Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is ramping up operations to meet high demand and expanding its modern, sustainable fleet. With nine state-of-the-art Airbus A321neo aircraft, the airline is driving ambitious growth into new territories with must-see destinations for adventure lovers carrying the flag of ultra-low-cost travel. Set to launch this summer, the national airline is commencing operations to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and the relaunch of popular routes to Larnaca, Santorini and Sohag, Egypt. Tickets are already on sale on wizzair.com and the airline’s mobile app with fares starting as low as AED 179*. The additional aircraft will enable Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to enhance frequencies and offer tourists and residents hassle-free, affordable travel in both the UAE and throughout multiple continents to the very best destinations. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has a plethora of year-round travel opportunities with culturally rich destinations including vibrant cities and natural paradises. On top of the new destinations, the new aircraft will enable Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to increase the ultra-low-cost-travel footprint in the current network with increased presence on Abu Dhabi – Tirana, Yerevan, Baku, Alexandria, Kutaisi, Athens, Almaty, Astana, Sarajevo, Ankara, Tashkent and Samarkand. Bishkek, the financial centre of Kyrgyzstan, is a modern, cosmopolitan city with colourful bazaars. Located at the foothills of the Tien Shan mountain range, Bishkek is an eclectic mix of Kyrgyz culture and Soviet architecture with must-see attractions including the State Historical Museum and Ala-Too Square. Adventurous travellers can enjoy the beautiful sites in the nearby countryside with the unmissable mountains at Ala-Archa National Park and pristine valleys. Well-known for its palm-tree seafront, Larnaca is truly authentic and offers a plethora of tourist sites with laidback crowds. The port city has …

Jazeera Airways announced the launch of direct flights to a third destination in Uzbekistan: Samarkand. The airline will operate twice a week, connecting travelers from Kuwait to this historic city, while offering a convenient route for Uzbek travelers to the Middle East region and beyond. In 2021, Jazeera Airways was the first to connect Kuwait to Uzbekistan with direct flights to the capital city of Tashkent, twice a week. Last year, Jazeera also started flying to the third largest city in the country, Namangan. Rohit Ramachandran, CEO, Jazeera Airways, said: “We have been steadily developing our presence in Central Asia and Uzbekistan has been a particular success for us with continuing growth opportunities. We are pleased to be adding Samarkand to our network in the region. To date Samarkand has limited direct international flight connections and we are hoping that our direct flights from Kuwait will make the city more accessible for both inbound and outbound passengers.” Situated on the Great Silk Road, Samarkand has a unique geographic presence and also features on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It comprises of one of a kind architectural landmarks, scientific and art influences as well as artisan workshops. Operations on this new route will commence from 1st March 2023. Flight Schedule Flight Number Frequency From To Departure (Local Time) Arrival (Local Time) J9 0681 Wednesday, Sunday KWI SKD 05:10 10:20 J9 0682 Wednesday, Sunday SKD KWI 11:35 13:15

VisitBritain is launching a new marketing campaign aimed at attracting visitors to Britain from the GCC region. The international GREAT Britain marketing campaign invites visitors to ‘See Things Differently’, showcasing Britain as a welcoming, dynamic, exciting and inclusive destination with a warm British welcome at its heart. The multi-media advertising campaign – called ‘Spilling the Tea on Great Britain’ – uses a play on Britain’s love of tea, through destination images and short films, to tell a fresh and exciting story about the experiences on offer showing visitors that ‘whatever your cup of tea, we’ve got it.’ From a ‘Festival’ themed tea that highlights Britain’s live music scene to a ‘Graffi-tea’ that celebrates its vibrant cities and cultural attractions. A ‘Surf’ theme shows Britain’s coastal experiences, ‘#nofilter’ its natural beauty and a ‘Monster Hunting’ tea draws inspiration from Britain’s historical discoveries and legendary myths including world-famous Nessie the Loch Ness Monster. A limited release of the themed teas, blended by British tea company Tregothnan, are set to be available for tastings at VisitBritain promotional and trade events. VisitBritain’s Interim Deputy Director Carol Maddison said: “The GCC is an important tourism market for Britain and we are delighted to be running this dedicated campaign, tapping into motivations for travel this year, to build on the strong recovery we have seen.” “Britain is packed full of new and invigorating experiences for visitors to come and enjoy, from adrenaline filled coastal and countryside adventures to iconic summer festivals, from street food tours to street art tours to afternoon teas with a magical twist. By showing our warm British welcome and telling the story of our vibrant and varied destinations we want to inspire …

