Tag Archives: GCC travellers

The first in a series of two webinars was successfully concluded yesterday with many trade partners participating in a virtual adventure to Ireland. Four speakers comprising Siobhán Naughton, Marketing & Trade Executive Middle East & Asia Tourism Ireland, Gillian Costelloe, Business Development Manager & Creative Planner, Emerald VIP Services, Deirdre Purcell, Cluster Sales Director North America and Entertainment Markets, MHL Hotels, David Wardell, Tourism Development Manager, Irish National Stud and Gardens and Alison Johnston, Kildare Village presented some of the most interesting areas in Ireland to be visited by the GCC travellers. Naughton started off the session by introducing the destination, the key areas and activities much loved by the GCC travellers. She stated that since 2018, UAE nationals were given the opportunity to travel visa free to Ireland and at the same time the short stay visa waiver scheme allows GCC visitors who enter UK on the general C visit visa to also visit Ireland without an Irish visa and it is valid for a period of 90 days. Some of the key areas GCC visitors take an interest is luxury experience, city breaks, coastal touring routes, golf experience and screen tourism. At this point she mentioned how 80% of Game of thrones were filmed in Ireland as well some scenes from Star Wars. Costelloe shared the many services offered by Emerald VIP Services where one can tailor make their individual experiences, as they focus on bespoke services. She mentioned the strong leadership behind the organisation and how the traveller will be able to gain maximum advantage with its specialised unique experiences. She went on to mention the many luxury experiences and the exclusive properties that can be rented …

Heritance Aarah Maldives has re-opened to GCC travellers this month. With the ease of travel restrictions and increasing number of flights from the GCC, Maldives has now become one of the top destinations for a relaxing break where guests can unwind in absolute privacy. Heritance Aarah Maldives is located on the beautiful private island of RaaAtoli just 45-minutes by seaplane from the International Airport in Malé. This exclusive 5-star resort offers the perfect blend of Maldivian culture combined with modern comfort while being surrounded by the island’s pristine white sand. The resort features 26 Intimate Luxury Duplex Ocean Suites, 56 Ocean Villas and 68 Land Villas, ranging from Beach Villas to Pool Beach Villas as well as Family Beach Villas and Family Pool Beach Villas. Heritance Aarah Maldives is known for its all-inclusive premium packages which includes a stay in one of the suites or villas, full board with a choice of five restaurants, spa treatment, island excursions and premium beverages. The island boasts one of the largest collection of beverages in the Maldives and offers a stocked up mini bar based on guest preferences on arrival on the island. Travellers looking for a relaxed and calm vacation can pamper themselves at the Medi Spa, the first of its kind in the Maldives to offer holistic treatments to rejuvenate, soothe and uplift the mind and senses. Medi Spa offers treatments focused on wellness, weight loss and beauty in their stunning overwater therapy rooms. Heritance Aarah also boasts an extraordinary culinary experience with venues that are unrivalled throughout the Maldives including six restaurants, five bars and an Infinity Pool. The destination also offers an extended array of motorised and non-motorised water …

According to a recent Pricewaterhouse Cooper report, global megatrends and their impact on the Middle East’s travel and tourism industry, highlight that travellers in the GCC now do the majority of their holiday research and booking on smartphones and tablets. Smartphone usage for the GCC markets is among the highest in the world, 78 per cent in the UAE and 77 per cent in Saudi Arabia. Due to the ubiquity of high-speed mobile internet, travellers can easily access mobile applications to book flights and hotels online, and compare online reviews. Wego, a leading travel search website for GCC travellers living in the Middle East, was the first to enter the MENA region by launching fully localised services to meet the needs of a new generation of travellers wanting to shop for and book flights and hotels on their smartphones. “The response from GCC countries to Wego’s fully Arabised websites and mobile apps has been overwhelming,” said Mamoun Hmedan, Wego Managing Director of MENA and India. “Wego has grown rapidly to become the most popular and trusted travel search service in the region with over 10 million monthly visits.”