Effective August 1, all travellers flying Etihad Airways from around the world to Abu Dhabi, and those transferring via Abu Dhabi onto other flights, will be required to show a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from a list of approved testing facilities listed on their website, alongside their ICA approval if Abu Dhabi is their end destination. The PCR test must be carried out within 96 hours prior to arrival in Abu Dhabi and a negative COVID-19 PCR test result certificate from one of the approved clinics listed must be shown for approval to board. Children under the age of 12 and people with mild to severe disabilities are currently exempt from this PCR test requirement. Travellers leaving the UAE from Abu Dhabi to any country in the European Union, the United Kingdom, or to any country where it is mandatory by the authorities at the destination, a negative COVID-19 PCR test result will be required within 96 hours prior to departure. To help facilitate this process, Etihad Airways is collaborating with Mediclinic Middle East to offer departing travellers the option of convenient PRC testing, for a fee, at their home, or at Mediclinic facilities in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Dubai prior to their travel. The gradual return to more international flying to, from, and via Abu Dhabi is being greatly supported by the Etihad Wellness sanitisation and safety programme, which ensures the highest standards of hygiene are maintained at every stage of the customer journey. This includes specially trained Wellness Ambassadors, a first in the industry, who have been introduced by the airline to provide essential travel health information and care on the ground and on every flight, …

The latest ITB China Travel Trends Report, conducted by ITB China, the largest B2B exclusive travel trade show in China, examines the impact on the planned travel behaviour of the Chinese in the coming recovery phase. The 2020 China Market Recovery Special Edition is based on a survey among 200 Chinese outbound travel agencies and travel companies, including interviews with several industry experts. The report is a yearly publication, updating global travel suppliers and Chinese buyers with the latest needs of the Chinese travel market, in order to get best prepared to restart travel business in China. Asked about the recovery of the Chinese outbound travel market, 43 percent of those surveyed expect that outbound travel will recover within the next nine to twelve months. 33 percent think it might take six to nine months, whereas 20 percent believe it will take three to six months, and only four percent expect to see a recovery within the next three months. “China was hit first and should therefore be one of the first countries to recover, which would prove to be positive for European-Chinese tourism cooperation. By the time Europe can go back to normal, China might be ready for long haul travel again.” said Eduardo Santander, Executive Director of the European Tourism Commission, in an interview with ITB China. James Liang, Chairman, Trip.com Group said, “Different measures taken by different countries and territories will hinder international travels, which will impose certain pressure on short-term upward tendency. However, in the long run, the industry is extremely resilient and any irreversible change is highly unlikely.”

Dubai Business Events (DBE) has signed eight Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with entities across the public and private sector, formalising and reinforcing collaborations that are set to attract more conferences, congresses and meetings to Dubai and ensure that, while business events globally may have been impacted by Covid-19, in the longer term they will continue to be strong drivers of tourism and economic development for the city, as well as critical pillars for knowledge and scientific advancements. Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said, “A core part of our success as a destination in recent years has been the steady growth in business events, and these MoUs between DBE and entities across Dubai underline our commitment to bidding for and winning events from a wide range of sectors and industries.” Professor Zaid Hani Baqain, Deputy Vice Chancellor for International Relations at MBRU and Dean and Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Hamdan bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine said, “At MBRU our mission is to advance health in the UAE and the region through an innovative and integrated academic health system, that’s nationally responsive and globally connected. Together with DTCM we will push Dubai to new frontiers when it comes to scientific congresses.” Rayed Alarashi, AAPP Board Director, said, “This is especially significant as collaborations with international professional bodies to co-host activities in the UAE will be our focus in the coming years.” Waleed Refaay, AAPP Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, added: “As a young association it is vital to continue with strategic partnerships with such great organisations, and this will help AAPP to grow and continue its mission of connecting …

