Tag Archives: tourism

Wego has teamed up with Moroccan National Tourist Office. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial officer and Managing Director, MENA and India, Wego said: “We are excited to embark our partnership with Moroccan National Tourist Office. This partnership is set to inspire and captivate travelers worldwide, igniting a sense of wanderlust. We recorded over 39% increase in the number of searches to the country in 2023 in comparison to the same period last year, with over 2 million searches so far. We are looking forward to forging a long-lasting relationship with the board.” Morocco offers a diverse range of experiences for all types of travelers during the summer. For history and culture enthusiasts, exploring the ancient medinas of cities like Marrakech and Fes is a must. Immerse yourself in the bustling souks, admire stunning architectural masterpieces like the Koutoubia Mosque, and visit historical sites such as the iconic Jardin Majorelle. Nature lovers can embark on an adventure to the Sahara Desert, where they can experience the magic of camel trekking, spend a night under the starry desert sky, and witness mesmerizing sunsets over the golden dunes. Beachgoers can head to coastal towns like Essaouira or Agadir, where they can relax on pristine sandy beaches, try water sports like surfing, or savor delicious seafood. Food enthusiasts can indulge in the aromatic flavors of Moroccan cuisine, sampling tagines, couscous, and traditional mint tea in local restaurants or joining cooking classes to learn the secrets of Moroccan culinary delights. With its vibrant markets, captivating landscapes, rich heritage, and warm hospitality, Morocco offers an unforgettable summer experience for travelers of all interests.  

Juan Gomez, Head of Market Intelligence at ForwardKeys says: ” Overall, confirmed tickets for international arrivals in the Middle East during the second half of 2023 are up by 12% vs the same moment last year.  Oman (+31%), the UAE (+29%) and Saudi Arabia (+15%) are leading the way with double-digit growths. In 2023, the Middle East’s impressive tourism performance continues, with a projected increase in international arrivals compared to the previous year in the remaining six months. Most destinations are on track to match or exceed their 2022 numbers, a testament to the relentless efforts of local authorities in transforming the region into a global tourism powerhouse.” He adds: “While destinations like Qatar may not reach the exceptional volumes of 2022 due to the FIFA World Cup’s influence, neighbouring countries continue to bask in the afterglow of last year’s sporting spectacle. Countries such as Jordan and Egypt show forward booking levels lower than the previous year, but this situation remains dynamic, and an upward trend could materialize as the year progresses.” However, destinations like Qatar (-30%) may not reach the exceptional volumes of 2022 due to the FIFA World Cup’s influence. Countries such as Jordan (+7%) and Egypt (-4%) show forward booking levels around 2022 levels, but this situation remains dynamic, and an upward trend could materialize as the year progresses.

Destination Management Company (DMC), Safarak Travel & Tourism, which means ‘your travel’ in Arabic, is proud to announce its global expansion with on-the-ground presence in both India and Poland. With dedicated teams of experienced MICE and travel and tourism industry experts in both countries, the DMC will actively promote the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah as one of the most sought-after destinations in the Middle East. As a proud member of RAK Hospitality Holding, a Ras Al Khaimah Government company that manages a diverse portfolio of hotels, hospitality, and leisure assets in the Emirate, Safarak has set an ambitious goal of making Ras Al Khaimah the preferred destination for MICE and holidaymakers from both countries. With an increase in the number of arrivals from Indian and Poland, Safarak looks to support the growth from both these markets, both of which sit within RAK’s top 10 destinations for inbound travel. Indian and Polish travellers will be spoilt for choice when visiting the Emirate considering that Safarak offers exclusive experiences that can elevate an ordinary trip into an extraordinary journey. From exhilarating desert safaris and thrilling mountain experiences on Jebel Jais including the World’s Longest Zipline, Jais Flight, to a wide range of luxury hotels and beach resorts, captivating city tours, cultural explorations, visits to the renowned RAK Pearl Farm, and a diverse range of delightful dining experiences to suit every palate. Commenting on the international expansion, Cathy Mead, General Manager of Safarak Travel & Tourism said: “We are thrilled to officially announce that Safarak now has offices in India and Poland – two extremely important markets for us for inbound travel. We are committed to providing our clients with best-in-class hospitality …

