The cities of Abha and Taif have been named as the favourite domestic holiday destinations for Saudi nationals, according to global property consultant Knight Frank’s flagship 2023 Saudi Report. In its survey of 498 Saudi-national households, carried out in partnership with YouGov, Knight Frank has found that Saudi nationals not only travel within the Kingdom on a high frequency, but some are being put off by high costs, which will be significant hurdle to overcome if the Kingdom’s tourism strategy is to be successfully achieved. The rapid expansion of hospitality-linked offerings across the country is expected to play a critical role in boosting domestic tourism, which Knight Frank forecasts will form a key part of the future of the Kingdom’s hospitality landscape and is already a thriving industry. Faisal Durrani, Partner – Head of Middle East Research explained: “For domestic tourism to flourish in the Saudi Arabia, care and attention must be paid to the development of attractions in secondary and tertiary cities if they are to compete and thrive alongside all the new giga project hospitality offerings. Furthermore, with 28% of Gen Z Saudi’s highlighting high costs (as a barrier to domestic travel, there remains an opportunity to develop more cost-effective accommodation options. “Think luxury glamping sites, youth hostels, 3* hotels, which will form just 17% of total hotel room supply by 2030, noting of course cultural sensitivities and adaptations that may be required”. With 100 million visitors expected to pass through the Kingdom’s gateways by 2030, the volume of real estate projects linked to the hospitality, tourism and entertainment sectors is unsurprisingly soaring, says Knight Frank. The tourism and hospitality sector is quietly being positioned as one of …

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts announced plans for a new luxury resort as part of the NEOM master project, located on Sindalah Island. Extending over an area of approximately 840,000 square metres (9,041,684 square feet), Sindalah is one of a group of islands in the Red Sea that will be developed in NEOM, each according to its unique vision and design. In addition to the upcoming Four Seasons resort, Sindalah will be home to a luxury marina and yacht club, 9-hole golf course with 18 pin experiences, and several dining destinations. It will also host sophisticated cultural events, grand sporting spectacles and glamorous social celebrations throughout the year. “Four Seasons upcoming resort in NEOM will be a one-of-a-kind project, blending the natural wonders of the Red Sea with the future-forward technologies on which this new, exciting destination is being built,” says Bart Carnahan, President, Global Business Development and Portfolio Management, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “We are proud to be part of the ambitious vision that our partners at NEOM have for transforming the future of hospitality in the region and look forward to welcoming guests to discover a new part of the Kingdom.” The Resort will feature 225 guest rooms and suites with terraces overlooking the beaches of the Red Sea, as well as 52 villas with one to four-bedroom configurations with plunge pools and beach views, and with the Presidential and Royal Villas offering private swimming pools, gyms and access to private yacht docks. The Resort architecture is being led by LUCA DINI Design & Architecture, with interiors for guest rooms and public areas by RBTA and LW Design respectively. “Sindalah follows NEOM’s vision and purpose of mitigating …

IHG Hotels & Resorts signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA). The MOU provides a framework for both entities to explore methods to increase inbound visitation to Saudi Arabia from key markets across Middle East and Africa region. This includes developing customised promotions, joint marketing campaigns, and promotion through loyalty programs which will showcase Saudi Arabia as one of the world’s most exciting destination to an international audience. The MOU was signed at the Saudi pavilion at the Arabian Travel Market 2023 held in Dubai, by James Britchford, Vice President Commercial at IHG for India, Middle East and Africa, and Munirah Abanomy, Head of Marketing Partnership for Middle East & Africaat Saudi Tourism Authority. With Saudi Arabia targeting 100 million visitors by 2030, the Kingdom is a priority market for IHG Hotels & Resorts in the Middle East. The hospitality group aims to support the tourism sector in the country by growing the footprint of its existing brands, as well as introducing new brands from its global portfolio, in addition to running campaigns to promote various destinations within the country. IHG also plans to further support the Kingdom’s economic Vision by investing in developing Saudi talent in the Kingdom, with an ambition to hire 6,000 nationals across it’s growing portfolio by 2030. James Britchford, Vice President, Commercial, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts said: “As a reflection of our commitment to support the growth of the tourism industry within the Kingdom, we are delighted to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Saudi Tourism Authority. Collaborations with key government entities, such as the STA, enable us to position and promote attractive destinations …