In preparation for this year’s Hajj, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) has completed the maintenance of about 491 km of roads leading to Makkah and has assigned buses for each pilgrim group with full precautionary measures.These steps follow the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince with the support and supervision of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Al Mukaramah Province, and the follow-up of Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport, to serve the visitors of the Holy House of Allah. Periodic and preventive maintenance was carried out on several major roads leading to Makkah Al Mukaramah, which included Al Madinah Highway, Jeddah Highway, Old Jeddah Road, Al Sail Road, Al Hada Road, AlLayth Road. Maintenance work included lighting, bridge expansion, fence repair, scraping and asphalting, as well upkeep of directional signs, road signs, road sign holders, paints, cat eyes, construction of concrete and metal barriers, and fence wires. Wadi Ash Shu’bah ferry also started its operation. Al-Jasser confirmed the readiness of all facilities and installations for Hajj. He sought the importance of cooperation of the entire transport users to comply with the necessary preventative measures against COVID-19. The number of passengers must not exceed 50% of the total accommodation capacity of the bus. Passengers must adhere to physical distancing inside the bus by following the recommended policy. A seat must be left vacant between two passengers. However, families can sit together. No one is allowed to stand inside the bus. All passengers must wear facemasks.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has partnered with the National Crisis & Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) and Ras Al Khaimah Preventive Medicine Department (PMD), in its ongoing programme to provide hospitality sector employees in the Emirate with free COVID-19 PCR testing. This partnership complements the Authority’s existing efforts in implementing the highest safety and precautionary measures as restrictions on domestic and international tourism are eased, and inbound visitation to Ras Al Khaimah continues to rise. Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority comments, “Our industry has been resilient in the face of challenging times, and we have unveiled a series of strategies, from the Tourism Support Initiatives to earning recognition as the first safe city worldwide and the first safe Emirate to be certified by Bureau Veritas and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), respectively. These measures ensure that our sector partners can continue to operate successfully as we enter the ‘new normal’. Ongoing testing for hospitality staff is an important step in our efforts to reaffirm to our visitors that the Emirate has taken and continues to take extensive measures to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of guests and residents.” Mahra Mohammad Bin Sray, Logistics Support and Field Examination Officer at Ras Al Khaimah Medical District said, “Conducting regular COVID-19 tests is a mandatory procedure to flatten the curve and control the number of cases nation-wide. With visitors returning to Ras Al Khaimah, we must ensure that all individuals working in the hospitality sectors are regularly tested and abide by the necessary precautionary measures. Being able to conduct these tests wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development …

Radisson Hotel Group announced the acceleration of its expansion across the UAE with the signing of Radisson Hotel Fujairah. It is the group’s second hotel in the emirate, bringing its UAE portfolio to 24 hotels in operation and under development. Nestled between the Hajar Mountains and the Indian Ocean, Fujairah is situated on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates and overlooks the Gulf of Oman and the ocean. This picturesque town is the ideal well-rounded holiday destination with an abundance of natural beauty and countless activities. Fujairah has become a popular destination for both foreign and local travellers and is continually enhancing its tourism and infrastructure developments to cater to their needs. Boasting sea views, the hotel is located in Fujairah city centre, just 10 minutes from Fujairah International airport, making it an ideal location for both business and leisure travellers. Just one hour away is Dubai International Airport, allowing for convenient international travel Elie Milky, Vice President Development Middle East, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “We are extremely proud to further establish Radisson in the United Arab Emirates and particularly in the city of Fujairah with another prominent partner. We’re continuing to strengthen our position as the leading international hotel group in the region as we increase the contribution of tourism to the country’s economy. We thank our partners for their trust and look forward to an exciting and rewarding journey together.” Century Mall LLC said, “We are delighted to partner with Radisson Hotel Group on this project and look forward to successfully introducing the Scandinavian-inspired Radisson brand to the city of Fujairah.”

Emirates airline announced that it will resume passenger services to Seychelles from 01 August, coinciding with the country’s re-opening to international tourists. Operating flights to Seychelles five times a week with a Boeing 777-300ER, Emirates offers travellers convenient access to this popular Indian Ocean holiday destination. In addition, Emirates will increase its services to the Maldives from the current five a week, to six times a week from 04 August to meet customer demand. For travellers in the UAE, Emirates Holidays offers great holiday packages with a selection of choice resorts in the Seychelles and the Maldives. Emirates Holidays has also relaxed its booking policy to offer customers a chance to book a holiday package in advance with only a deposit of AED 199, as well as introduced video appointments, enabling customers to plan ahead and enjoy a stress-free and personalised booking process from the comfort of their own home. With the gradual re-opening of borders over the summer, Emirates has revised its booking policies to offer customers more flexibility and confidence to plan their travel. Customers whose travel plans are disrupted by COVID-19 related flight or travel restrictions, can simply hold on to their ticket which will be valid for 24 months and rebook to fly at a later time; request travel vouchers to offset against future Emirates purchases, or request refunds via an online form on Emirates’ website or via their travel booking agent.Emirates currently serves over 60 destinations in its network, facilitating travel between the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific through a convenient connection in Dubai for customers across the world.

