Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Our second edition of the exclusive ‘Whale Sharks in Qatar’ tours, offered through Discover Qatar, presents an unmissable opportunity for nature lovers to witness and interact with the grand and gentle creatures of the sea. We are proud to call Qatar a home to one of the largest congregations of Whale Sharks in the world, and remain committed to being the leading destination to connect people from all over the world with such fascinating marine life.” Qatar has the largest concentration of Whale Sharks in the world, making it the only place visitors can see so many in a single sighting. Often referred to as ‘gentle giants’, they are estimated to have existed for 60 million years, can live up to 100 years, and grow up to 12 metres in length. Discover Qatar announced that the second edition of its ‘Whale Sharks in Qatar’ tours will begin from 18 May, 2023 and run until the end of August. Daily tours and private charters can be booked exclusively through the Discover Qatar and Qatar Airways Holidays online platforms. The once-in-a-lifetime experience departs every Thursday to Sunday for eight hours on a 40-seater catamaran, and starts from USD 249 per person. Nature enthusiasts can also avail private charters on a luxury yacht with a capacity up to 16 guests. Both tours include an expert guide, with Wi-Fi, refreshments, and breakfast and lunch provided. Launched in 2022, the ‘Whale Sharks of Qatar’ tour has been a resounding success, with nearly 500 explorers becoming the first to observe up to 300 Whale Sharks congregating off the north-eastern coast of Qatar. Discover Qatar …

flynas announced adding 10 new destinations and routes in Asia and Europe during the 2023 summer season as of next June, boosting its ever-growing flight network. Four new destinations will be served out of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, including the Maldives, the Armenian capital of Yerevan, Antalya in Turkey, and Tivat in Montenegro, the Saudi carrier said. Six new routes will be launched, including four routes from Dammam to Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman, the Turkish cities sof Istanbul and Trabzon, and the Albanian capital of Tirana. In addition, two more routes will be operated from Jeddah to Salalah and the Turkish city of Bodrum, flynas added. Summer destinations and routes already launched as seasonal will be re-operated, including the Czech capital of Prague, Vienna, and Salzburg in Austria, the Azeri capital of Baku, Tbilisi, and Batumi in Georgia, the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, Trabzon and Bodrum in Turkey, Salalah in Oman, flynas stated. The total summer destinations in 2023 became 20 destinations. Bander Almohanna, CEO of flynas, said that the new destinations and routes of the Saudi carrier reflect the company’s commitment to its growth and expansion strategy under the slogan “We Connect the World to the Kingdom” to cement its leading position as the best low-cost airline in the Middle East and one of the top 10 airlines of its category worldwide. “This approach is in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 and the civil aviation strategy to reach 330 million passengers, 250 international destinations, and 100 million tourists annually,” he stressed Almohanna pointed out that flynas posted a record growth in performance and operations during …

Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism joined forces to partner with the highly acclaimed Destination Wedding Planners (DWP) Congress 2023, an exclusive event that brought the largest Business-to-Business platform for weddings to Doha. This collaboration underscores the city’s growing stature as a key figure in the MICE industry, which continues to attract business travellers from around the world. The 9th edition of DWP congress was held from 14-16 March, to bring together leading wedding planner professionals who provided fresh perspectives on the industry through a series of keynote speeches and DWP masterclasses. Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker opened the congress with a speech to spotlight Qatar’s offerings as a versatile and captivating wedding destination. Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Our continuous effort to promote Qatar as a leading destination that caters to the needs of all travellers has been further strengthened by the recent hosting of the Destination Wedding Planners Congress 2023. This event is regarded as the most prestigious B2B gathering in the multi-billion-dollar wedding industry, and we are honoured to have had the best wedding planners and designers in Doha. We eagerly anticipate welcoming them back following an inspiring visit this year, and look forward to seeing their vision for luxurious and elaborate weddings.” The DWP congress has grown rapidly since its inception in 2014, which took place in Greece, and has successfully made its mark in desirable destinations across the globe from Florence, Phuket, Los Cabos, Dubai and Bali. This year the congress highlighted Doha, a city that has undergone remarkable developments in hospitality, aviation, …

flyadeal signed a strategic partnership with Saudi Tourism Authority to support tourism growth across the country. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Con Korfiatis,  flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, and Mohammed Basrawi, President of Domestic Tourism at Saudi Tourism Authority. The agreement will see both organisations develop closer cooperation to drive more visitors to the Kingdom and capitalise on a rapidly growing domestic and inbound tourist market. This will include greater presence at travel events and tourism roadshows with joint promotional and marketing activities, and visibility of the inbound Visit Saudi campaign on flyadeal’s website and social media channels — all aimed at generating more visibility of the Kingdom’s tourism industry and to achieve the strategic goal of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. With a network of 17 domestic cities and an ever-expanding international footprint, where the airline currently serves five regional countries from either Riyadh or Jeddah, flyadeal has developed a strong presence since its formation in just over five years. flyadeal’s current international presence includes Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Kuwait and Sudan.

