Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

Accor, the largest hotel and resort operator in Phuket, invites travellers from the Middle East and around the world to reawaken their love for travel and be amongst the first to discover the joys of the ‘Phuket Sandbox’. Phuket never fails to awaken the senses. A blissful blue sky, clear oceans, and lush green hills set the backdrop for glittering waves crashing on the pearlescent sandy shores on which only a few people gather under coconut trees swaying with the coastal breeze. The island paradise of Phuket has been closed to international visitors for over a year, allowing nature to recuperate and thrive. A new chapter now awaits with vaccinated travellers welcomed back from 1st July 2021 from countries with a low or medium risk of COVID-19 transmission. For those wistfully dreaming of a tropical beach getaway, Phuket offers the perfect collection of experiences that can be enjoyed around the island without quarantine. Days spent on breath-taking beaches are an essential part of the Phuket experience. Powdery sands, glistening waters, and spectacular views can be discovered all around the island, with a diverse array of offerings on the popular west coast as well as the more secluded east coast. There are over 30 beaches in Phuket, some of them hidden away and others adjacent to beachfront resorts. With limited flights operating, visitors have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lay on unblemished shores with very few other people, for a more chilled-out atmosphere, bringing a whole new meaning to ‘social distancing’. Where to stay: Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort is nestled in a southern cove overlooking the broad palm-lined arc of Makham Bay. Its private stretch of fine white sand is great …

A virtual dinner was recently hosted by the Department of Tourism in Philippines for trade partners from the GCC. This informal gathering was a networking exercise to understand the current GCC market and the way forward. As GCC is way ahead of other regions in terms of vaccination drives, it is looking at better summer travel. At the event, SanJeet, Director, Durga Das Publications and Market Representative for the Middle East, shared the current realities in the Middle Eastern market, followed by an address by Daks Gonzales at the Head Office of Product and Market Development, Philippine Department of Tourism – Middle East. Gracing the evening, Verna Esmeralda C. Buensuceso, CESO III Assistant Secretary for Product and Market Development Department of Tourism from the Department of Tourism in the Philippines, expressed her gratitude to those taking time off to attend the event and enjoy the Filipino cuisine. She reiterated the importance of understanding the market at present and shared the various initiatives taken by the Government of the Philippines to ensure safety and rebuild the confidence of the travellers, especially from the Middle East. Leading CEOs from the Middle East attended the event, including Nasir Jamal Khan – Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism Agencies LLC, Jamal Abdul Nazar – Cozmo Travels,  Asim Arshad – Orient Travel & Tourism Agency,  Arshad Munir – SATA, Tarique Katri – Seera, Deepak Rawat – MakeMyTrip, V. Jayaram – Sharaf Travels, Mathew D’Costa – Dnata, Sumit Archarya – BCD Travel, Manu Mehrotra – Al Tayer Travel Agency, Suresh Ahuja – Trans Arabian Air Travel, and Sai Rattan – SNTTA The CEOs presented some very interesting facts about expectations, especially from the side of the locals …

With the world gradually recovering from the pandemic, everyone is looking forward to traveling again. The Moscow City Tourism Committee has stepped up with some exciting possibilities that make Moscow the ideal MICE and luxury travel destination for travelers now. Head of the MICE Department from The Moscow City Tourism Committee, Anastasia Popova shares some insights into why the Russian capital has come recommended as an attractive destination for travelers from the Middle East. According to Anastasia, “Moscow is a vibrant city offering a diversity of choices and millions of impressions even to sophisticated travelers. A combination of cultural heritage, creative incentive ideas, local culinary traditions, favorable climate and excellent shopping possibilities makes Moscow an ideal MICE destination.” With conference centers and hotel chains meeting global standards, the Moscow City Tourism Committee has seen development in business tourism, with over 3,000 business events and conferences taking place annually. The gastronomic component has recently become one of the main touristic symbols of Moscow. Today, there are more than 13,000 cafés and restaurants in Moscow with some of the world’s best restaurants offering cuisines from all over the world: Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Armenian, Spanish, Italian, Greek, and even Halal.  The Middle East market is showing interest and growing in terms of luxury travel and MICE. According to the data collected, in the last 6 months alone, up to 27,000 individuals visited Moscow from the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia with their average trip expenses reaching $1.7-3k. “Establishing long-lasting connections with major buyers from the Middle East is one of our major goals,” says Anastasia. She further adds, “The MALT Congress is a must-attend event for connecting with MICE and luxury travel …

