Category Archives: Technology

These may be uncertain times for the travel industry, but that hasn’t deterred PIA from making Amadeus its mainstay long-term partner in travel distribution. Middle East: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has reached a landmark agreement in distribution with Amadeus, giving PIA full access to Amadeus’ global travel seller network. Through this new agreement, Amadeus-connected agencies will now be able to book PIA’s full suite of domestic and international inventory through the Amadeus Travel Platform. Given the unprecedented challenge that the travel industry is facing, never before has distribution strategy and reach been more important for an airline. “We’ve undertaken a significant transformation programme at PIA, and now we’ve found the right distribution partner with global reach to drive our future growth. This deal brings us international presence in markets we didn’t have to date, ensuring that more travel agencies across the globe can book and sell our offer,” says Abdullah H. Khan, General Manager, Public Affairs Division, PIA. Speaking on the occasion, Arshad Malik, Chief Executive Officer, PIA, says, “Especially in the current environment, when there is so much uncertainty, a strong partner like Amadeus gives us the technology and distribution capabilities we need to reach our expansion targets. We have made substantial investments to restructure our business the past year, laying the ground to capitalise on our growth potential in both domestic and international markets, and we’re excited about what our partnership with Amadeus will bring.”

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) hosted the first digital ATM Advisory Board meeting with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism and hospitality industry dominating the discussion. The Board will continue to provide guidance on industry themes, challenges, growth opportunities and future strategies in the Middle East travel and tourism sector, however, this will now be set against a backdrop of COVID-19 and how the industry can adapt to the ‘new norm’. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said, “The Advisory Board is a cross section of industry leaders who provide an insight based on firsthand experience of the trends impacting the tourism industry. Their knowledge ensures ATM continues to act as a voice for the industry by providing support and direction during these difficult times. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the travel and tourism industry, like many others, to a halt, with very little indication of when the recovery will begin. It is therefore imperative we continue to listen and understand where we are as an industry, what the future could potentially look like and what we can do to work together to aid the recovery when it comes. ATM continues to play a crucial role in supporting the industry to achieve this.” The meeting addressed the impact of COVID-19 will have on the international trade show arena through discussions focused on the key learnings from businesses during the pandemic and the resulting changes to the industry. It also provided an insight into the ‘new normal’ for the tourism industry, and the approach to dealing with new social distancing measures, reliance on domestic tourism and the impact of airline restrictions.

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) announced the launch of ATM Virtual, a three-day event that will take place from June 1-3, 2020. The event, which underscores ATM’s commitment to delivering positive business and networking opportunities to the region’s vast travel and tourism community, will focus on emerging trends, opportunities, and the challenges which are directly impacting the tourism industry amid the COVID-19 global health pandemic. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said, “Our debut virtual event provides us with the opportunity to work closely with the ATM community and ensure we can support the travel and tourism industry in rebounding as quickly and efficiently as possible. We will address the impact the global health pandemic has had on the travel and tourism industry and discuss a road map to recovery, identifying the trends shaping the future of the industry and the ‘new normal’ that lies ahead.” ATM Virtual, which will take place over three days, will feature comprehensive webinars, live conference sessions, roundtables, speed networking events, one-to-one meetings, as well as facilitating new connections and offering a wide range of online business opportunities. “For exhibitors from this region, the dedicated networking event will also have one Middle East-focused session per day, as well as sessions for buyers, focused on purchasing European and Asian products, plus a session specifically targeting Chinese buyers,” added Curtis.

Abu Dhabi Airports has partnered with Tawazun Strategic Development Fund (TSDF) to launch the new CoDi BOT UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle), designed and manufactured by Marakeb Technologies, for the disinfection of viruses including COVID-19. The introduction of new state-of-the-art technology is the latest measure introduced by Abu Dhabi Airports to contain the spread of COVID-19, and aligns with the directives of H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports. This collaboration is part of a broader initiative by Abu Dhabi Airports to integrate the most advanced technologies within its operations, to achieve a high level of efficiency, and provide the best services to its travellers. The CoDi BOT UGV will be piloted from May throughout Abu Dhabi International Airport, including in staff areas and cargo facilities, as well as being used as part of cabin deserialisation processes on passenger aircraft. Specifically ensuring aircraft cabins are kept clean and sterile, the CoDi BOT UGV is designed to be able to manoeuvre through airplane cabin, which is a unique feature of this product, while ensuring the safety of its operators through remote control capability, using real-time video and high-speed 4G data connection. Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, commented, “The acute impact of the pandemic would have heightened our overall sense of awareness toward hygiene, and as vital piece of public infrastructure, we have a clear responsibility to ensure our spaces remain clear of any virus threat. By deploying artificial intelligence, it adds another layer of protection and builds on our comprehensive response to the COVID-19 outbreak. “We can reassure passengers and our frontline staff that we are taking every precautionary measure to …

