness and not enough information on the destination of Saudi Arabia hence we are strengthening the communication element with our strong campaign to give the people to feel the beauty of Saudi Arabia as a first step. We are starting with four key destinations and we have developed 15 sites that are ready around each of the four destinations which include Riyadh, Jeddah, Madina and the eastern province and three more destinations to be added and 38 total …

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing hosted a series of strategic meetings with tourism and media companies across the GCC, highlighting the positive performance of the emirate’s tourism industry during the first eight months of 2019. The series of stakeholder meetings discussed the region’s standing as Dubai’s strongest volume generator (representing 20 per cent of all tourists welcomed into the city) in the first eight months of the year, with its lead contributor, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), bringing in more than one million tourists as the second largest source market. Chaired by Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), the meetings were held as part of the Department’s ongoing commitment to further enhancing collaboration with partners in traditional strongholds and emerging markets in line with Dubai’s Tourism Vision 2022-2025. The delegation toured Kuwait, followed by Riyadh, and Jeddah, and included senior representatives from Expo 2020 who provided an update on major developments of the hugely anticipated event and explored effective collaborations in the lead up to a momentous year for the emirate. These partnerships aim to drive stronger destination appeal for target audiences across the GCC, particularly across the family segment and those visiting friends and families, as well as targeting emerging segments. Dubai Tourism’s efforts to create targeted and customised experiences for GCC tourists is reflected in the Department’s always-on calendar of strategic activations, marketing campaigns and ongoing trade and business partnerships.

The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) recently reviewed the existing laws and regulations concerning the registration of vehicles used for excursions in Dubai. The review was part of the DMCA’s move promoting maritime recreation and tourism in the emirate in line with the UAE’s economic diversification plan. It took place during the visit of H.E. Ahmed Issa Al Hosani, Executive Director of the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, and his delegates to the DMCA office, where they were welcomed by Executive Director Amer Ali. During the meeting, both parties agreed to engage in the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and the best industry practices related to building a safe and integrated maritime environment in the hope of solidifying the UAE’s leadership in global maritime recreation and tourism. Ali reiterated the importance of constant communication between industry stakeholders in the UAE to maintain maritime safety, secure navigation, and operational efficiency. Ali also welcomed the visit of Sharjah delegation, saying it reflected their shared goal to implement effective mechanisms, laws, and regulations to manage the registration and licensing procedures for boats and Jet skis according to the highest local and global standards. On the other hand, H.E. Al Hosani maintained the significance of building a unified maritime system in the country amid the ongoing national digital transformation initiatives. During the visit, the DMCA showcased Dubai’s marine recreational facilities and ongoing efforts to integrate maritime activities for faster registration and licensing of sailing permits in cooperation with the public and private sectors. Additionally, they discussed innovations and smart transformation of the maritime sector in the emirate as well as the numerous associations and clubs within the community.  

The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) organised a familiarisation trip for a delegation of nine women from renowned Saudi travel agencies and tour operators. Hosting the trip comes in line with BTEA’s efforts to showcase the Kingdom’s tourism facilities and attractions, as well as introduce visitors to its rich history with an aim to further develop the tourism sector and increase its contribution to the national economy. The familiarisation trip, held from October 3-5, 2019, was organised in collaboration with BTEA’s representative office in KSA. During the trip, the delegation met with local representatives from the tourism industry and were taken on several sightseeing tours in Bahrain. “KSA is considered one of the largest tourism markets across the region and visitors from KSA comprise a huge portion of tourists in Bahrain, holding 88 per cent of the market share. Since the start of this year, BTEA’s collaboration with Saudi travel agencies through its KSA representative office has resulted in attracting approximately 31,500 visitors in Q1 of 2019, a growth of 31 per cent, and BHD 11.9 million in total spending. In the first half of 2019, the total number of Saudi visitors amounted to 5.3 million, including business and project owners which contributes to supporting the local GDP,” said Dr. Ali Follad, Tourism Advisor at BTEA. Organising the familiarisation trip comes in line with the BTEA’s strategy to promote and develop the country’s tourism sector under the slogan of ‘Ours.Yours.’, which contributes towards Bahrain’s economy and the 2030 Economic Vision.