MSC Cruises, in partnership with Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), DP World and Emirates Airline, today announced that the naming ceremony for the line’s newest flagship, MSC Virtuosa, will take place in Dubai on 27 November at Mina Rashid (Port Rashid). The event reflects the growing importance of Dubai as a must-visit destination for global travellers and the cruising’s key contribution to the city’s tourism industry. The newest addition to the MSC Cruises fleet derives her name from the Italian word virtuoso and refers to the master craftsmen who designed and developed this masterpiece, which will be the most technologically and environmentally advanced cruise vessel ever deployed in the UAE. Her naming will be celebrated with a stunning array of live entertainment and performances awaiting the specially invited guests from around the world as well as from across the Gulf region – one of MSC Cruises’ key markets where the company is brand leader. Further details of the line-up of entertainment events will be revealed in due course. The naming ceremony event will take place in compliance with all public health and safety protocols outlined by the Dubai government, as well as with the support of MSC Cruises’ Health and Safety protocol that allowed the line’s ships to restart its operations in this region. The occasion will also be a part of the celebrations surrounding the Golden Jubilee of the UAE and will be staged as Dubai welcomes the world to Expo 2020. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: “Dubai has charted a strong and steady course to become a global tourism destination and preferred …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced the return of the Sharjah Summer campaign, which will offer an integrated package of distinguished experiences designed to enhance Sharjah’s position as an exceptional and competitive family, cultural, environmental, historical and heritage tourism destination. The campaign, which runs from July 15 to the end of August, is aligned with the Authority’s commitment to launch leading initiatives and create diverse and integrated tourism experiences that live up to the expectations of all tourists and visitors to Sharjah. The much-awaited spectacular Sharjah Summer campaign is held yearly to showcase Sharjah’s famous tourist attractions, new hotels, destinations, and unique projects, as well as inject new energy into local tourism and enhance confidence in the emirate as a premier destination of choice for families. The Sharjah Summer 2021 campaign features a range of exclusive offers, including especially designed packages for families and hotel promotions, to provide tourists coming to the emirate with unforgettable experiences. The campaign also seeks to support and boost domestic tourism this year amid the current circumstances. In addition, SCTDA is organizing a competition for its followers on its Instagram account (@visit_shj) to achieve wider coverage of the summer campaign in cooperation with numerous social media influencers. The competition is also geared towards informing SCTDA’s digital platform followers across various age groups about the exciting adventures, fun experiences, exclusive offers and family activities that are available in Sharjah’s distinct and diverse tourist destinations and hotels. The Authority also assured that preventive and precautionary procedures are in place to ensure the highest level of safety of all visitors and their families. H.E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said: “We are pleased …

With Qatar now open for tourism to fully vaccinated travellers, Discover Qatar, the destination management division of Qatar Airways, has partnered with Qatar Airways Holidays and launched specially curated packages to welcome international travellers visiting friends and family in Qatar for a much-awaited reunion. As part of the conditions of entry, the State of Qatar has mandated that all tourist arrivals must have a confirmed hotel reservation. To help meet this requirement, Discover Qatar in partnership with Qatar Airways Holidays is offering exclusive deals with significant savings on a range of hotels that will enhance the customer’s family and friends’ experience, helping them make new memories as they reunite in Qatar. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are very proud to be playing our part in the reopening of our country to visitors in the safest way possible and supporting the next step in the development of Qatar’s tourism industry. Surrounded by crystal waters and a unique biodiverse ecosystem, Qatar has so much to offer when it comes to rediscovering nature, stellar architecture and offering a world that is inspired by modernism and traditions alike. “The city and desert tours will allow our passengers to enjoy every step of their journey with us, and we hope many get to experience Qatar’s renowned hospitality, culture and heritage, and the vibrant city of Doha through Discover Qatar’s exclusive packages.” The ‘Family and Friends’ packages start at QAR 1,721 per person and are available for a five, seven, or a ten-night stay at leading, luxury hotels in Qatar such as the Hilton Doha, Hilton Salwa Beach Resort, the Ritz-Carton Doha, Mondrian Doha, the Westin Doha Hotel & …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has issued the updated list of “Green List” destinations. Vaccinated travellers arriving from these destinations will be exempt from mandatory quarantine measures after landing in Abu Dhabi and will be required to undergo PCR testing upon arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport, as well as another PCR test on day 6. Unvaccinated travellers arriving from these countries are exempt from mandatory quarantine but will also need to undergo PCR testing on arrival, as well as two further PCR tests on day 6 and 12. Countries, regions, and territories included within the “Green List” will be regularly updated based on international developments. Inclusion in the list is subject to strict criteria of health and safety to ensure the well-being of the UAE community. The list also only applies to countries travellers are arriving from, rather than citizenship. Please note below the updated “Green List” as of 13 July 2021: Albania Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Belgium Canada China Denmark France Germany Greece Hong Kong (SAR) Hungary Iceland Israel Italy Jordan Malta Mauritius Moldova Netherlands New Zealand Norway Republic of Ireland Romania Saudi Arabia Serbia Seychelles Singapore South Korea Sweden Switzerland Taiwan, Province of China Turkmenistan United States of America Vatican City More information on the “Green List” can be found on www.visitabudhabi.com. DCT Abu Dhabi will also continue to issue updates on the list and overall travel status in the coming months.

