Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi will officially open its doors to the public in Saadiyat Cultural District Abu Dhabi on 18 April 2025, announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism—Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, and art collective teamLab. The 17,000 sqm multi-sensory art experience is operated by Miral Experiences, a subsidiary of Miral, and will include massive transformative exhibits that take guests on a sensory-rich journey that transcends the ordinary. The exhibits engage sight, sound, and touch, encouraging guests to expand the way they feel, connect and interact with the world around them. Sitting at the intersection of art, science, and technology, the artworks do not exist independently—the environment creates various phenomena that become the artwork, offering a dynamic, ever-evolving guest experience, and ensuring that no two visits will be the same. HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Saadiyat Cultural District is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s commitment to preserving heritage while embracing a forward-looking vision. The District will convey a message of cultural diversity that will become more powerful over time, creating global connections, inspiring cultural exchange, and fostering new ways of thinking to support the region, the global South and the world. We believe in the diversity of artistic expression and teamLab is the perfect partner to provide immersive art experiences that push the boundaries of art and technology. Together, we are redefining what is possible expanding our horizons and forging deeper connections in ways never seen before.” HE added: “Once opened, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi will offer an immersive journey that sparks infinite curiosity and imagination in all who visit. At …

Wego announced its strategic partnership with the Jordan Tourism Board, a collaboration dedicated to showcasing the incredible experiences and destinations that make Jordan a must-visit travel destination. This partnership marks a significant step in promoting Jordan as a premier hub for culture, adventure, and relaxation, celebrated for its rich heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and unparalleled hospitality. Together, Wego and the Jordan Tourism Board aim to inspire travelers from around the globe to explore Jordan’s wonders and create unforgettable memories. Commenting on the partnership, Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer at Wego, said: “We are incredibly excited to partner with the Jordan Tourism Board to bring the magic of Jordan closer to our global audience. Jordan is a destination like no other, offering an extraordinary blend of history, adventure, and hospitality. Through this collaboration, we aim to inspire travelers to explore Jordan’s iconic landmarks and discover its hidden treasures, creating memories that will last a lifetime.” Jordan is a treasure trove of unique and enriching experiences. Visitors can walk through history in the ancient city of Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and experience the magic of the desert in Wadi Rum, famously known as the “Valley of the Moon”. Beyond its iconic landmarks, Jordan offers travelers the chance to connect with its warm and welcoming people and uncover lesser-known gems that make every journey truly special. This collaboration reflects a shared vision of fostering sustainable tourism while amplifying Jordan’s position as a global travel destination. It will include targeted campaigns, innovative storytelling, and exclusive initiatives to highlight the country’s unique offerings and encourage travelers to dive deeper into Jordan’s culture and traditions. Adding to this, Dr Abed Al …

 The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Amadeus to facilitate a city-wide ecosystem for the rapid prototyping of travel tech solutions, and further enhance Dubai’s capabilities as a leading hub for travel innovation. Building on their well-established collaborative relationship, the two entities will focus on advancing travel technology, enhancing visitor experiences, and strengthening Dubai’s tourism ecosystem, creating a platform to build on the record 18.72 million international overnight visitors that came to the city in 2024. The MoU was signed by His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of DET, and Maher Koubaa, EVP Travel Unit and MD EMEA, Amadeus, and is poised to contribute to achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure. DET and Amadeus currently cooperate across multiple areas including Strategic Travel Data and Analytics, Programmatic Travel Advertising, and B2B Travel Marketing, and the MoU establishes a framework for expanding this collaboration. It also paves the way for Amadeus to set up a Centre of Excellence in Dubai to promote initiatives in key areas such as enhancement of the traveller journey experience, with a focus on leveraging biometrics, airport experience optimisation, access management, touchless payments, and air capacity development. Furthermore, it will support local and global start-ups and enhance travel intelligence reporting for hospitality and destinations. Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), comments: “This partnership with Amadeus marks a transformative step in our journey to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a multifaceted innovation hub and reflects our …

