Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) kicked off its participation at Expo 2020 Dubai this week (Sunday) with an event dedicated to encouraging travellers to take another look at what the country has to offer as the ‘new normal’ emerges for world travel. Taking place at the Azerbaijan’s nature-inspired pavilion in the Sustainability District, the event provided a unique opportunity to discover how the country has re-focused its efforts on the expansion of its burgeoning sustainable tourism industry. Inspiring travellers to turn over an eco-friendly leaf was the overarching message conveyed, with key spokespeople, including Florian Sengstschmid, Chief Executive Officer of ATB, underscoring how sustainable tourism policies are crucial to future-proofing the country’s tourism industry and boosting Azerbaijan’s COVID-19 recovery. “Borne out of the disruption caused to the tourism industry last year, Azerbaijan has sought to embrace the new opportunities presented by people looking to travel more safely. We are extremely fortunate that our climate and diverse landscape make socially-distanced travel experiences possible, celebrating the very best of what the country has to offer. In doing so, we have been able to unlock the full potential of Azerbaijan’s diverse natural and cultural offerings, as well as the great talent and resilience of its people”, said Mr. Sengstschmid. “Expo 2020 Dubai provides an ideal platform to share our long-term commitment to sustainable tourism and innovation in the heart of its Sustainability District, and we look forward to welcoming new and returning Middle East travellers to see a new side of Azerbaijan.” Among many sustainable tourism offerings introduced at the event, Slow Food Travel was emphasised with a key focus on inspiring visitors to indulge in the rich diversity of locally-grown food. As one …

Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi International Airport are ready to welcome a large volume of passengers over the half-term break. The airline has provided travel tips to make the journey as convenient and smooth as possible. Check the destination requirements. With travel restrictions changing frequently, Etihad recommends visiting etihad.com/destinationguide to check the latest updates before the journey begins.   Verified to Fly? Visit ‘Manage my booking’ on etihad.com to share covid-related travel documents. Approval will be shared by email giving passengers confidence that all required documents are in place, and allowing fast-track airport check-in at the ‘Verified to Fly’ desks.   Check-in online and arrive early. During peak times, Economy Class check-in for non-US flights opens four hours before departure and closes one hour before departure. Business and First class check-in closes 45 minutes before departure. For US flights check-in closes two hours before the flight. Boarding for all Etihad Airways departures closes 20 minutes before departure. Or, enjoy Etihad’s Home Check-in service.   When travelling to the US, benefit from the US Customs and Border Protection facility (USCBP), meaning all immigration and customs formalities will be completed in Abu Dhabi before departing. Guests must present themselves at the USCBP facility no later than 90 minutes before departure.   Check the flight timing and departure terminal. Given the significant increase in passenger numbers, Etihad Airways will relocate check-in for Economy class guests on the following flights to Terminal 1 on 15 October: EY653 to Cairo (CAI) EY2317 to Riyadh (RUH)   Check the baggage allowance before leaving for the airport: the cabin baggage policy is 7kg for Economy class and 12kg for First and Business class guests. Maximum cabin baggage dimensions …

The first day of the third edition of the Gulf Travel Show ended with its pre-planned meetings for VIP buyers with 320+ meetings. SanJeet Director DDP Group opened the show welcoming all the exhibitors and buyers to the third edition of the Gulf Travel Show. The special industry expert sessions started off at the auditorium with one of the latest trends in the region, the craving for space tourism findings by Zafar Shah, Research Director- Data Products, YouGov MENA followed by Regional trends in flight searches and post pandemic options presented by Dean Wicks Chief Flights Officer Wego, next in line was the update of travel trends in the region with Stewart Smith – Managing Director MEA – Sojern. Hotel industry has been silently working their way over the past 18 months, Mark Willis – CEO Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India shares the latest growth plan for Accor and Bastien Blanc – Managing Director – KSA and Bahrain IHG Hotels and Resorts shared about IHG in Saudi Arabia. Tourism Malaysia is participating for the third time at the third edition of the Gulf Travel Show (GTS) from 12 to 14 October 2021. As a platinum partner, Malaysia is having its own virtual pavilion with 13 booths consisting of Tourism Malaysia Dubai, Tourism Malaysia Jeddah, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), together with three (3) Destination Management Companies (DMC)/ tour operator partners, one product partner, as well as five hotels and resorts from the island of Langkawi. Following this year’s participation, Mr Manoharan Periasamy, the Senior Director of Tourism Malaysia’s International Promotion Division for Asia & Africa says that GTS 2021 is a platform that allows industry …