The State of Qatar has re-opened its borders to international travellers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with vaccines that are approved for use by the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar. A new streamlined set of measures designed to make travelling to Qatar as easy as possible, while maintaining the necessary precautions to continue to protect against the spread of COVID-19, has been implemented and is effective immediately. The new measures will allow people who are fully vaccinated to visit Qatar without the need for quarantine. The new arrangements will also make it easier for citizens and residents of Qatar to travel in and out of the country, enabling fully vaccinated people to bypass the quarantine requirement when returning to Qatar. All visitors – vaccinated or non-vaccinated – will be required to undertake a PCR test up to 72 hours prior to travel. However, travellers are advised to check the entry requirements of the country they are travelling from and will return to from Qatar, before booking any flights and should understand that those policies can change with very little notice. In order to visit Qatar – international visitors, citizens and residents – must register and upload required documentation such as a vaccination certificate, valid PCR test up to 72 hours prior to travel, and personal details through the ‘Ehteraz’ website (www.ehteraz.gov.qa). Travellers have to apply for the authorization through the ‘Ehteraz’ website (free of charge), at least 12 hours before their planned departure to Qatar. All in-bound travellers are advised to submit their application as soon as they have all their required documentation, to ensure they can board their flights as planned. Airlines are advised to only …

Finland’s new entry model opens up Finland for leisure travellers: travellers from EU and Schengen countries can enter Finland freely as of 12 July without any additional health safety measures when they are fully vaccinated, or have had a covid-19 infection before, or are born in 2006 or later, or arrive from a country with low virus incidence. Those with one vaccination only are instructed to take a covid-19 test earliest 72 hours after arrival to Finland, and those without any vaccinations are required in addition to have a negative test result before departure to Finland or a test on arrival. In line with this new model, Finnair will as of 12 July discontinue its requirement for customers to present covid certificates before boarding flights to Finland. “With the new legislation, the requirements for entry are checked on arrival, so our customers do not need to show their certificates to Finnair customer service agent at the check-in when their destination is Finland”, says Jaakko Schildt, Finnair Chief Operating Officer. “We continue to check the documents for those transiting to an international flight at Helsinki, per authority requirements.” “The health and safety of our customers is a key priority for us, and we continue to have comprehensive measures in place on our flights to ensure safe travel. These include, among others, the obligation to wear a mask for the duration of the flight”, Schildt says. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare recommended earlier this year that all airlines with flights to Finland require their customers to show either a negative test result, a certificate of recovery, or a vaccination certificate, and Finnair has been the only airline flying to Finland …

YouGov’s new report throws light on the travel plans, considerations, and motivations of consumers from 25 markets globally. Data from YouGov’s “International Travel & Tourism Report 2021” reveals that UAE residents were the most likely among other global consumers to say they intend to travel abroad for leisure in the next 12 months. Using YouGov Global Travel Profiles, the report looks at global travel demand, concerns and motivations of approximately 185,000 survey respondents from 25 markets globally. Data from Global Travel Profiles, a daily survey which runs in 25 countries, found that in the month of May half of people worldwide said they plan to take a domestic holiday in the next 12 months. On the other hand, appetite for international holidays is lower and less than a fifth of consumers (18%) globally are planning an international vacation in the next 12 months. The United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stand out in terms of international travel sentiment, with respondents planning to travel substantially more than consumers in other countries. In fact, in both these countries intent to take international leisure trips is higher than domestic trips. Apart from travelling for leisure, people in the Middle Eastern countries have also shown a higher interest in business trips. Consumer sentiment data shows that respondents in the MEA (18%) and APAC (14%) regions are more likely to travel for business, both domestically and internationally, than consumers in Europe (6%) and North America (11%). This makes them a favourable target market for airlines and hotels, particularly those offering premium products. Even though travel is on a recovery path, certain factors put additional pressure on consumer’s confidence and willingness to travel. When …