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, is currently on a cultural visit to the Spanish capital. On October 8, he was at Casa Árabe Madrid, which has been operating as the strategic centre for Spain’s relations with the Arab world since 2006. The Sharjah Ruler was received by Pedro Martínez-Avial, General Director, Casa Árabe, and senior representatives of Spanish cultural and academic institutions. The Sharjah Ruler witnessed the signing of a MoU between Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and Casa Árabe, to promote Emirati and Arab cultures in Spain. It was signed by HE Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA and Pedro Martínez, in the presence of heads and senior officials of both Emirati and Spanish cultural entities. The MoU seeks to achieve the goal of building bridges and strengthening bilateral relations to promote cooperation in key cultural sectors leveraged by Casa Árabe’s strong regional and international network. Under the agreement, the two entities will also work on executing agreed-upon programmes targeted at enhancing cultural exchange. They will develop a programme to promote cooperation between cultural entities in Spain, Sharjah and the UAE, and steer Spanish cultural experts to devising and applying effective tools to enhance dialogue and exchange between Sharjah, Spain and the world.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) invited a group of 113 Chinese professionals from the key Chinese seaport of Dalian in Liaoning province to visit the UAE capital this week, to experience some of the Emirate’s unique cultural offerings. The group experienced two full days of sightseeing, taking in key attractions such as Qasr al Watan, Louvre Abu Dhabi and the many offerings on Yas Island. “Hosting the Dalian delegation for two days in Abu Dhabi gave us the opportunity to showcase the very best of what the UAE capital has to offer to our number one overseas market, especially the experience of the Emirati majlis, which is one of the inscribed elements on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, where Emiratis open up their homes to welcome their guests from everywhere in the world,” said Saeed Al Saeed, Destination Marketing Director at DCT Abu Dhabi.  “It was a great pleasure to welcome the delegation from China, and to have the chance to introduce them to some of the heritage and deep-rooted history of the Emirate through a traditional majlis,” said Aaesha AlShehyari, one of the founders of Visit Makan. The latest official report on visitation to the UAE capital released by DCT Abu Dhabi shows that hotel guest numbers for the Chinese market posted double-digit year-on-year growth in June 2019, with guests from China rising by 21.8 per cent compared to the corresponding month in 2018. China is the largest overseas market for the UAE capital, and in 2018, more than 400,000 Chinese travellers visited Abu Dhabi, an increase of 8 per cent when compared to the previous year.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has reported a stellar incline in tourism volumes from Nigeria, Africa’s largest source market for inbound traffic to Dubai, welcoming 113,000 overnight visitors in the first seven months of 2019. With impressive double-digit growth, inbound traffic from Nigeria to Dubai grew by 28 per cent year-on-year, cementing its position as the emirate’s 17th largest source market. Dubai’s diverse portfolio of attractions has experienced sustained interest amongst Nigerian travellers through ongoing strategic trade partnerships, bespoke integrated marketing campaigns, and always-on social media activations. Building on ongoing efforts to provide a platform to broadcast Dubai’s multifaceted comprehensive offerings to African tourists, Dubai Tourism, led by the CEO, Issam Kazim, showcased its support at the Akwaaba African Travel Market for the fourth consecutive year with a strong delegation of 21 Dubai-based partners, which included a team from Expo 2020 Dubai. Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said, “The immense hospitality and genuine welcome we received during our time in Nigeria paved the way for a hugely successful Akwaaba Travel Market 2019. Our continued presence at industry events such as these is testament to our globally diversified market strategy to engage with key strategic partners, cementing our positive relationship with the African travel trade ecosystem.”

In line with its efforts to further strengthen the Kingdom’s position as an ideal destination for weddings and celebrations, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) organised a familiarisation trip for 10 Indian wedding planning agencies, from September 21-24. The delegation included companies and agencies from several Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat and Jaipur, targeting locations with High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) and distinguished families. On September 22 and 23, BTEA arranged for meetings between Indian wedding planners and a number of Bahraini vendors and organisations, which included leading 5 and 4-star hotels, Bahraini wedding planners and organisers, travel and tourism service providers, destination management companies and other accommodation venues. A representative from BTEA’s office in India also attended the meetings along with the delegation. In addition, a tour of the Kingdom was also organised for the Indian delegation which featured a visit to some of Bahrain’s tourist attractions such as Go Karting, the Hindu Temple in Manama and Bahrain International Circuit. “Through organising regular meetings with Indian wedding planners and agencies, we aim to increase the number of wedding ceremonies being held in the Kingdom, further positioning Bahrain as an ideal destination for weddings and celebrations,” said Dr. Ali Follad, Tourism Advisor at BTEA.