As virtual interaction becoming the new norm in this period of COVID-19, you can now experience Dubai as one of the world’s best family destinations through a range of online activities that families can do together from the comfort of their homes that will also keep everyone happy and entertained. LIVE FROM DUBAI- Enjoy the best of Dubai’s local talent across fitness, culinary, dance, theatre, arts, comedy and more, thanks to a curated ‘Live from Dubai’ event series brought right into your living rooms by Dubai Calendar, the city’s go-to entertainment and events guide. Streamed each week from Wednesday to Saturday via the Dubai Calendar Instagram Page, the Live from Dubai’ series offers an innovative family-friendly programme of entertainment, activities and engaging sessions hosted by some of the biggest and brightest stars in the UAE. THRILL RIDES- Who said that you can’t experience the thrill of a rollercoaster simply by staying at home? Check out the list of thrills below and immerse yourself in popular rides from the comfort of your own home! Mad Pursuit at Motiongate, Dubai- Madagascar Mad Pursuit unleashes your wild side, sending you on an electrifying adventure through the circus! This madly fast rollercoaster will definitely make you move it, move it! The Bullet Train at Motiongate, Dubai- The twists and turns in this fast paced ride leave you with an adrenaline rush that you won’t be forgetting anytime soon! Experience the journey from District 12 to The Capitol with a multi-angle video that leaves you on the edge of your seat! Dragon Gliders at Motiongate, Dubai- Toothless and Hiccup are promising the adventure of a lifetime with an invitation through the mysterious Forbidden Island, captivating …

Dubai College of Tourism (DCT) has announced the launch of its new online tour guide training programme, which is designed for individuals looking to become professional certified tour guides. Upon passing the programme, applicants will receive a two-year license and will be able to apply to become professional guides for tour operators or start their own tour company. Designed to make the process of getting a tour guide license as convenient as possible, the programme will teach prospective candidates how to present Dubai and its culture to international visitors, in addition to the skills they need to excel in this position. The course, training and testing is currently available in English, with a Mandarin version being developed and to be launched soon. To enroll for the programme, one has to meet certain requirements, which are listed in the online training platform. Commenting on the programme, Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager of Dubai College of Tourism said, “One of our main goals is to ensure that anyone who visits Dubai has an unforgettable experience and is able to create memories that last a lifetime. Tour guides across the city are critical players in ensuring we achieve this, and by launching our easy-to-access programme we are also laying the groundwork for many more talented emiratis and expatriate residents to join the city’s tourist-facing workforce. With online and distance learning assuming more significance due to the current situation, we have sought to simplify the process of obtaining a Dubai tour guide license through this programme.” Once candidates have fulfilled the preliminary requirements, they need to complete three stages within a maximum of 90 days. This includes the ‘Dubai Way’ section, a 12-hour e-learning …

The 2020 celebration took place on April 22, marks the 50th anniversary of this unified response to environmental concerns, with the theme of Earth Day 2020 being climate action. Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable. As the ninth most visited tourist destination in the world, Thailand welcomes more than 39 million visitors per annum of which over 500,000 come from the MENA region. With this comes a great obligation for responsible tourism that preserves the natural habitat, wildlife and traditions of this beautiful country. For Earth Day 2020, Tourism Authority of Thailand have highlighted the best responsible and sustainable experiences for armchair travellers. From connecting with destinations on 3D live stream to supporting sustainable coffee production, families, couples and friends can contribute to this year’s Earth Day and be transported to the beauty of Amazing Thailand without travelling. Amazing Thailand offers the chance to join 3D virtual tours to 10 charming destinations in nine provinces around Thailand. This includes visits to some of Thailand’s most fascinating natural and historical sites including Wat Si Chum temple in Sukothai to the north, and the mangrove forests of Chanthaburi in the east, where virtual visitors can observe native flora and fauna. As well as uninterrupted views of these stunning landmarks without having to leave your seat, travellers are also contributing to the rest and recovery of these mass tourist sites. SonevaKiri is a luxury Thai resort with a strong focus on sustainability. It has developed its own Soneva Carbon Calculator to monitor the full footprint of its operations including energy consumption, air travel, ground travel, freight, food, paper, waste …

