As Jeddah gears up for its second Formula One event the coming weekend, following the first ever top-tier race in December 2021, a new chapter of sports tourism has been started. At present, the sports sector contributes around 0.2% of the Kingdom’s GDP, while the tourism sector contributes about 3%, according to the Ministry of Sport and the Ministry of Tourism. The two ministries have ambitious targets for growth: sports should contribute 0.6% of GDP and tourism 10% by 2030. One of the major areas for growth sits at the crossroads of the two: sports tourism. The latest publication by KPMG, “Competitive edge: The unfolding potential for sports tourism in Saudi Arabia”, presents a model of four different categories of sports tourism, with a global case study supporting each type. Across these categories, the model emphasizes coordination between organizers, mainly the private sector, public sector enablers and national tourism promoters as it is critical to attracting foreign tourists for both sport events and participation. The first “destination-dependent sports tourism” category notes that the Kingdom’s vast natural infrastructure as a major pull factor for sports tourism. That would include activities like diving and other watersports along the Red Sea coast, mountain climbing, as well as desert activities such as rally racing, running, cycling, motor and quad biking. The second model, “alternative location sports tourism,” refers to the sport that tourists often play close to home when they are not on vacation. The sport – or entire vacation – is enhanced by the destination. A key example here is golf, already one of the most prolific tourism sports around the world. The landscape and coastline of Saudi Arabia provide an outstanding and …

The Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), a part of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), hosted a career fair for all of its students to enable them to choose from a range of career choices to chart a successful future. Industry leaders from across the tourism ecosystem were invited to attend and present their respective organisations to students at the purpose-built college facility located in One Central in the dynamic Dubai World Trade Centre area. This was followed by conducting interviews pertaining to part-time opportunities, internships, management trainee programmes and full time positions. The fair was held to aid the students to gain confidence and strengthen their networking skills, in order to secure internships which is a mandatory part of their programme at DCT. DCT courses provide a hands-on approach that is unrivalled within the industry and active collaborative initiatives with industry partners form a cornerstone of the programmes as these are designed to provide students with a transformational educational experience that is tailored to meet the needs of future employers. Participating companies included the Jumeirah Group, Hilton, Dan Bolton Creative Management Agency, Sofitel The Palm, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), Pullman Hotels, Marriott, TEC Events, Avantgarde, and Media One Hotel.

The Indonesia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, has attracted up to two million visitors worldwide as Expo 2020 Dubai reach it’s end. The Indonesia Pavilion continues to strive to achieve the target of 2.5 million visitors at the end of Expo 2020 Dubai. “We are thrilled because, in less than two weeks of the end of Expo 2020 Dubai, the Indonesia Pavilion has managed to attract two million visitors. We are optimistic that the numbers will continue to increase until this event ends,” said the Director General of National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade and Commissioner General of the Indonesia Pavilion Didi Sumedi. Didi state that the success of attracting two million visitors could not be separated from Indonesia’s efforts to provide festive shows every day, ranging from amazing cultural performances, exhibitions of local products, to a wide range of workshops that successfully attracted the hearts of Expo 2020 Dubai visitors. The business forum agendas held by the Indonesia Pavilion also played a role in showing attractiveness and opening up investment and trade opportunities in Indonesia. Coffee Cupping event at Indonesia Pavilion serving Local Farmers’ Coffee Didi also said, as the fourth largest coffee producer in the world, Indonesia continues to strive to showcase local coffee farmers at Expo 2020 Dubai. Therefore, in the week of Bank Indonesia’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, the Indonesia Pavilion held a coffee cupping event on Sunday. The event was held in an effort to expand access to the Indonesian coffee market to the Middle East. “At the Expo 2020 Dubai event, Indonesia continues to introduce local Indonesian coffee, from exhibitions to coffee brewing demonstrations that can be found in the Indonesia …