Bringing together government leaders, hotel investors, owners, developers and operators at what is set to be the biggest Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) to date, FHS Saudi Arabia kicked off on Sunday at the Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh. Launched in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s G20 Secretariat in 2020, FHS Saudi Arabia is the most influential hospitality investment conference for industry leaders and senior decision-makers in the hospitality industry of Saudi Arabia and beyond. This will be the sixth industry conference organized by The Bench for the Saudi market. “We are thrilled to be back in Riyadh in May following the overwhelming success of our sold-out 2022 edition, and we’re delighted to be in a new and larger venue this year thanks to our host sponsors Al Khozama Investment Company and Al Faisaliah Hotel,” said Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench. “The demand for our hospitality events in Saudi Arabia continues to grow and with the Kingdom named as the fastest expanding tourism industry within the G20 countries in the UNWTO Tourism Barometer, there will be so much to share about tourism and hospitality investment and development at FHS Saudi Arabia this year.” This year’s conference theme, ‘ Invest in Change’ , highlights the importance of the positive change that can be brought forward through the investment in time, intellect and expertise in the hospitality industry to keep up with changing times and trends to better shape the future of the industry. The action-packed three-day conference agenda will include tracks from the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) and will have a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, start-ups and human capital development. “Delegates will have over 50 opportunities to network, learn and …

Emirates successfully wrapped up its participation at the 30th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), welcoming over 16,000 visitors to its stand, hosting over 300 meetings to strengthen business relationships, and forging collaborative partnerships with tourism organisations from across its network. The huge turnout of visitors, who experienced the airline’s products across every class, is yet another demonstration of its highly sought after experiences, as the industry continues to make a huge comeback. The airline once again featured its full suite of on-board experiences, including its highly popular, Premium Economy Class, Boeing 777-300ER Game-Changer First Class fully enclosed private suites, Boeing 777 Business Class seat, the newest generation A380 OnBoard lounge, along with other iconic products such the First Class Shower Spa and the latest version of its A380 Economy Class seats. The airline also showcased its many sustainability initiatives happening across the business. Its AI Gallery produced 800 personalised pieces of inspirational travel artwork. Continuing its strong focus on close collaboration and meaningful partnerships with tourism entities and airlines to unlock growth and offer travellers more options, the airline inked agreements with eight tourism boards, including Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Moroccan National Tourism Office, Tourism Authority of Zimbabwe, Tourism Seychelles, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority and Zambia Tourism. All of the partnership agreements are focused on boosting tourist arrivals to each country and capitalising on developing incremental demand for air travel. Emirates also signed an MoU with Etihad Airways to provide travellers additional itinerary options when visiting the UAE, with the aim of boosting tourism from key source markets by enabling visitors to …

Holiday Factory announced the launch of its new brand, “Holiday Factory Premium”, at the highly anticipated event, Arabian Travel Market 2023 last week. “The UAE market has a unique demographic landscape with an exponentially growing expat population. The region has experienced rapid economic growth, which has resulted in an increase in the disposable income of its residents. Which in turn has created a surge in demand for Premium holidays,” – says Namrata Bhatia, Director of Marketing at Holiday Factory. “Research of the UAE market suggests that 1/3rd of the population is seeking premium holidays and is underserved with all-inclusive packages at the right price”, – says Sandra Daemmrich, General Manager. After successfully serving the UAE middle-class segment with unbeatably priced holiday packages, Holiday Factory is now set to reshape the “Premium” outbound travel industry with its exciting selection of popular & unexplored destinations such as Switzerland, Italy, Maldives, Northern lights of Scandinavia with an Ice Igloo experience and many others. Holiday packages include direct flights with all local airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai and others, as well as reputed international airlines, and premium hotels, transfers, insurance, and curated daily expert-guided tours – to allow UAE residents truly experience the destination the Premium Way! Customers can choose to travel in a small group of like-minded travellers for a more affordable option or travel privately for the ultimate exclusive experience. “73% of Premium holiday seekers residing in the emirates are looking for all-inclusive holiday packages, and 95% of those end up booking by themselves. It’s a long, tedious process of endlessly researching and creating a self-itinerary which ends up being expensive,” said Ekaterina Malikova, Product Manager at Holiday Factory Premium. “As …