The Philippines, home to lovely beaches and picturesque mountain vistas, has a lot more to offer to the visitors. The cities of the Philippines offer fun and unique activities that can be toured in a single day, with a cosmopolitan vibe. Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, is alive with sights and sounds of urban life at its busiest. It is also a contrast of the old and the new, with a mix of skyscrapers and heritage houses, and cars share the road with colorful jeepneys and horse-drawn calesas. One tourist stop in Manila should be the Walled City of Intramuros, built by the Spanish colonizers 500 years ago. Its stone ramparts are still intact, along with the other defenses such as its moats and cannons that protected the fort from both natural disasters and invaders. Visit the Casa Manila Museum to get a feel of life during the Spanish era and take a walking tour to the centuries-old churches Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church to appreciate their architecture. Fort Santiago holds historic significance as the prison where the Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal was held before his execution in Bagumbayan. Other structures to check out nearby are the Manila Central Post Office, a neoclassical building that has been declared as an Important Cultural Property by the National Museum, the Cultural Center of the Philippines which is home to world-class performances by Filipino artists. Immerse yourself in art at the National Museum of the Philippines that houses the country’s largest and perhaps most iconic painting, the Spoliarium by Juan Luna, the National Museum of Natural History that showcases Philippine flora and fauna, and the National Museum of …

German National Tourist Board (GNTB) continues to bolster its sustainable tourism offerings with the imminent relaunch of one of its most popular campaigns, Embrace German Nature. Highlighting Germany’s great outdoors, the campaign – which relaunches on March 1 – shines a light on the range of protected natural landscapes, superb cycling and hiking trails, and outstanding spas and health resorts. With Germany home to 51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and more than 33 per cent of the country under special environmental protection, the campaign also highlights the stunning natural landscapes, which include 18 Biosphere Reserves, 16 national parks covering more than 10,000km², and 104 nature parks. Ecotourism is expected to see a market growth of 15 per cent between 2021 and 2031, according to analysis by the Future Market Insights Institute. Embrace German Nature is designed then to consider the heightened demand, align with market desires, and help Germany achieve its Sustainable Development Goals. “The Embrace German Nature campaign promotes the physical and mental health benefits of sustainable tourism, advantages of climate-friendly travel and transportation options, and the effects on general wellbeing of embracing Germany’s most natural resources,” said Yamina Sofo, Regional Director – GNTB. “Mindfulness, sustainability, and getting closer to nature have all increased in popularity among the GCC market. This has further encouraged us to relaunch a tourism campaign that not only helps meet that demand, but also takes global and domestic climate targets into account and unites responsible use of natural resources.” Both inspirational and fascinating, Germany has a diverse ecological make up, home to more than 300,000km of hiking trails across coastline and islands, imposing mountains, and dense forests. Approximately 50,000 animal and 20,000 plant species …

Dubai headquartered Aleph Hospitality has announced its partnership with France based Fauchon Hospitality at a recent signing ceremony in Paris. The agreement names Aleph Hospitality as the exclusive developer and operator of the glamourous Fauchon L’Hôtel portfolio in the Middle East and Africa. Founded in 1886 by Auguste Fauchon, the world-renowned Fauchon brand is a luxury contemporary gastronomy leader with a unique French DNA, comprising a collection of over 100 retail boutiques, gourmet cafes and restaurants in 50 countries. In 2018, Fauchon opened its first luxury boutique hotel, Fauchon L’Hôtel Paris, followed by Fauchon L’Hôtel Kyoto in 2021 as the Parisian brand’s first international hotspot. Today, Fauchon Hospitality has five glamourous boutique hotels in the pipeline with the aim to become a global hospitality company with a luxury collection of 20 hotels by 2030. Bani Haddad, Founder and Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality, said: “We are well aware that an opportunity of this grandeur doesn’t happen very often. We are excited and humbled to be partnering with Fauchon Hospitality. We look forward to delivering the brand’s legendary glamorous Parisian ‘art the vivre’ experience to hotel guests in the Middle East and Africa. We believe the region has tremendous potential for the aspirational and sophisticated brand experience offered by Fauchon L’Hôtel.” With a focus on cosmopolitan cities and luxury leisure destinations, the Fauchon L’Hôtel portfolio will comprise boutique hotels, retreats, beach clubs and residences in exceptional locations with superior culinary concepts and indulgent private services beyond the usual five-star hospitality experience. The unique brand promise and concept is centered around the acronym ‘GLAM’: Gourmet, featuring Fauchon’s bespoke reinvented in-room mini bar, the Gourmet Bar; Location for a lively and luxurious lifestyle; …