Tourism Malaysia held its virtual press conference at the third edition of the Gulf Travel Show with the most exciting news that Langkawi hopes to open for international tourists by mid-November this year. It was discussed that Langkawi will be the first destination to open to international travelers and six others are to follow. In his opening remarks, Noor Azman Samsudin, Deputy Director International Promotion Division (Asia & Africa), Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board shared that West Asia and the Gulf region has been one of the most important markets to Malaysia. “Summer has always been a key driver of tourists from the Middle East, however in 2020 due to the pandemic and travel restrictions the numbers deterred. Since the government announced its four phase national recovery plan which included national vaccination programme and keeping a tab on the daily rate of infected persons etc, however as the numbers have seen a decrease the country is now gearing up to welcome international travelers again to kick start from the island of Langkawi. Before the pandemic we had 31 flights per week from all Middle Eastern countries from UAE, Oman, Qatar, Iran etc so we believe that we will cautiously get there.” Speaking about the exciting news announcement Nasaruddin Bin Abdul Muttalib Chief Executive Officer Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) reiterated, “Langkawi is currently open for domestic tourism since 16th September 2021. Within this 26 days after opening for the domestic market we have received around 82,000 visitors so far which is an indicator of success. There has been no infection during this time and we consider that since 92% of the people are vaccinated we are ready to open for international travelers, …

The first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region is off to a great start, with Expo 2020 Dubai welcoming 411,768 ticketed visits in its first ten days. Expo 2020 opened its doors on 1 October, and figures up to and including 10 October show that visitors belonged to 175 nationalities – not far off the 192 countries that are participating in the event, each with its own pavilion. One in three has come from abroad, with this proportion expected to increase as international travel ramps up. Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) said: “Expo 2020 Dubai’s opening week has undoubtedly been a success. The numbers we are seeing are very encouraging and demonstrate the global desire for people to reconnect with each other and to imagine a better future.” A number of ticket options are open to visitors, with Multi-Day and Season Passes proving popular. One in five visitors have already visited Expo more than once, demonstrating that one day is not enough to enjoy the diverse and dynamic array of activities and entertainment on offer. Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “We are very happy with this wonderful turnout. The numbers achieved in the first ten days reflect the enthusiasm of the world to attend Expo 2020 Dubai. The coming days and weeks will be full of special events offering a visitor experience that will be rich, purposeful and entertaining, and we look forward to welcoming many more people from around the world.” Many of the Country Pavilions have also been impressed …

Tourism Malaysia is participating for the third time at the third edition of the Gulf Travel Show (GTS) from 12 to 14 October 2021. As a platinum partner, Malaysia is having its own virtual pavilion with 13 booths consisting of Tourism Malaysia Dubai, Tourism Malaysia Jeddah, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), together with three (3) Destination Management Companies (DMC)/ tour operator partners, one product partner, as well as five hotels and resorts from the island of Langkawi. Following this year’s participation, Mr Manoharan Periasamy, the Senior Director of Tourism Malaysia’s International Promotion Division for Asia & Africa says that GTS 2021 is a platform that allows industry players to share the development and implementation of safety for domestic and international travellers in preparation for reopening the borders, especially for the Middle East market. “Malaysia has successfully completed the vaccination of more than 90 per cent of its adult population against COVID-19, and as a result, domestic tourism has fully reopened effective Monday, 11 October 2021. In the meantime, Tourism Malaysia is gearing up in preparing to welcome more tourists and also continuing in promoting the #WeMissYou campaign ahead of the reopening of our international borders that is expected after we achieve 90 per cent complete inoculation nationwide,” says Mr Manoharan. Mr Nasaruddin Bin Abdul Muttalib, the Chief Executive Officer of LADA also shares, “On 16 September 2021, the government has announced the reopening of Langkawi as the pilot project for Malaysia’s domestic travel bubble, aimed at reviving the nation’s tourism industry. Langkawi has become the first holiday destination in Malaysia to open its doors to domestic tourists who are fully vaccinated. The visitors are also subject …

Miral in collaboration with Warner Bros. announced that The WB Abu Dhabi hotel on Yas Island, operated by Hilton under the Curio Collection brand, will open its doors to guests on 11 November 2021, inviting guests to see their favorite stories and characters brought to life through unique hospitality experiences that only the rich history and storied legacy of Warner Bros. could offer. Featuring one of the finest collections of Warner Bros. archives, guests at the world’s first Warner Bros. hotel will be treated to a journey of discovery through film and television, enjoying Warner Bros.’ rich history and library of timeless productions at every touchpoint from arrival to check-out. While dining in one of five restaurants on the property, you can listen as the piano from “Westworld” plays a familiar tune. Visitors can stroll through the lobby or admire 360-degree city and sea views alongside their favorite props and costumes from Warner Bros. films and TV shows.  And kids and families can ring up one of their favorite Looney Tunes characters for a room service treat brought to them by the Wascally Wabbit, Bugs Bunny himself.   HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, said: “We are proud to be launching another first with the opening of the only Warner Bros. hotel in the world. This new story-driven hospitality experience is set to excite guests from all over the world, further reinforcing Yas Island’s position as a global entertainment, leisure and business destination and supporting Abu Dhabi’s ambition to attract greater numbers of local and international tourists. We are delighted to be strengthening our partnership with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment and Hilton with this unique one-of-a kind experience.” …