Within the framework of stimulating and developing the tourism sector, Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) has celebrated the official opening of the dual Zipline project in Khasab, Musandam. The Zipline, spanning over 1,800 metres, has officially broken the Guinness World Record for ‘The world’s longest Zipline over water’. The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of His Excellency Sayyid Ibrahim bin Saeed Al Busaidi, Governor of Musandam. The event was attended by Eng Mohammed Salim Al Busaidi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of OMRAN Group, along with several officials from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, sheikhs, and dignitaries of the region. Representatives from Guinness World Records were also present at the ceremony. The Zipline project is the first activity and a key component of Oman Adventures centre, which will serve as an integrated platform that offers exciting and enjoyable tourism experiences for adventure enthusiasts visiting the Governorate. This project will help enhancing the Governorate’s position as a prime destination for adventure seekers from within and outside Oman. Speaking at the project’s official opening, Daoud Sulaiman Al Rashdi, Director of Product Development and Tourism Experiences at Ministry of Heritage & Tourism said, “We are pleased to officially open Oman Adventures centre. The project has undergone extensive testing by specialised teams to ensure compliance with safety and security regulations specific to the adventure tourism sector. We are confident that the centre will be a valuable addition to Musandam’s tourism offerings and will cater to adventure enthusiasts visiting the Governorate. The entry of the Zipline project into the Guinness World Records today is a notable achievement. However, it is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting …

Turkish Airlines has launched flights to Krakow, one of Poland’s historic cities, as its second destination in the country after Warsaw. The new city destination will offer GCC travellers more choice when travelling to Poland as well as give them an option of exploring Istanbul as well. The flag carrier brand will operate Krakow flights with narrow-body aircraft three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, on a reciprocal basis. Turkish Airlines guests can travel from Istanbul to Krakow and back with prices starting from 255 US Dollars (tax included). Recognized as a city of literature by UNESCO, Krakow traditionally stands out as the center of science, culture and art in Poland. Known as the heart of Poland due to its former capital status and witnessing many historical events, the city welcomes numerous local and foreign tourists each year. On the new route, Turkish Airlines Chief Investment & Technology Officer Levent Konukçu stated: “As the airline flying to the more countries than any other in the world, we are glad to add Krakow, our second destination in Poland after Warsaw, to our flight network. With this route, our flag carrier has reached 343 destinations in 129 countries. We will operate 3 weekly reciprocal flights to Krakow, the historic former capital of Poland. We are connecting Krakow to the world with Turkish Airlines’ unique flight experience.” As the airline flying to the more countries than any other in the world, Turkish Airlines increases the number of its destinations to 343 with Krakow, offering its guests unlimited connection possibilities while continuing to carry its quality and service to all corners of the world. Flight Schedule: Flight No Day Departure Arrival TK1271 …

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) signed two Memorandums of Cooperation (MoC) with Tourism Malaysia, at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023. The MoC will provide a framework in which Tourism Malaysia will be able to collaborate with SAUDIA through its travel service provider “SAUDIA Holidays” and ultimately drive more tourism to the destination. The mutually beneficial agreement will help further advance SAUDIA’s objectives to strengthen its international presence and bring the world to Saudi Arabia, offering convenient connections and flexibility, increasing tourism to and from the Kingdom and generating greater awareness about Malaysia and its destinations to Saudi residents. This will include a one-year promotion on new products and destinations in Malaysia while Tourism Malaysia will provide 24/7 support and assistance for bookings through “SAUDIA Holidays”. Mrs. Manal Alshehri said: “It was important for us to be able to give more travel opportunities to Saudi nationals and residents to discover new destinations easily, and it is now possible thanks to Tourism Malaysia. We look forward to starting a fruitful with two eminent entities in the tourism industry.” Honourable Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia said: “This collaboration aims to boost the tourism industry and strengthen economic ties between Malaysia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We hope that SAUDIA continues to work together with Tourism Malaysia to promote Malaysia as a fascinating holiday destination, highlighting unique cities such as Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.” The MoC was signed between SAUDIA and Tourism Malaysia which took place at the airline’s stand at ATM, in the presence of Mrs. Manal Alshehri, VP Passenger Sales at SAUDIA and Dato’ Dr. Ammar Abd. Ghapar, Director General Tourism Malaysia.

Dubai welcomed 4.67 million international overnight visitors in the first quarter of 2023, compared to 3.97 million tourists during the same period in 2022. This marks a 17 % YoY growth and the city’s best Q1 performance since the pandemic, placing it firmly on track to becoming the most visited international destination, according to the latest data published by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). The growth, which sets the city on course to full tourism recovery, contributes to the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai this January, to consolidate Dubai’s status as one of the world’s top three cities. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said: “The remarkable growth in international visitation achieved by Dubai in the first quarter of 2023 demonstrates the city’s emergence as one of the key destinations leading the way in the rebound of the global tourism sector. This achievement has been made possible by the far-reaching vision of the leadership to transform Dubai into one of the world’s fastest-growing metropolises and the globe’s pre-eminent hub for travel, talent, entrepreneurship and investment. The Dubai Economic Agenda recently launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, charts an ambitious new path for Dubai to enhance its contributions to shaping the future of the global economy. The tourism sector is not only the strongest pillars of our economy but also a key enabler …