Mashhour Bashan the Executive Director for Travel Experiences, on (designing tours and experiences for cruise passengers) explained that “the cruise sector is a new industry for the Kingdom, it provides specific services, and our role in Cruise Saudi is to develop and enable the private sector. This workshop is one of several workshops on developing the sector to attract 1.3 million passengers by 2035”. Participating in the recent Saudi Tourism Forum 2023, held in Riyadh 100% Public Investment Fund-owned business,  Cruise Saudi shared the latest work hand in hand with ministries and regulatory authorities to build the offshore and onshore cruise ecosystem with the aim of positioning Saudi as a premier global cruise destination. Throughout the Forum, Cruise Saudi met with a number of public and private sector companies – an opportunity to update key industry contacts with the news and developments since Cruise Saudi launched in 2021. From the expansion of Saudi Arabia’s cruise infrastructure to the two successful completed seasons, Cruise Saudi’s rapid expansion in this vital sector has worked alongside the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 as an engine to drive the development of tourism, and to transform the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with its various regions and natural, historic and heritage treasures into a unique and distinctive destination on the global cruise map. Engineer Fawaz Farouqi praised the Forum and the fruitful cooperation of all public and private parties involved in the Tourism System in providing an exceptional experience for tourists visiting the Kingdom, thus reflecting their contribution to achieve Vision 2030 goals and broaden the horizons of the Saudi cruise sector. Cruise Saudi also organised an awareness workshop, delivered by Mashhour Bashan, the Executive Director for Travel …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and the FTI GROUP  struck a new agreement that paves the way for the launch of twice-weekly flights from Munich to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport in the fourth quarter of this year. The agreement, which was signed by Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and Ralph Schiller, CEO of the FTI GROUP ranked among the headline announcements on day one of the Arab Aviation Summit, which is currently being staged at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. It will significantly expand air connectivity between Ras Al Khaimah and Germany, one of the emirate’s top five visitor source markets for many years. Germany ranks among the global tourism industry’s most important outbound source markets and is projected to account for almost 118 million travellers annually by 2024, according to a recent report published by GlobalData. “This agreement with the FTI GROUP marks a major milestone in Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism development strategy, as we look to drive inbound traffic from Germany, which counts among our fastest-growing visitor source markets,” commented Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. “In 2022, we’ve experienced 81% growth in German visitors to Ras Al Khaimah compared to the previous year, and the addition of twice-weekly direct flights from Munich, one of the country’s most important aviation hubs, should see this number grow substantially. In fact, our robust relationships with all leading trade partners in Germany will all play a key role in reaching our target of 3 million visitors annually by 2030, while boosting tourism’s GDP contribution from 5% today to almost a third …

Al Hamra recently rebranded the Royal Yacht Club of Ras Al Khaimah in line with its vision of bolstering Ras Al Khaimah’s exclusive tourism and leisure offerings for both tourists and residents.Al Hamra announced the deployment of four new buoys at strategic anchorage locations around Al Hamra and Al Marjan Island, to further elevate the marine and yachting experience for boat owners in the UAE. The new buoys installed around Al Hamra and Al Marjan Island offer an easy-to-use and accessible anchorage location in one of the most sought-after marine destinations in the UAE. With a short journey to the Royal Yacht Club of Ras Al Khaimah, boat owners can enjoy benefits from the full service marina, including F&B, leisure offerings and maritime services. As part of Ras Al Khaimah’s strategy for strengthening maritime activity, the anchorages will be free to use throughout the year for vessels up to 30 meters in length and up to 150GT. With an unspoiled coastline spanning 64 kilometres, the calm, turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf will enable boat owners and holidaymakers to connect with the Emirate’s rich maritime heritage while benefiting from ease of access to the high-end, unrivalled offerings at the Royal Yacht Club’s state-of-the-art marina. These include access to outstanding leisure, food, and beverage facilities in the area’s leading hotels and leisure destinations. Christopher Hewett, Senior Vice President of Hospitality at Al Hamra, said: “In support of Ras Al Khaimah’s strategy to increase tourism and leisure activities in the Emirate, we are pleased to launch these new anchorages in Al Hamra and Al Marjan Island. The free to use anchorages for recreational boaters are strategically located to ensure safe mooring as …