Bespoke packages offer assortment of experiences for Oman Air transit passengers, whether stopping for 12 hours, overnight or several days, and include second night free and discounted additional nights with 25% off food and beverage. Oman Air Holidays today announced the launch of Oman stopover packages giving Oman Air-ticketed passengers the flexibility to discover some of the most desirable tourist spots in and around Muscat: the capital Muscat, Nizwa, Jabal Akhdar, and Mussanah. Also available is a fully bespoke 8-hour Muscat city day tour stopover. Recently reopened for vaccinated travel, Oman is an alluring and desirable destination among discerning global travellers and offers an abundance of attractions. The ‘hidden gem’ of the region, the country offers a vibrant palette of nature, climate, leisure, culture and history, and Omanis are renowned the world over for their authentic hospitality and shared sense of openness and respect. “Oman discovery stopovers combine convenience, diversity and affordability for anyone who wants to experience more Oman on their next trip,” explains Mundher Al Shaikhani, Senior Manager Oman Air Holidays. “Each package is designed to offer visitors a distinct taste of some of our leading tourist spots, whether on a quick overnight escape or an immersive week-long excursion, and are priced for value with discounted rates and exciting add-ons.”   Enabling the country’s flourishing tourism potential is something Oman Air Holidays does exceptionally well, and the launch of stopover packages adds to Oman’s growing inventory of custom stays and experiences. Oman Air Holidays’ five stopovers can be further customized to include local tours and excursions, type of transportation, and flexible length of stay. Muscat Discovery Stopover The captivating capital of Oman, Muscat is a favourite stopover with …

Raffles plans to double its footprint of resorts over the next three to five years. The brand’s resort development pipeline includes sought-after destinations such as Macau (China), Sentosa (Singapore), Manama (Bahrain) and Jaipur (India). With many markets seeing a robust return to leisure travel following more than a year of disruptions and pent-up demand, Raffles Hotels & Resorts enters an exciting phase of growth which will see the revered brand add several new resort destinations to its worldwide portfolio of hotels, resorts and residences. A heritage luxury brand known for creating landmark properties in key destinations around the world. “Resort travel is rapidly increasing in demand and we are seeing an uptick in resort developments in several markets around the world,” said Agnès Roquefort, Chief Development Officer of Accor, the global hospitality group that owns the Raffles brand. “The pandemic has awakened people’s desire to travel further, visit dream destinations and experience the world together – in small groups or with the whole family.” Adds Stephen Alden, CEO Raffles & Orient Express, “At Raffles, we are fusing our illustrious heritage with modern hotelcraft to create places of comfortable wonderment and enrichment for our well-travelled guests. As we look forward to the next chapter in the brand’s storied history, diversifying our portfolio with a broader array of resorts and experiences will play an important role in enabling us to achieve this goal. Several of our extraordinary resort projects are making headlines with the opening of Raffles Udaipur and more recently with the opening of Raffles The Palm, Dubai – places filled with the legendary spirit of Raffles, with its peerless service, sense of calm in a hurried world, and the promise …

The third edition of the most popular virtual trade show the Gulf Travel Show kicks off tomorrow 12th October at 10am UAE time until 4pm until 14th October 2021. It will be an opportunity once again to network for three whole days where partners from the Middle East will meet those from across the world. One of the key events amidst the networking will be the interesting panel discussions with experts from the industry. Finding out the countries or borders that are open, what new initiatives are taken to welcome tourists, for the first time cruise tourism and where it is headed after the pandemic as there has been an increase of bookings for the cruise industry which has always been a niche market, now more than ever they have seen the rise of bookings and the new trends in the industry. Space tourism is another subject which seem to grow very close to the heart of the Middle East, as the first astronaut mission from UAE was a success, more interest is gained in the space tourism initiatives and these findings will be shared. Networking with the trade One on one business meetings is the strength in the one of kind event in its third succession, this time too it promises to host buyers with their personalized timings. They will engage and network with partners from travel agents, tour operators, tourism boards, airlines, hotels, travel management companies, international agencies and media, the event has kept the momentum of the industry on a proactive level. The success of the first two editions in November 2020 and March 2021 subsequently, led to its third edition of the region’s most popular virtual …