H.E Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to play a major role in investing in the talent required to meet the needs of this thriving sector. This is strategically aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 goals in relation to youth empowerment and women. As an illustration, we have increased female labour force participation by 64% since 2021. Providing insights and data on the sector’s status quo, the report allows countries and regions to set clear goals to empower women and engage youth. ” According to the latest research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC), initiated by the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, reveals that the global Travel & Tourism sector is delivering soaring employment opportunities to women and young people around the world. The report shows that the Travel & Tourism sector directly employed a rapidly rising number of women between 2010 and 2019, increasing from 38.6 million to 47.8 million, an increase of 24%. It also found hospitality to be the leading employer of women within the sector, accounting for more than half of female employment. Young workers are shown as an important component of the sector’s workforce, representing 15% of all jobs in the sector in both 2010 and 2021. By contrast, the share of young workers in overall global employment fell from 16.5% in 2010 to 12.5% in 2021, highlighting the importance of Travel & Tourism to youth employment. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “As part of our Environmental & Social Research, we are incredibly proud to have worked alongside the Sustainable Tourism Global Center and to be releasing this incredibly …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Authority (SCTDA) in partnership with Sharjah Sports Council and Professional Footgolf Tour will host the Sharjah International Footgolf Tournament from 12th to 14th January. HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said: “The Sharjah International Footgolf Tournament further emphasises the efforts being made in Sharjah to enhance Sharjah’s position as a premier tourist destination. We are delighted to be welcoming professional footgolf players from all over the world to Sharjah next month, and we look forward to inviting these players to enjoy the Emirate’s rich history, geography, nature, culture, heritage, archaeology, and arts.” The world’s top footgolf players, with both men and women competing for cash purses over a two-day competition, utilising an 18-hole, stroke-play format will be held at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club. Footgolf, a sport combining football and golf. The Professional Footgolf tournament will take place at Sharjah’s world-class country club, with some of the world’s best players traveling to the Emirate from across the globe to participate. The event will bring together over 140 players from more than 20 different nationalities to take on the challenging course. The tournament will consist of four players per group, teeing off every six minutes. Players will compete across two days, vying for more than $40,000 in total prize money. The event is also open to amateur footgolf players based in UAE with a prize fund of $1,500 up for grabs, with these players also eligible for the overall fund. While Footgolf tournaments have taken place all over the world to date, the Sharjah International Footgolf Tournament will be the first of its kind within the GCC. “We’re thrilled to be bringing the region’s first …

Qiddiya announces a pioneering new Gaming & Esports district which aims to establish the Kingdom as the global epicentre of the rapidly growing gaming and esports industry. Located in Qiddiya City, the vibrant district will be home to four dedicated esports venues that will host global events and aims to attract up to 10 million visits a year. It will form part of the ambitious development of Qiddiya City into a global destination for entertainment, sports and culture, based on the power of play. QIDDIYA CITY will be home to the world’s first mixed-use gaming and esports district that will attract gamers from across the globe and cement Saudi Arabia as the global epicentre of this dynamic sector, it was announced today (December 14). The ambitious gaming and esports attraction will boast four dedicated esports venues and host a year-round calendar of some of the biggest esports events with a combined peak esports tournament seating capacity of 73,000 across the destination. Qiddiya Investment Company’s Board of Directors said that one of the new venues will boast the largest indoor LED screen in any esports arena and feature 5,300 seats – making it one of the three largest esports venues in the world. Abdullah Aldawood, Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company, said: “Qiddiya City is proud to be home to this innovative gaming and esports district, set to offer a unique, engaging, gamified experience to both its visitors and residents.” The district will host the world’s elite esports clubs, not just during tournaments but on a full-time basis. It will invest in developing innovative facilities that up to 25 esports clubs will be able to call home at any time as …

Hyatt Place Dubai Wasl District wins Best 4 Star Business Hotel at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023. Kishor Sonawane – Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing – Hyatt Place Dubai Hotels and Residences shared, “The Arabian Travel Awards was a splendid celebration of excellence in the hospitality industry, fostering connections and recognizing outstanding contributions. It was an honour to be part of it.  Winning an Arabian Travel Award is thrilling! It highlights our dedication to outstanding service, motivating us to achieve new levels of excellence in the hospitality industry. This award pushes us to step up our game in 2024. We’re motivated to keep improving, provide guests with great experiences, and set higher standards of guest service.”    

The first phase of Jewel of the Creek was unveiled with two international brands for the first time, signing together in one compound. Marriott International with its brand Marriott Marquis with 400 plus hotel rooms and 150 plus apartments were signed at a ceremony graced by His Highness Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan bin Rashed Al Maktoum. The first phase of Jewel of the Creek was unveiled with two international brands for the first time, signing together in one compound. Marriott International with its brand Marriott Marquis with 400 plus hotel rooms and 150 plus apartments were signed at a ceremony graced by His Highness Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan bin Rashed Al Maktoum. His Excellency Eissa Al Maidour Director General Dubai Developments in his opening remarks shared, “My dear distinguished guests, I would like to welcome you all to this wonderful occasion where we are closing the chapter of the construction of Jewel of the Creek phase 1 and we are establishing the foundation for new legacy, new journey towards excellence in the hospitality skyline in Dubai. We are connected by nature with the creek of Dubai as it is a source of the Old Dubai Legacy. It is our great pleasure to witness this partnership with International brands and to take this forward and from time to time I think that additional Jewels will shine at the skyline of the Jewel of the Creek.” Sandeep Walia, Chief Operations Officer – Middle East, Marriott International thanked the leadership of the UAE for all their efforts in bringing together great partnerships. This complex is an important venture in the hospitality industry as two international brands have come together to bring the best …