Korea Tourism Organisation won ‘Most engaging travel events organised by an NTO in the Middle East’ at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. “It was fantastic, great entertainment, excellent line of awards, and we are overwhelmed because we won in three different categories. We would just make sure that we come back again and we won even more awards. Arabian Travel Awards are highly credible, and I call them the Oscar of our travel industry in the Middle East, so fantastic.”-Glenn Johnston, Representative, Korea Tourism Organization

Qatar Tourism will be hosting the 51st UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Middle East in Doha on 12th February 2025. The meeting will bring together tourism ministers, senior officials, and experts from various countries in the region, as well as leadership from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). The selection of Doha as the host city underscores Qatar’s growing status as a regional and global hub in the tourism sector and its leadership role in promoting both regional and international cooperation. This is especially significant considering the country’s recent successes in hosting major global events, most notably the FIFA World Cup 2022™. During the meeting, the UN Tourism will present reports on the sector’s performance for the 2024-2025 period, and future policies and plans will be discussed. HE Mr. Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chair of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, stated: “Hosting the 51st meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Middle East reflects our steadfast commitment to enhancing regional cooperation and developing the tourism sector as a key driver of economic and social growth. Qatar has proven its capability to organise and host major international events, establishing itself as a global model for sustainable tourism. We are confident that this meeting will further advance regional cooperation in the tourism sector, and we look forward to exchanging ideas and expertise with partners from across the region to bolster the Middle East’s position as a unique global tourism destination.” In addition to the ministerial sessions and official meetings, the conference titled “Sports Tourism and the Tourism Industry Post-World Cup” will be held on February 13th at the Sheraton Grand Doha …

Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates a record-breaking 1,422,021 million visitors in 2024, marking its highest attendance since its grand opening and bringing the total visitor count to over 6 million. This achievement showcases the museum’s dedication to creating meaningful cultural connections through world-class exhibitions, engaging educational initiatives, and immersive visitor experiences. Reflecting its global appeal, international visitors made up 84% of total attendance, with UAE residents comprising the remaining 16%. Across all visitors—both international and residents—China and Russia led with 12% each, followed by India (7%), and France and the UK (6% each). This underscores the museum’s broad reach as well as its cherished role within the local community.

Visit Qatar successfully concluded its first roadshow in Kuwait, held in partnership with Go Beyond, the leading representative agency supported by Gulf Travel. The tour provided an exclusive platform to promote Qatar as an exceptional destination for leisure and business tourism, highlighting its distinctive offerings, including short breaks, winter vacations and stopover experiences. The tour brought together several key partners in Qatar’s tourism sector, including Qatar Airways and some of Qatar’s finest hotels. along with 150 industry leaders from prominent tour operators and travel agents in Kuwait. Attendees participated in productive networking sessions that contributed to building strategic working relationships. Attendees also witnessed a personalized presentation that showcased Qatar’s diverse tourism landscape, world-class attractions, and its growing role as a major travel hub in the region. To add to the excitement, the tour also included a special draw, where the winners received two nights at the participating hotels. Kuwait is one of the main markets for Visit Qatar, with Doha welcoming more than 170,000 visitors from Kuwait in 2024, looking for a world-class tourism experience with a family-friendly atmosphere. Qatar welcomes visitors arriving by land, air or sea, where citizens of 102 countries can enter without a visa. Just a short trip can allow visitors to enjoy Qatar’s winter season, spend time in luxury resorts and keep up with vibrant cultural offerings and experiences, all in close proximity to the heart of Doha. GCC travellers can also take advantage of exclusive offers and discounts on a variety of services and offers through the ‘Visit Qatar Pass’, available on the Visit Qatar app. Visit Qatar Pass offers its users discounts ranging from 30-50% across a wide range of categories, including food …