Malta has now re-opened its borders for visitors of selected countries. Malta International Airport officially re-opened for commercial flights in the beginning of July to a select list of countries that are considered safe, which states that passengers coming from those countries can enter Malta without quarantine or any special permits. The list of safe-corridor countries was further extended on July 15, and the UAE has been included in the list alongside other safe countries like Japan, Netherlands, Germany, and South Korea, as well as other MENA countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. With the annulment of travel restrictions, Malta is back as a prime destination for Middle Eastern tourists with its fair weather, crystalline beaches, and Mediterranean flair. Families of the region can escape the summer heat and the post-lockdown anxiety to enjoy sightseeing in one of Europe’s most intriguing islands. The Maltese islands are home to beautiful beaches, diverse archaeological sites, world-famous diving spots, one-of-a-kind natural phenomena, delicious food, and much more. Additionally, several events are scheduled throughout the coming months for visiting enthusiasts like, the Mdina Grand Prix for classic cars, the Rolex Middle Sea Race organised by Royal Malta Yacht Club, and XTERRA Gozo Trail Run. At long last, the Maltese Islands are again ready to welcome their beloved visitors. With all the bottled-up stress from the recent months, there is no better place to unwind this summer.

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has launched the ‘Sharjah Safe for Tourism’ stamp, a mark of assurance given to all establishments in Sharjah which fully adhere to the public health protocols and guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. The stamp follows the measures set out by the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, the world’s first global safety and hygiene stamp for travel and tourism. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “Our main priority is the health and safety of residents and visitors alike, which led to the development of the ‘Safety Assured’ stamp, employing the protocols set by the World Travel and Tourism Council under their ‘Safe Travels’ stamp program to assure tourists of a secure and relaxing experience at every stage of their journey and stay in Sharjah.” Al Midfa added, “We have outlined the precautionary measures for all hotels to ensure their guests can enjoy the establishment’s facilities with full confidence. SCTDA continuously monitors premises to ensure compliance with precautionary measures to make sure they are fully prepared to receive guests with the highest standards of hygiene and safety.” H.E. Abdulla Ali Al Mahyan, Chairman of the Sharjah Health Authority (SHA), said, “Sharjah has always remained keen on applying the latest in international standards and best practices, particularly in the field of health and safety to ensure that the emirate’s citizens, residents and visitors are well protected. In line with this, the Sharjah Health Authority is working in close partnership with the SCTDA to implement the required preventive measures ensuring public health and health security. We are confident that the ‘Sharjah Safe for Tourism’ stamp will serve as …

Rixos Hotels Egypt announced its highly-anticipated reopening, bringing in an exciting new chapter in the Rixos Hotels property after receiving the ‘safety certification’ from the Egypt Tourism Ministry. Rixos Premium Seagate and Rixos El Alamein will be opening its doors to the public on 1st of July, and RixosSharm El Sheikh is set to re-open on August 1. With the ongoing pandemic, Rixos Egypt made sure to meet the general regulations for hotels and tourism by the local tourism ministry in accordance with the World Health Organization’s standards to ensure the safety of both its staff and lodgers. Guests can rest assured that the three leading Rixos Hotels in Egypt complies with the highest standard of cleanliness and sanitation in line with the COVID-19 safety precautions. With precise cleaning and sterilisation implementation, vacationers will be ecstatic to experience soaking under the sun with related precautions at the hotel’s pool and aquapark pools. Sunbeds will also be available for guests to use with safety precautions. Guests gets to enjoy the scrumptious treat by the hotel’s main restaurants which will serve as open buffet but with proper food handling. Food choices of guests will be served by the chef themselves. Erkan Yildirim, General Manager of Rixos Egypt said, “Our guests are our top priority, and it is our goal to keep each one of them safe by bringing in a new prevention and safety initiative that focuses on what people value the most – a worry-free- luxury experience throughout their stay with us at Rixos. Even in the midst of adapting to the ‘new normal’, Rixos Hotel will never stop in providing guests the luxurious and first-class quality service they deserve during …