UNWTO has opened its first Regional Office for the Middle East, bringing the United Nations specialized agency closer to its Members and advancing on its commitment to guiding the development of tourism in every global region. At a ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili was joined by Her Royal Highness Princess Haifa Al-Saud, Deputy Minister of Tourism for Strategy and Investment, and the Kingdom’s Minister for Tourism, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb to officially open the office. They were also joined by Tourism Ministers from across both Middle East and from every other global region, as well as by leaders from the private sector. The first UNWTO Regional Office will be a centre of conversation, debate and decision-making and bring hope to many people across the region allowing them to enjoy the social and economic benefits only tourism can deliver The new office will serve as a hub for UNWTO to coordinate policy and initiatives across its 13 Member States in the region. This includes a number of tourism projects and products, among them the new “Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO”, launched on the occasion of the opening of the Regional Office. Alongside this, Riyadh will also be home to an expanded UNWTO International Tourism Academy, providing opportunities for people of all backgrounds from across the region, including women and youth. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said, “The first UNWTO Regional Office will be a centre of conversation, debate and decision-making and bring hope to many people across the region allowing them to enjoy the social and economic benefits only tourism can deliver. Work on the office began after the start of the pandemic, proof of our determination …

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will fly two times per week from the UAE capital to one of Greece’s most stunning travel destinations: the island of Santorini. With Greece and the United Arab Emirates having opened a travel corridor earlier in May, vaccinated travellers can visit the alluring Aegean archipelago without needing to quarantine. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will fly to Santorini from 2 July 2021 twice per week, every Monday and Friday. UAE passengers can fly into Greece without needing to quarantine on arrival in the country. They must provide a negative PCR test taken by swab up to 72 hours before the arrival, or hold a certificate of vaccination in English issued by a public authority, children 5 years of age and younger are exempted. The vaccination needs to have been completed at least 14 days before arrival to Greece. The certificate should include the full name of the passenger, the type of vaccine, the number of doses taken and the dates. When returning to Abu Dhabi, UAE residents and citizens who have been vaccinated for at least 28 days, and have received a vaccine report on the Alhosn app, will be able to fly into the UAE from Greece without having to follow quarantine restrictions. Passengers will have to take a PCR test 72 hours before departure, alongside taking another PCR test on arrival into the UAE, and another on the sixth day after arriving. Children 12 years of age and younger are exempted. Kees Van Schaick, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, said: “With its iconic whitewashed villages and charming blue-domed roofs, it’s no surprise that Santorini is an ever-popular destination for travellers the world over. …

IHG Hotels & Resorts, has signed a Management Agreement with Mabany Edris to open Holiday Inn New Assiut Asayla. The hotel was signed at a ceremony in Egypt in presence of Abdel Fattah Al-Assi, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities and Mohamad Anwar, Deputy Head of Urban Communities Authorities. IHG has a strong legacy in Egypt, having opened its first hotel in 1980s, and currently operates over 2000 rooms and have more than 800 rooms in the pipeline, across brands. The announcement follows several high-profile signings this year, across IHG’ luxury and lifestyle, premium, essentials and suites collections, underscoring the company’s progressive expansion plans across the MEA region. Further, the signing strengthens IHG’s mainstream portfolio in MEA, in line with demands across key markets in the region. Commenting on the signing, Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said, “As Egypt continues to appeal to business and leisure travellers, we are committed to accelerating our growth and diversify our offering to cater to the needs of varied guest profiles, and also supporting development of new cities and tourist destinations in the country . We are also very pleased with the strong progress we are making in expanding our presence in the mainstream segment across the MEA region. The region is poised for a new era of travel as it undergoes a historic period of growth and transformation, and we anticipate demand from a wider base of travellers who will look for wide-ranging hospitality options. He added, We are excited about this new venture with our partner Mabany Edris who has a wealth of experience in the property sector locally, and we look forward to welcoming guests to …

flydubai announced the launch of flights to Sharm El Sheikh. The carrier will operate three weekly flights to Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH) from 15 June. The route will become flydubai’s second destination in Egypt alongside Alexandria Borg El Arab International Airport (HBE). The launch of flights to the popular resort city follows the launch of several holiday destinations brings the number of seasonal routes served by flydubai to seven destinations including Bodrum and Trabzon in Turkey, Batumi in Georgia, Mykonos and Santorini in Greece and Tivat in Montenegro. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said, “As more countries gradually lift restrictions on international travel, we are excited to grow our network and give passengers more options to travel this summer. Sharm El Sheikh has been a popular holiday destination for many years and we expect to see strong demand for travel from the UAE and GCC.” Commenting on the announcement, Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent) at flydubai said, “With demand for travel returning we can see from the enquiries that we are receiving that our customers are keen to travel again and are starting to make their travel plans. Sharm El Sheikh is another exciting destination for our passengers to visit for their summer holidays.”