The General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO recognized the best examples of villages that make tourism a source of opportunities and a driver of sustainable development. “Best Tourism Villages” is an initiative launched to promote the role of tourism in safeguarding rural villages, as well as their landscapes, natural and cultural diversity, and local values and activities, including gastronomy. Testo Alto is on the list of 44 award-winning villages worldwide! Testo Alto, recognized “Best Tourism Village” by the World Tourism Organization. Brazil shines through its worthy representative, the village of Testo Alto. A little over 160 kilometers of road separate Florianópolis and one of the best tourist villages in the world: the Enxaimel Route, in Pomerode, Santa Catarina. Awarded among the selection of the World Tourism Organization (WTO), the village receives this certification that recognizes rural areas where tourism generates sustainable opportunities, preserving cultural traditions and the environment. The villages were evaluated by an independent advisory committee based on a series of criteria in nine areas: – Cultural and natural resources – Promotion and conservation of cultural resources – Economic sustainability – Social sustainability – Environmental sustainability – Tourism potential and development and value chain integration – Tourism governance and prioritization – Infrastructure and connectivity – Health, safety and security Each of the villages has achieved at least 80 of the 100 possible points. 44 villages from 32 countries in the five regions of the world have been awarded this recognition in 2021. All of them stand out for their natural and cultural resources as well as for their innovative and transformative actions and commitment to the expansion of tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. UNWTO …

The Riyadh Travel Fair (RTF) is coming back to Saudi Arabia, and it’s coming back bigger than before. The news was announced by ASAS Exhibitions; the official organiser of the travel and tourism event that has otherwise been held annually since 2009. The 12th edition of the Fair will be held after a two-year-long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and will open its doors to exhibitors, trade visitors and travel enthusiasts from 22-24 May, 2022. The three-day fair will be held for the first time at the newly developed exhibition center; Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center (RICEC). Demand from exhibitors to participate in the event has been extremely strong, with most of the available spaces fully booked. Some spaces do remain available however, which once finalized will see more than 300 participants representing tourism boards, airlines, Destination Management Companies (DMCs), hotels and resorts, and tour operators from over 40 countries in attendance. A key theme at Riyadh Travel Fair 2022 will be ‘Safe & Meaningful Travel Following a Covid Pandemic World’. Through various platforms a number of networking events and business opportunities for participants will be held over the course of the three days, as well as providing an opportunity for exhibitors to meet with Riyadh’s travelling public and popular influencers and media representatives. 15 new destinations and companies are participating for the first time in the annual exhibition, including representatives from Thailand, South Africa, Azerbaijan, Mauritius, Maldives, and Philippines among others. “We are so glad to be back!”, stated Bander Algryni, General Manager at ASAS Exhibitions. “It is great to see the desire for travel returning with such force and resilience and the inclusion of new participants …

Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing remarkable developments in the Hajj and Umrah sector to shift towards a more digitized and innovative future. In efforts to create a one-of-a-kind Umrah and Hajj experience for the modern pilgrim, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah organized its annual conference and exhibition for this year, “The Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition” under the title “Transformation towards innovation.” The “Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition” was held under the Patronage of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region and in the presence of a number of Their Excellencies Ministers from the Islamic world, and a large number of diplomatic, social, economic and media personalities under the umbrella of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan al-Rabiah, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, in cooperation with the pilgrim’s service program to contribute to submit recommendations and proposals for innovative solutions that better serve the Hajj and Umrah sector and to ensure a smooth and comfortable Hajj for the guests of Allah. The Kingdom hosted this extraordinary event to discuss new and advanced ways to enrich the Hajj and Umrah experience in line with Vision 2030. The “Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition” offered an attractive gateway for investors to build strategic partnerships with stakeholders from both the governmental and the private and non-profit sectors while combining efforts to keep up with the accelerating pace of technology and harness its benefits to better serve pilgrims through the following: Shed light …

The eyes of the world will be on Qatar for the Final Draw of the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ on Friday 1 April, to witness the grouping of all teams for the flagship competition. The much-anticipated ceremony will be held at The Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, starting at 19:00 (Doha time). The Final Draw will be graced by a delegation of Qatar Airways’ senior management who will be present to share the excitement amongst several former champions of the prestigious tournament in attendance. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “What was once a dream is now a reality. Many world-class footballers will be present to play their part in deciding who will face who in this year’s FIFA World Cup™ in Qatar.” H.E. Mr. Al Baker added: “As the Official Airline Partner of FIFA, we offer fans from around the world unique travel packages, inclusive of match tickets, flights and accommodation options, guaranteeing an unforgettable experience from start to finish. We want to utilise our global network to reunite the world in Qatar for what will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime sporting event.” With 29 out of the 32 participants confirmed at the time of the Final Draw, qualified teams will be separated into four pots based on the latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking. Pot four will include three placeholders representing the two intercontinental play-off winners and the European play-off winner, who will only be determined in June. Guests attending the Final Draw event will be able to experience the World’s Best Airline’s multi-award-winning Qsuite Business Class, which will be featured in a designated area. Qatar Airways is inviting …