Qatar Airways announces its 2024 network expansion with exciting new destinations as well as resumptions, bookable ahead of the New Year. In terms of network increases, there will be seven weekly flights from Doha to Venice and Hamburg. Venice effective 12 June 2024 and Hamburg effective 01 July 2024. Travellers can start planning their 2024 summer travels with the resumption of Venice, Italy in June, followed by the exciting new destination of Hamburg, Germany in July. These gateways will act as a vehicle for increased economic and tourism activity as they connect to Qatar Airways’ award-winning network of over 170 destinations. Venice is expected to see high demand from destinations such as Japan, China and Australia while Hamburg will serve as a gateway to South Africa, Thailand and the Philippines. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer commented: “As this year comes to an end, we are delighted to present our passengers with new and exciting travel opportunities for the year 2024. Starting with our resumption to Venice and an inaugural flight to Hamburg, Qatar Airways and its hub, Hamad International Airport, continues to position itself on the global map as a leading gateway for international travel and connectivity. We look forward to seeing our passengers uncover new experiences and resume flying to their favourite destinations.” Travellers looking to spend the 2024 summer in Europe have more choice than ever and can now spend sunny days by the river in Hamburg and enjoy gelato while cruising the canals of Venice. The announcements come on the back of recent expansion to the Qatar Airways winter schedule which includes increased flight frequencies to key leisure destinations, including Amsterdam, Bangkok, …

Ezytrip, Qatar wins ‘Fastest growing B2B online travel portal’ at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023.  Rehan Ali Syed – CEO – Tawfeeq Travel shared, “The event was very well planned and organised. The overall setup was very lively and gave a good opportunity to network and connect with industry leaders across the region. These awards encourage business to continuously improvise and innovate. Travel awards can help acknowledge and promote businesses and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the travel and tourism sector. This recognition can lead to increased visibility and credibility within the industry and among travellers. Winning an Arabian Travel Award is a thrilling achievement, signifying recognition for excellence in the travel industry and a sense of pride and accomplishment. This award works as a powerful motivator to excel in 2024 and maintain or surpass the award categories. This will help us to drive and provide better travel experiences to our travellers.”    

The Norwegian Dawn cruise ship arrived at Doha Port with a ceremony by Qatar Tourism, as part of the 2023/24 cruise season that opened in late-October in Qatar. The welcome ceremony featured a traditional Ardah performance, henna, dhow souvenirs, Arabic calligraphy art, sadu weaving, and net making for disembarking passengers. The cruise ship can accommodate up to 2,340 passengers, and has an operating crew of 1, 032 members. It will be anchored for two nights, allowing passengers to explore nearby sites in Doha which include the Mina District, Souq Waqif, National Museum of Qatar, and more. Speaking on the arrival of the cruise ship, His Excellency, Mr. Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, stated, “The pioneering arrival of the Norwegian Dawn and its regional debut is a significant milestone for Qatar’s growing cruise tourism sector and marks Qatar’s international appeal as a cruise destination. Qatar Tourism is keen to create new partnerships and agreements with leading cruise lines and extend the opportunity to international passengers to explore Qatar’s abundant events calendar as well as its world-class museums, attractions, and cultural hotspots.” Captain Abdulla Mohamed Al-Khanji, CEO of Mwani Qatar, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Norwegian Cruise Line maiden voyage to the shores of Qatar and the Gulf region. This important event reflects the growing interest of cruise operators to dock at Doha’s Old Port and depart from it to other cruise terminals in the region. Qatar has rapidly evolved within the cruise tourism industry, emerging as a prominent global destination in this expanding sector. Its captivating attractions and ideal geographical location have been strongly recognised and have made Qatar a highly sought-after destination by both …

Th8 Palm Dubai Beach Resort, Vignette Collection, the hidden haven for rest and personalized reconnection, invites guests to an unforgettable staycation experience including a sensational celebration of exquisite cuisine and non-stop entertainment with Brunchopolis- the most exciting and family-oriented brunch experience in town. Relish a tranquil night’s stay in a luxurious deluxe room for two and savour a delectable brunch every Saturday from 1 PM to 4 PM including soft beverages starting from AED 999++ or house beverages starting from AED 1199+ at Th8 Palm Dubai which represents a unique gateway to Dubai residents on Palm Jumeirah’s Western Crescent offering uninterrupted views of the ocean, Dubai’s skyline and beyond. Guests coming from other Emirates in UAE and international travellers can equally benefit with a true beachfront living and dining experience through this exclusive package. Brunchopolis, hosted at the ENVY restaurant, features a diverse array of dishes to satisfy the most discerning taste buds with a live band, family fun and exciting activities at the kids club including a bouncy castle for the kids where laughter knows no bounds, and a family pool available to soak up the sun and enjoy the azure waters.     Named after the eighth phase on the moon dial, Th8 Palm Dubai Beach Resort, Vignette Collection hotel by IHG, invites guests to the ultimate luxury beach experience with exclusive beach access, immersive infinity pools, spacious terrace, private cabanas, and personalized services marrying contemporary design with Middle Eastern elegance and drawing inspiration from the Art Deco and fashion of Miami Beach.

In order to boost tourism Turkey grants visa free entry to six countries including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain in the GCC and Canada and United States published in the official gazette of Turkey. According to the decree holders of ordinary passports of these six nations is granted privilege of visa free entry for tourist visits up to 90 days within any 180 day period.