Saudi Ministry of Tourism, the World Bank, and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining their commitment to collaborate on the activation of the Tourism Community Initiative. This collaboration is aimed at building an inclusive and resilient tourism ecosystem that leads to job creation, the development of the private sector, and economic growth through a range of demand-driven investments in line with country needs, development strategies, and global sustainable development objectives. The signing of the MoU took place in Riyadh during the official opening of the first UNWTO regional office outside of the Madrid HQ. His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Minister for Tourism, said: “Tourism is a significant force for good, contributing more than 10 percent of global GDP and supporting one in every ten jobs worldwide. Yet, many countries that have not been able to benefit from tourism to build their economies, communities and livelihoods,” “At last year’s G20 meeting we pressed for a global commitment to support communities with high tourism potential in taking advantage of the opportunities that sustainable and inclusive tourism can offer. That commitment was enshrined in UNWTO’s AlUla Framework for Inclusive Community Development Through Tourism. The collaboration and the envisioned global World Bank fund as mentioned in the signed MoU are aligned with that Framework,” he added. “This initiative has support at the highest levels of all three organization and we are committed to working together towards the advancement of the tourism sector globally” said Issam Abousleiman, Regional Director for the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries at the World Bank. “Cross-border, multi-lateral collaboration is essential to rebuilding and enhancing the global tourism sector, especially after the impact that the …

Marriott International unveil a collection of one-of-a-kind adventures in the Middle East and Africa curated in partnership with Quintessentially, the world’s leading luxury concierge company. Available to book now, each distinct itinerary features extraordinary experiences unique to the destination, paired with luxurious accommodations, flawless service and exceptional culinary offerings. “Our guests are seeking new ways to explore a destination with a renewed sense of discovery and desire for personalised experiences,” said Candice D’Cruz, Vice President – Luxury Brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “Following our successful partnership with Quintessentially last year, which saw the launch of several distinct itineraries across Europe and the United States, we are thrilled to enhance our collaboration by debuting this series of bespoke adventures across the Middle East and Africa. These unique itineraries will offer guests access to immersive and luxurious journeys created with the expertise of this leading concierge company.” Luxury guests are increasingly seeking bespoke holidays which offer a more private approach. These curated experiences reflect this trend and address the growing demand for personalised experiences in trending and emerging markets.  Whether travelling to Jeddah or the Seychelles, the bespoke itineraries promise an unforgettable escape to some of the region’s most vibrant cities and island retreats. Guests can cruise the Gulf Sea by private yacht, enjoy a majestic evening in Dubai’s sand dunes, explore the unique marine eco-system in Abu Dhabi’s mangroves, snorkel in Saudi Arabia’s pristine coral reefs or spend an afternoon island hopping in the Seychelles, and more. “As the resurgence of safe travel gains momentum, we are delighted to expand upon our partnership with Marriott for this exclusive Middle East and Africa adventure series,” said Darren Ellis, Group …

Majid Al Futtaim has announced that it will be the Official Hotel Partner for the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. The partnership was officiated at an event held by Majid Al Futtaim at the Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates on Monday 24 May. The celebration was attended by Her Majesty’s Ambassador Patrick Moody, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner Simon Penney, UK Commissioner General for Expo 2020 Dubai Laura Faulkner OBE, and officials from the Department of International Trade UAE. Majid Al Futtaim was represented by Ahmed Galal Ismail, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim – Properties, Fuad Sharaf, Managing Director, UAE Shopping Malls, Majid Al Futtaim Properties and Khalifa Bin Braik, Managing Director, Majid Al Futtaim – Hotels. The collaboration aims to foster opportunities between Majid Al Futtaim, UK entities, businesses and travellers in the lead up to Expo 2020 – and beyond its six-month run that begins on 1 October 2021 – by promoting the company’s compelling range of hospitality, leisure and entertainment experiences, shopping and F&B offerings. In line with this, the agreement will see Majid Al Futtaim host distinguished guests and celebrities from the UK and provide them with exclusive VIP services and experiences during Expo 2020. This will include hosting all British delegations in its world-class hotel brands. Additionally, opportunities to participate in key UK Pavilion business events will be an important benefit for Majid Al Futtaim and its partners as part of the relationship. Khalifa Bin Braik, Managing Director, Majid Al Futtaim – Hotels, said, “Becoming the official hotel partner of the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 is an incredible honour. As proud partners, we look forward to welcoming the British delegations and their …