The UNWTO Women in Tech Startup Competition: Middle East, calls for women entrepreneurs from all over the world and based in the Arab region willing to grow their tech startup in the tourism industry, and provide sustainable solutions to the sector. Startups must be led, owned or managed by women in the Middle East, residing in any of the following countries: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Be an Idea Stage, Early Stage or Series A startups with a minimum viable product or idea that is ready to be developed and funded. Have a full-time team, a tested pilot and business plan. Be scalable with potential for international growth. According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), women make up most of the tourist workforce in major parts of the world. UNWTO is always committed to gender equality, as mandated in Sustainable Development Goal 5, referring to women empowerment by supporting women’s rights and improving their participation in the business realm. UNWTO’s global report on tourism found that more than 54% of people employed in the tourism are women, while in the Arab world, women represent 8% of the regional tourist workforce. UNWTO is continuously seizing opportunities to highlight the role of women in the tourism sector, and particularly Arab women. Technology has become a driven tool for all travelers and tourism businesses. In the Arab region, 34% of tech focused startups were founded by women, and 57% of science technology, engineering, and math (STEM) graduates are women. UNWTO is committed to support Arab entrepreneurs, boosting their tourism business careers. Hence, the industry is always searching for businesswomen with …

As part of an ongoing effort to deepen ties between China and Arab partners, Riyadh and Beijing are stepping up efforts to improve air connectivity between these fast-developing economies. At the recently held Arab-China Business Conference in Riyadh, attendees from China and the Arab world explored new avenues for collaboration to unlock the potential of shared business between these exciting markets, particularly also in air connectivity. Celebrating its 10th year, the conference brought together leading government officials, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and investors. Establishing stronger air links to foster tourism growth and unlock new opportunities was a hot-button topic at the event, with ACP’s booth forming part of the Ministry of Tourism’s efforts to draw attraction to the high-potential travel and tourism industries in the Kingdom. “In line with Vision 2030 and the ambitions of the National Tourism Strategy, ACP is bridging the stakeholder ecosystem to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading global tourism destination. Chinese visitors will, indeed, play a key role in achieving this ambition,” said Ali Rajab CEO of ACP. He added, “By ensuring that our customer service and operational readiness meet the high standards that Chinese visitors expect, ACP is creating a seamless travel experience between China and the Kingdom. For these travelers, like all others to Saudi Arabia, we prioritize cultural understanding and the highest levels of quality assurance.” Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism leaders, including stakeholders such as ACP, are actively working to turn the Kingdom into a sought-after air connectivity destination. In the past year, the Kingdom saw 23 new routes connected to Saudi Arabia from three continents, resulting in an expansion of seat capacity by 700,000. Likewise, several partnerships have been established with government …

MeetChina, the business forum for travel buyers from China and tourism suppliers from the MENA region, returns to Yas Island Abu Dhabi for the first time since the pandemic. Taking place at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, the event will kick off on September 4, 2023, with two days of intensive meetings aimed at reestablishing tourism ties between China and the region. MeetChina is owned and operated by NPI Media, with the support of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT – Abu Dhabi) along with Yas Island as the Destination Partner. Now in its 10th year, the 2023 edition will welcome up to 100 top senior-level Chinese travel buyers. Playing an integral role in the resurgence of China’s outbound travel market, MeetChina guarantees tourism stakeholders from across the UAE an opportunity to secure business from China through pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings and networking sessions over the course of two days. Event registration is open to government tourism organisations, hotels, destination management companies (DMCs), attractions, excursion providers, shopping malls and luxury retail brands. In 2019, outbound travel from China contributed over US$253 billion to the global economy – the highest of any country. Chinese tourists took more than 150 million trips during the year, making them outsized contributors to the international travel market. Earlier this year, the country eased all restrictions, allowing outbound travel activity to resume. According to the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI), Chinese travellers are projected to take around 110 million international trips in 2023, which is two-thirds of the 2019 level, while 2024 will see the country’s outbound travel figures touch the 155 million mark. During the past decade, China consistently ranked among …

Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, explained about the expansion to new markets such as Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates at the Thailand Product Update for buyers and media attending the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2023. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) underlined quality, and experience-based tourism among key elements of Thai tourism products and services as part of its strategic move to transform Thailand’s tourism towards high-value and sustainable tourism.  He further reiterated, “TAT is illustrating Thailand as offering meaningful-driven travel to improve visitors’ experience. Encompassing discovery, transformation, fulfilment, and engagement between people, cultures, and nature, this underscores TAT’s direction to making a destination for protecting the country’s vast natural and scenic beauty and instigating a range of environmental initiatives.” Key elements of tourism products and services that reflect TAT’s overall strategies have included luxury tourism experiences, wellness tourism, and tourism towards sustainability. Highlights for luxury tourism experiences include Live the Bangkok Life and Relaxing Phangnga plus Youthfully Phuket, while for wellness tourism, Thailand’s wellness possibilities include family-friendly wellness breaks in Chiang Mai; and immunity booster vacations in Ko Samui, Surat Thani. Thailand’s tourism towards sustainability comprises a wide range of destinations and activities that deliver sustainability experiences, including exploring local community by bike at Bang Krachao, Samut Prakan; adventurer travel in Umphang, Tak; slow life at low- carbon destination on Ko Mak in Trat; and exploring the Little Amazon and surfing at the Memories beach in Takua Pa, Phangnga. TAT is also developing a national drive that encompasses the entire Thai tourism industry with the development of the …