SAUDIA hosted the 94th Executive Committee meeting of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO) in Jeddah. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of SAUDIA Group and Chairman of AACO’s Executive Committee, in the presence of Mr. Abdul Wahab Teffaha, AACO Secretary General, along with Chairpersons and CEOs from the Committee member Arab airlines. The Executive Committee oversees AACO’s overall work, with a focus on collaborative projects among its members. The Committee’s meeting sets the path for the 56th Annual General Meeting, which will be hosted in Riyadh between October 30 and November 1, 2023. The meeting discussed the current state of the industry, including the recovery of the aviation sector and the increasing travel demand following the COVID-19 crisis. It also highlighted the world’s latest geopolitical challenges and their impacts, while delving into significant issues related to the environment and aviation. The meeting focused on the importance of digital transformation and developing innovative solutions that enable the airlines to improve their services and offer better experiences to their customers. Additionally, the Committee reviewed the latest developments of the current joint projects between AACO members, and some administrative and financial affairs for the organization. His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of SAUDIA Group and Chairman of AACO’s Executive Committee said: “AACO is diligently working to empower Arab airline companies, advocate for their common interests, and facilitate their collaboration to improve their operational efficiency and service quality. AACO also ensures ongoing coordination with related regulatory authorities to support its member airlines and preserve their interests, along with launching joint projects to improve efficiencies and reduce costs for its members, in line with applicable laws. “I …

As part of the airline’s strategic plans to expand its global network and welcome new visitors to Jordan, Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) has announced plans to introduce a new, direct route between Amman, Jordan and Stockholm, Sweden, beginning of May 29. The twice-weekly flights will connect passengers traveling between the two cities in just around four to five hours. The new Stockholm expansion is part of RJ’s new strategy to focus on driving tourism into Jordan and becoming the airline of choice for the Levant region. Passengers throughout Northern Europe will have direct route to the Jordanian capital from the capital of Sweden. Royal Jordanian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer, Karim Makhlouf, said, “It is my great pleasure to announce our new route to Stockholm, Sweden, which will make it easier than ever for tourists from Northern Europe and especially from Sweden to discover Jordan’s incredible wonders. Helping to promote and drive tourism to the Kingdom is a key focus of our new strategy—as is our emphasis on further developing Amman as the primary gateway to the Levant, by offering improved connectivity to our broader network. This newest route is yet another step in line with RJ’s ambitious five-year growth plan, which includes increasing our current fleet of 24 aircraft to more than 40 aircraft in the coming three to five years.” We want to welcome Royal Jordanian Airlines to Sweden and Swedavia Airports with the new route to Amman. The route will be an addition to the existing offer of routes available at Arlanda and it is evident that there is demand from travelers who wish to visit their friends and family in the Middle East, as well as from …

The distinctive livery of the world’s largest international airline, Emirates, has undergone a refresh. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “Aircraft livery is the most instantly recognisable brand real estate for any airline. It’s a visual representation of our unique identity, something we wear proudly, and display in all the cities we fly to around the world. We’re refreshing our livery to keep it modern, without losing the key elements of our identity such as the UAE flag on our tailfin and the Arabic calligraphy.” Eagle-eyed plane spotters and fans will immediately notice changes to the tailfin and wingtips.  In this latest design, the UAE flag on the Emirates tailfin is much more dynamic and flowing with a 3D effect artwork, and the wingtips have been painted red with the Emirates logo in Arabic calligraphy “popping” out in reverse white. Passengers onboard with a window view will see the UAE flag colours painted on the wingtips facing the fuselage. The signature gold “Emirates” lettering across the main body in English and Arabic is also bolder, and 32.5% larger. On the aircraft belly, Emirates has retained its iconic red branding which it introduced in 2005.  The website URL “Emirates.com” has been dropped from the design. This is the 3rd iteration of Emirates’ official aircraft brand colours. The original livery unveiled with the airline’s launch in 1985 had its first refresh 14 years later, with the delivery of Emirates’ first Boeing 777-300 at the 1999 Dubai Airshow. The first aircraft to sport Emirates’ newest livery is A6-EOE, an Airbus A380, which has rolled out of Emirates Engineering this week after its makeover. Its first deployment will be to Munich on 17 …