Sabre Corporation  and Royal Jordanian Airlines announced the renewal and expansion of a long-term distribution and technology agreement to continue to distribute the carrier’s content through Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS) and to utilize Sabre’s leading technology to achieve its strategic goals. Under the expanded agreement, Royal Jordanian will continue distributing its content to the large network of travel agents and corporations worldwide connected to Sabre’s GDS. Furthermore, the airline will be deploying a set of Sabre leading technology including Sabre’s Dynamic availability and Fares Manager and Fares Optimizer. The adoption of these products can help Royal Jordanian Airlines move toward a more flexible and modern environment, while supporting its growth. “We have ambitious plans to double our fleet and operations within the coming 3-5 years and to position Royal Jordanian as the carrier of choice connecting Jordan and Levant with the world,” said Karim Makhlouf, chief commercial officer, Royal Jordanian.  “Our extended technology partnership with Sabre will help us deploy the most robust and advanced technology to enable our growth plans, help us drive profitability and improve our efficiency while staying on top of today’s ever-changing airline landscape. We are excited to continue partnering with Sabre at this exciting time.” Dynamic Availability empowers airlines to gain better control of their pricing position by leveraging shopping data, automating fare changes, and enabling dynamic pricing capabilities to generate recommendations that help drive incremental revenue opportunities. Fares Manager and Fares Optimizer, on the other hand, brings integrated end-to-end automation and intelligence to airline pricing to increase analyst productivity and improve revenue opportunities. “As a key building block for personalized retailing, our dynamic pricing engine enables airlines to optimize availability at scale and …

Turespaña in partnership with Emirates Holidays conducted a B2B activation at the newly launched Emirates World store at the Town Centre Mall ,Jumeirah. This is first of a kind activity at the store and had around 25 select HNWI clients of Emirates Holidays to whom Daniel Rosado – Director , Spain Tourism presented the many offerings from Spain to the Emirati clients in particular . The event started off with the guests  experiencing zero alcohol grape beverages from Bodegas Torres- a renowned Spanish winery that has been quite popular with Middle Eastern clients followed by some light entertainment for the guests who won various prizes like Spanish goodie bags and gift hampers.” Speaking with Tourism breaking news Daniel Rosado, Director Spain Tourism GCC, reiterated, “ It’s always great to interact with direct customers and understand their viewpoints and expectations about Spain as a destination . It was a good turn out and we were very happy to learn that most of the customers have been to Spain at least once and have Spain on their mind for the upcoming holidays “ Namratha Rose, Marketing Manager Spain tourism shared, “ We have been trying to conduct different kinds of activities to promote Spain and this collaboration with emirates holidays is definitely a good one as this is the first time we had an in store activity and it was good to see everybody experience a bit of Spain and enjoy their time at the store . We will be having more of these activities for our B2C clients in the coming months as well  “  

The Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) has announced the soft opening for the 1,800-metre dual zipline project in the Wilayat of Khasab, in the Governorate of Musandam. This project is part of an integrated adventure centre designed to offer tourists unique experiences that combine adventure and exploration. An exciting zipline project is the first activity offered by the Oman Adventure Centre, which is being developed as part of a comprehensive development plan for the region. Through this plan, the Musandam Governorate will be able to diversify its tourism market by providing a wide variety of quality products and experiences. This will enable it to draw out its potential and highlight its position as a prominent tourist destination in the region. The Oman Adventure Centre was designed to accommodate a broad range of facilities, providing visitors with an integrated tourism experience. It has a waiting area and more facilities. Additionally, the zipline project will be managed and operated by LEOS, a specialist operator that runs adventure and entertainment projects on a regional and international scale. On this occasion, Mubarak bin Ali al Rahbi, Head of the Musandam Governor’s Office said, “The Musandam Governorate has a wealth of tourism offerings that can be utilised to develop a wide range of tourism projects. This project illustrates our ongoing efforts to utilise these elements for tourism development.” He added, “We are confident that the zipline project will encourage businesses within and outside the Governorate to develop more tourism-related services. In doing so, they will contribute to the sector’s growth, aligning with our vision to place Musandam on the local and regional map of the most prominent tourist destinations, especially in the areas of …

Amaala and The Red Sea, announced a partnership with leading longevity clinic and wellness brand, Clinique La Prairie. The partnership involves the development of a high-end 36,115 sqm Clinique La Prairie Health Resort within Amaala, which is located on Saudi Arabia’s north-western coastline. The exclusive resort will offer 13 villas, as well as housing 52 rooms and suites. “Clinique La Prairie’s world-renowned facilities and health and wellness experiences, set against Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary natural landscapes, will take our visitors on transformative personal journeys inspired by arts, wellness, and the purity of the Red Sea. The resort’s subtle beauty – a product of Islamic architecture and modern craftmanship – will deliver a serene place in which to unwind, meditate and rejuvenate,” said John Pagano, Group CEO, Red Sea Global. Clinique La Prairie’s approach to wellbeing prioritizes longevity. This is symbolized by the central “Longevity Plaza” leading to four distinctive areas of the resort corresponding to each one of the property’s pillars – medical care, nutrition, movement and wellbeing. These sections will host a vast array of activities and facilities, including all the latest technologies developed over 90 years by Clinique La Prairie to enable clients to live a longer, healthier, and fuller life. The resort also features a diagnostics lab, museum, beach club, workshop and training rooms, private dining space, and even a cooking school, ensuring visitors can embark on an inimitable journey of rejuvenation and self-discovery. Landscaping around the property is vital to architect John Heah’s vision for the resort. Idyllic gardens are used to establish a sense of place and tranquility and add to the connected journey for visitors. Clinique La Prairie has a unique approach to wellbeing, combining …