His Excellency Eng. Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC) and Dubai South that has been working towards consolidating the emirate’s position as a global aviation and logistics hub, has asserted Dubai’s leading-from–the-front role in resuscitating the aviation, recovering the lost momentum and restoring the confidence in line with the insightful vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The H1 2021, he says, will witness unprecedented growth in travel demand with the Covid-19 vaccination getting accelerated globally and more destinations coming back on the air connectivity network with safe and healthy environs. He said, “Dubai has been one of the first cities that took several decisive measures to enhance public confidence and provide travellers with the best model services through upgrading facilities, processes and procedures to deal with the challenges of containing the coronavirus pandemic. A positive message to the world has gone from the city-emirate that hosts the rescheduled Expo 2020 for six months from October, of all its authorities, institutions and facilities being fully prepared to energetically receive millions of visitors and sufficiently provide them with the opportunity to safely and securely enjoy the sights and sounds of the charming city while following the Covid-19 precautions.” Speaking at the 20th edition of the Airport Show where the Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) is strongly participating to showcase its visionary projects and their energetic execution, he said, “As airports and airlines are ready to provide a smooth and safe travel experience for travellers, it is imperative for the key players in the aviation industry too look at the situation differently by …

During the virtual element of the 28th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Co-Founder and CEO Douglas Quinby, Co-Founder and CEO, Arival shared exclusive Arival research carried out with 1500 respondents on the outlook for tours, activities, attractions, and key trends shaping the sector’s revival post-COVID-19 pandemic. According to the research, although Global Gross Bookings in tours, activities, and attractions in 2020 were down by 80%, which is hardly a surprise, the impact of the downturn was uneven with mixed experiences across regions and variations from market to market. Arival’s research identified that almost all operators (99%) implemented health and safety measures and that in a sector that previously lagged 10-15 years behind the travel and tourism industry in digitisation, there has been rapid adoption of technologies for online booking. Virtual tours were also a popular way for platforms to try and stay connected to their customers and generate some revenue. However, only 16% of operators tried to launch virtually, with mixed results. The research also found that as travel resumes, self-guided tours and experiences will become a viable alternative to large group experiences. Addressing delegates online during ATM Virtual 2021, Quinby said: “This sector of travel will come back, as will the rest of the travel and tourism industry. However, as much as the impact of the downturn has been uneven for the sector, so will the recovery. What we expect to see is that recovery is hyper-local and very specific to destination and segment.” Meanwhile, Emaar Entertainment’s CEO Zeina Dagher, who is responsible for the strategy of some of Dubai’s top attractions, including the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, KidZania, and Burj Khalifa, shared how attractions have adapted …

Home Check-in and Home PCR Testing services offered by dnata, through its off-airport wing DUBZ, have brought huge relief to passengers travelling from the UAE amid the ongoing pandemic caused by Covid-19. The first-of-its-kind service being showcased at the Airport Show, opened at Dubai World Trade Centre on Monday, is getting great attention. A mobile check-in van equipped with the latest technology is integral to the success of the Off-Airport check-in procedures. A team of DUBZ’s well-trained staff visits the passenger’s home, receives the baggage, issues the boarding pass and transports it to the airport to ensure a hassle-free travel experience for the passengers who avoid the airport queues, baggage transportation, and other travel related inconveniences. They ensure complete safety with step-by-step baggage imaging, 360-degree CCTV and GPS tracking. Samer Sobh, COO & Co-Founder of DUBZ, said, “We are the first to bring the airport services to the city with complete safety and security. With nationwide coverage, passengers can streamline their travel journey by embarking on the first and most critical step, from the comfort and safety of their own homes,” he said. DUBZ also offers a similar facility to arriving passengers, who can go home soon after completing immigration control. The company will collect their baggage, get it cleared by the customs and deliver it to their doorstep. Currently dnata is offering the services to passengers of 13 airlines including UAE national carriers Emirates, Etihad and flydubai. Saudia and Qatar Airways passengers can also avail their services. Samer Sobh said, “In the current scenario, our services have become even more significant as it ensures minimum contact with people during the journey. Since we also issue the boarding pass at …