While the Los Angeles wildfires have presented challenges, the indomitable spirit of Los Angeles, as well as its iconic attractions and experiences, remain intact. In fact, the best way to support Los Angeles is to visit and patronize the hotels, restaurants and other businesses that depend on tourism. Over 98% of Los Angeles County remains untouched by the fires, and the city’s iconic landmarks—from the Hollywood Sign to Universal Studios Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, the Santa Monica Pier, and more—are open and ready for visitors, as depicted in the recovery map provided by VisitCalifornia. Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta today issued the following statement on how tourism will support Los Angeles’ recovery: “Our message to travelers is simple: Now is the time to visit Los Angeles. “As households across the country – and world – are planning their 2025 vacations, we want everyone to know that Los Angeles remains open and ready to welcome you. “Ninety-eight percent of Los Angeles, including its iconic landmarks and attractions, remains untouched and fully prepared to welcome visitors. “The economic impacts of these wildfires are already becoming increasingly evident. One out of five California tourism-related jobs are in Los Angeles County, highlighting just how vital the tourism industry is to the region’s economy and recovery efforts. “LA’s local businesses and residents depend on tourism, and there’s no better way to help the region recover than to plan a trip now.” Postponing or cancelling trips will only make the economic impact of this disaster worse for everyone. Instead, visit Los Angeles and encourage your clients, friends and family to experience its vibrant culture. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we unite and …

Qatar Tourism has announced the highlights of the mid-season cruise season 2024/2025, which show Qatar’s growing position as a major tourism destination. By 20 January 2025, Qatar had received 53 cruise ships, carrying 191,944 visitors, including 20,951passengers have used Doha as a starting point for their cruises. So far, the season has welcomed passengers from Germany (30.2%), followed by Russia (10.8%) and Italy (9.2%), with the top ten nationalities collectively accounting for 69.2% of the total number of passengers. This season saw the addition of four new cruise ships: Resorts World One, MSC Eurobia, Celestial Journey and Costa Esmeralda. In addition to the ship “Norwegian Sky”, which is expected to arrive on 12 April 2025. The Costa Esmeralda, the eighth largest cruise ship in the world, will visit Doha Port ten times this season, carrying around 82,000 passengers. Omar Al Jaber, Head of Tourism Development  at Qatar Tourism, said: “The incredible growth of Qatar’s cruise sector is a testament to our vision within the National Tourism Strategy 2030. Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, more than 30 cruise ships are expected to arrive by the end of the season in April 2025, carrying around 185,000 visitors, reflecting Doha’s growing position as a major cruise destination, coupled with strong partnerships with global cruise operators, all of which demonstrate the growing demand for Qatar’s exceptional cruise offerings. As we continue to invest in state-of-the-art infrastructure and enhance the visitor experience, we remain committed to positioning Qatar as a premier cruise destination.” The cruise sector has become a key pillar of Qatar’s national tourism strategy, with remarkable growth in recent years, with Doha Port strategically located in the heart of the …

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) has launched its promotional campaign ‘Live The Vibe’ to highlight the heritage and tourism assets of Al Batinah South Governorate. This campaign coincides with the activities of ‘Explore Al Batinah South 2025,’ organised by the Office of the Governor of Al Batinah South. Raiya bint Salim Al Maskeri, Assistant Director of the Tourism Marketing Department at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said, “The campaign aims to boost tourism activity in Al Batinah South Governorate, introduce its heritage and tourism sites, and enhance tourist visits during the event period. This is expected to positively impact the partners of the tourism sector in the governorate.” She added, “The campaign’s objectives include promoting the governorate’s tourism sites, such as Bald Sayt Village in Wadi Bani Awf, Wakan Village, Al Ulya, Ain Al Kasfa, Ain Al Thowarah, Wadi Al Hoqain, Wadi Al Sahtan, and Wadi Bani Kharus. It also aims to introduce the governorate’s castles and forts, including Al Hazm Fort, the Wall and Tower of Al Khamis, Rustaq Fort, Nakhal Fort, Al Awabi Fort, and Bait Al Ghasham Museum, among others. Additionally, the campaign highlights the governorate’s beautiful beaches, such as Al Musannah Beach, Barka Beach, and more, as well as destinations for marine excursions and adventure tours.” Al Maskeri emphasised that the Ministry’s participation in the ‘Explore Al Batinah South 2025’ activities seeks to promote the governorate culturally and touristically. The ministry plans to offer a diverse range of events to attract visitors from within and outside Oman, aiming to position Al Batinah South as a distinctive tourist destination. The initiative also aims to achieve synergy by enhancing diversity, attracting more visitors, and boosting tourism …