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has unveiled a new initiative for tourism education, which intends to collaborate with universities and higher education institutions throughout the Kingdom to offer distinctive and enriching educational programs. These programs are specially designed to align tourism and hospitality education with the market requirements, and to equip aspiring professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to secure lucrative employment opportunities in this sector. At a special event held in Riyadh, Her Highness Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al Saud, Vice Minister of Tourism, launched this initiative on behalf of His Excellency the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ahmed Al Khateeb. The ceremony was attended by several key partners from government entities and the education sector, who discussed the programs’ primary objectives and implementation strategies. Additionally, the event witnessed the signing of four memorandums of cooperation with MoE, MHRSD, ETEC, and KFUPM. During this occasion, Her Highness stated, “We are delighted to collaborate with the top educational institutions in the Kingdom to introduce the tourism education initiative in order to raise awareness and attractiveness of opportunities in the tourism sector for Saudi citizens and education sector leaders. This initiative is in line with MT’s strategy to meet the needs resulting from the sector’s rapid growth. The launch of these programs will also guarantee that suitable talents are accessible to support the Kingdom’s march towards fulfilling NTS and Vision 2030 objectives, by empowering the next generation of Saudi talents.” Students will have the opportunity to enroll in specialized programs as part of the educational program. These programs include the “Travel and Tourism Diploma” offered by the University of Tabuk in partnership with the renowned Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the “Diploma in …

The 13th edition of the Riyadh Travel Fair with TravTalkME  as media partners concluded in the Saudi capital of Riyadh yesterday. It is a significant annual event where the leading travel and tourism companies in Saudi Arabia with GCC And Other International Companies / Countries gather with exhibitors representing tourist promotion authorities and tourist companies at the Arab and International levels. This year Kazakhstan, South Africa, The Royal Commission of Al Ula and many other key partners held special B2B sessions to present their destinations to the travel trade. This year’s event attracted over 200 exhibitors from 30 countries. Another significance this year was the many interactive sessions in most pavilions which provided exciting give aways and prizes. Amala Tourism had their stand adorned with some beautiful birds and other species which attracted many visitors. Speaking with TravelTVNews, Nawaf Khalid, General Manager Amala Tourism shared that in keeping with the Saudi Vision 2030, they will be opening a special family destination 200km from Riyadh, with an animal sanctuary, 186 key resort, man made lake and many other exciting activities for both domestic and international visitors. He further reiterated that within the next two years, the project will be completed and travellers will be able to enjoy the destination.

Al Rostamani Travel and Holidays and the Saudi Tourism Authority are excited to announce a new strategic partnership. This cooperative endeavour focuses on promoting tourism in Saudi Arabia to UAE residents. Under this agreement, Al Rostamani Travel and the Saudi Tourism Authority will work together to showcase the natural wonders, cultural heritage, and unmatched hospitality of Saudi Arabia to travelers from the UAE. The goal is to create unparalleled travel experiences, fostering deeper connections and understanding between the two nations. The partnership aims to offer UAE travelers the chance to immerse themselves in Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes, including the awe-inspiring rock formations of Al Ula, the bustling streets of Riyadh, the tranquil Red Sea coast, and the breathtaking archaeological marvels of Madain Saleh. Al Rostamani Travel and the Saudi Tourism Authority are committed to providing seamless travel experiences that exceed expectations with tailor-made itineraries, curated tours, and exceptional customer service. Bimal Jain, General Manager of Al Rostamani Travel and Holidays, and Khalid Khan, GCC Trade Director for the Saudi Tourism Authority, officially signed the agreement at the Arabian Travel Market event. Expressing gratitude for the trust placed in Al Rostamani Travel, the organization acknowledges the significance of this partnership in supporting Saudi Arabia’s vision to establish itself as a leading global tourism destination. By leveraging their expertise and resources, both entities will work towards raising awareness about the incredible tourism offerings of Saudi Arabia and inviting UAE travelers to embark on unforgettable journeys. As this collaboration unfolds, the public can look forward to more exciting updates and initiatives to showcase the wonders of Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry. Al Rostamani Travel and the Saudi Tourism Authority are determined to create memorable …