Millennium Hotels & Resorts MEA is pleased to announce the latest addition to its expansive portfolio in the UAE with the opening of Copthorne Lakeview Hotel & Executive Apartments at Dubai Investments Park in partnership with Properties Investment LLC. Hamid Sidine, Chief Operating Officer of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, Middle East and Africa, said: We are very proud to open our latest hotel in the UAE and continue our strategic expansion across the Middle East region. We aim to create memorable experiences for our guests across all our hotel destinations and this hotel is no exception with its spectacular views and a relaxing atmosphere near the Dubai Expo 2020 site, Copthorne Lakeview is the ideal destination for the local community, business and leisure travellers” Overlooking a picturesque lake, the Copthorne Lakeview Hotel & Executive Apartments Dubai Investments Park encompasses 165 rooms and 43 apartments of one and two bedrooms. It offers an outdoor pool area that includes a separate children’s pool and a relaxing terrace. The hotel adjoins a shopping mall that consists of a large grocery shop, Choithrams, a nail salon, a hairdresser, a kids play area, and several restaurants. Copthorne Lakeview Hotel & Executive Apartments offers a choice of dining options including a specialty all-day dining restaurant, Poolside Bar, and a British style gastro-pub, Neighborhood. It also provides banquet spaces with a private entrance, a large outdoor terrace to host special events and outdoor receptions, and five event rooms. For golfers the hotel is located near three championship golf courses and is also within a 15-minute drive to Dubai Expo 2020 site and a 20-minute drive from Al Maktoum International Airport. Copthorne is a renowned brand that provides …

Travelex has launched its 29th location at the world’s busiest international airport, Dubai International (DXB) in the latest indication of the UAE’s tourism industry’s strong post-pandemic rebound. Travelex is also announcing plans to open its 30th store at the airport by April 2022. The new location – conveniently located for passengers in DXB’s Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall – is equipped with ATMs and trades in over 60 currencies. The launch of the new flagship store  and Travelex’s 46th in the UAE – comes as regional passenger volumes continue to climb, with 29.1 million passengers passing though DXB in 2021, a 12.7% increase on 2020. Earlier this month, the World Travel and Tourism Council announced that the Middle East’s travel tourism sector is likely to reach $246 billion this year – just 8.9% below pre-pandemic levels – with a return of global air travel, a relaxing of Covid-19 regulations, and major events, such as Expo 2020 Dubai and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, being major drivers of the market’s recovery. Travelex now offers customers foreign exchange services from 22 conventional stores and 7 mobile kiosks across Dubai International – all operated by over 240 employees. In addition to 29 locations at DXB, Travelex also operates a range of stores, OTMs (mobile kiosks) and ATMs across the wider UAE. These include Port Rashid, as well as a combined 15 locations across Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Travelex has plans to develop further locations across both Dubai International and Sharjah in 2022, creating more jobs in the process for both Emiratis and expats. Batu Dolay, Commercial Director, Travelex Middle East & Turkey said: “We are delighted and proud to both open our 29th …

The first-ever virtual event in the region, the Gulf Travel Show 2022 ended its final day with  over 2000 one-on-one meetings attended by travel agents, tour operators, tourism boards, airlines, hotels, travel management companies, international agencies and media over a period of two days for the fourth consecutive time in platinum partnership with Tourism Malaysia. San Jeet, Director, DDP group, reiterated in his address, “Advancing connections in a changing world has never been more important. We want you to make the most of this platform and help us shape the future. Our goal is to offer a virtual show that is as dynamic and as rewarding as a physical one. We intend to build connections, grow businesses and establish long-term mutually beneficial relationships.” Mirza Ghalib – Deputy Director – Tourism Malaysia – Dubai, ‘Gulf Travel Show 4.0 was a success for our Malaysian partners on the virtual B2B sessions with buyers from the Middle East region. We are satisfied with the contacts and enquiries that we have received, and our partners have been full with appointments since the announcement of Malaysia is re-opening on 1st April 2022. This is a good sign for us and we hope to see you in Malaysia soon.’ Sanaf Rahman – Travel Consultant – Aldar Travel & Tours Bahrain, shared, “Gulf Travel Show created a platform over the past two years to connect with suppliers from various parts of the world in one safe virtual space. Every edition of the Gulf Travel Show has brought in different suppliers to meet, engage and collaborate. Another interesting fact will be the insightful panel discussions and presentations by the experts featured in the auditorium, which we all look …