Special interview with Stewart Smith, Commercial Director, MEA for Sojern based on Sojern data collected on April 20, 2020. How fast can Dubai receive inbound tourists after the COVID-19?Time will tell. We aren’t yet seeing enough signs of recovery but consumer travel demand is as unique as each consumer. Post quarantine, people will be looking to get out of the house in a variety of ways, so the priority for travel marketers is to ensure they get their messages in front of them while they’re making decisions. Which countries will start travelling first?Sojern’s data shows that domestic travel will bounce back first. When markets stabilise and we have successfully ‘flattened the curve’ globally, international travel will pick up again. Additionally, we anticipate recovery will fluctuate depending on the impact the coronavirus had in each region. At a global level this will surely apply, APAC may open up first, followed by MEA, EU and then the US and Latin America. Some of APAC has been ahead of the world in their vigilance, so we expect that APAC will be the first region to recover. Already, China’s situation is largely under control and they are able to schedule domestic flights to fly travellers throughout the country. Of course just having planes in the air does not qualify as freedom of movement until countries start reducing travel restrictions. Every country is eager to remove their travel restrictions, but that decision will be entirely influenced by our success in combating the virus.  What impact will it have on both inbound and outbound from UAE?Looking at the composition of travellers searching for trips to the UAE in the last 14 days, the biggest increase year-over-year is from …

ILTM has commissioned a white paper to underpin the true value of luxury travel to small, medium sized and large businesses across the world. The report by Barton Consulting brings clarity to the numbers of people employed – 90 per cent of whom are working within small businesses or individual operations – and the contribution high net worth (HNW) travellers make to every sector. The report is further explained in a podcast entitled ‘Luxury Travel’s true impact on business and employment.’ Alison Gilmore, Portfolio Director, ILTM, says, “The challenge of COVID-19 has brought the realities of our world into sharp focus and none more so than our international inter-connectivity and dependence on the freedom to travel. The travel industry is one of the greatest catalysts for this globally-linked system and is also a far greater mechanism for the dispersal of wealth to local economies than has been recognised until now.” In the podcast, the report’s author, Barton’s Winston Chesterfield, explains how so few can make such a big economic impact by spreading their wealth to benefit local economies, communities, individuals and businesses. He explores how these individuals will be the first to kick start the industry post COVID-19 and why the wealth they control is vital to #keeptheworldmoving. “We wanted to contribute to the luxury travel sector and provide some new insight, facts and figures that we hope will give comfort to those whose livelihood has suffered as a result of the COVID-19 shutdown of this industry. When the time is right, we believe a new future will emerge and ILTM will be here as a catalyst, however long this journey takes,” added Gilmore.

The CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) Amr AlMadani joined fellow hospitality leaders this week to discuss the future of the industry in the Hospitality Tomorrow virtual forum, hosted by Bench Global Events and watched by a global audience of thousands. The talk was co-hosted by Anita Mendiratta, Special Advisor to the Secretary General at the United Nations World Trade Organisation and member of RCU’s Advisory Board, under the title ‘Legacy, Sustaining Growth through Adversity’. Amr AlMadani, CEO, RCU began by highlighting resilience and innovation as key to the industry’s growth, emphasising that travel in the future will be driven by a desire for deeper, transformative experiences founded in a strong sense of community. As an example, AlMadani noted that AlUla had 250,000 years of history, amid an authentic Arabian landscape, with its own community creatively engaged in its tourism industry. Expanding on the theme of growth, AlMadani emphasised that AlUla remained open to investment, and argued that the future growth of the wider industry is dependent on lowering barriers to investment to fuel innovation. In this regard, he noted that RCU was taking an open-minded approach to current challenges but also that RCU was still signing contracts and remained committed to its partners. Amr AlMadani said, “In RCU, we are banking on a strong recovery for the industry, but one that will newly focus on offering people deeper, more experiential and transformative tourism options – rather than simply a photograph. In AlUla, we have 250,000 years of history for visitors to experience a true, unique locality of Arabian and world heritage, supported by creativity and innovation in our community, projects, and our partners.” Anita Mendiratta said, “Legacy  …