The Honourable Minister Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri graced the occasion and officiated the launch of the Malaysian classic traditional trishaw, or locally known as beca, as well as several Malaysia packages highlighting new ecotourism products in various destinations in Malaysia. This week, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) through its agency Tourism Malaysia took over the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) between 26th December 2021 until 31st December 2021. Promoting Malaysia as the next Top of the Mind Ecotourism Destination in the World, the Ecotourism Week at the Malaysia Pavilion takes the call from Malaysia’s National Tourism Policy 2020-2030 which highlights the practice of sustainable and responsible tourism. Malaysia is joined by 16 organisations, consisting of five (5) state tourism boards, three (3) associations, one (1) hotel chain, one (1) product owner, and six (6) tour operators. Throughout Tourism Malaysia’s Ecotourism Week, participants get to learn more about different perspectives of ecotourism in Malaysia by Malaysia’s renowned speakers at the Expert Talk series, namely: Andrew Sebastian – Ecotourism & Conservation Society Malaysia, Syed Abd Rahman Syed Hassan – Diveheart Malaysia, Adj. Prof Anthony Wong Kim Hooi – Sustainability & Ecotourism Expert and Eric Sinnaya – Malaysia Nature Society. As part of her first Tourism Sales Mission to the Middle East, Dato’ Sri Nancy will also attend a networking dinner with members of the travel trade and media in UAE on 30 December 2021. The mission aims to reinstate and enhance the commitment to establishing good tourism cooperation, engaging future collaborations, and cooperation in the tourism industry. The Malaysian Government launched its first International Travel Bubble by reopening Langkawi Island to fully-vaccinated …

Gulf Air will resume its direct flights to Baku, with two weekly flights starting from 06 January 2022. On this occasion, Captain Waleed AlAlawi, Acting Chief Executive Officer, said “We have been operating direct flights between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Azerbaijan since 2018, and it has been a popular destination within the Gulf Air network since its launch, offering the airline’s passengers numerous historic and cultural landmarks and tourist attractions to explore. We are extremely happy to see a much healthier trend in the travel industry and the resumption of some of our most popular destinations as the global vaccination program continues to bring a sense of normalcy back into our routine.” The airline currently operates its flights to over 80% of its pre-pandemic network; as Gulf Air continuously works closely with government authorities throughout destinations on its network to resume operations to those destinations. Gulf Air boasts a flexible and agile network by immediately adapting to government orders and civil aviation directives around its network and has been responsive to continuous changes and updates regarding operations to and from its network destinations. Recently, Gulf Air has received APEX’s Five Star Major Official Airline Rating; an award based solely on certified passengers’ feedback. the rating came as a testament to the success of Gulf Air’s boutique strategy and the major developments in its products and services since the launch of the recent brand refresh and fleet modernization programme. Last week, The airline also announced the activation of a number of unprecedented offers for its passengers, which will give them the opportunity to stop in Bahrain, obtain hotel reservations, and use tourist facilities through various tailored packages …

Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the emirate’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has announced precautionary measures for New Year’s Eve celebrations in the emirate. Urging members of the public to continue abiding by COVID-19 precautionary measures to protect themselves and the community, the Committee said that stringent observance of preventive guidelines is vital to maintain the progress Dubai has achieved in combating the pandemic. During a meeting held, the Supreme Committee further said the community’s stringent adherence to COVID-19 precautionary guidelines has been key to Dubai’s exceptional success in containing the pandemic. The emirate’s ongoing awareness campaigns and the public’s continued cooperation will help ensure the wellbeing of all citizens, residents and visitors. The Committee’s latest meeting reviewed the preparations for New Year’s Eve celebrations and the roles of various task forces. The meeting also approved preventive measures and guidelines for the celebrations. His Highness Sheikh Mansoor said the concerted efforts of frontline authorities and the integrated plan to curb the pandemic combined with the steadfast cooperation of the public has enabled Dubai to curb the spread of the virus. Strong preventive protocols continue to be enforced as part of the Government of Dubai’s efforts to protect citizens, residents and visitors, His Highness said. “Dubai has continuously monitored local and global developments to take the decisive action necessary to protect the community and implement precautionary measures outlined by local and international health authorities. Every member of the community should stringently observe the preventive guidelines in …

Visits to Expo 2020 Dubai continue to climb substantially, increasing to 8,067,012 in the period up to 27 December as the most significant global gathering of 2021 continues to welcome visitors safely and responsibly. Expo’s stringent COVID-19 safety measures are designed to protect everyone on site, and include mandatory mask-wearing – indoors and outdoors – for visitors, as well as all staff and participants. Venues may also close temporarily for deep cleaning and sanitisation in response to positive cases detected by extensive workforce testing protocols, as well as for maintenance, private events and staff shortages. During the past week, Expo 2020 celebrated Christmas with a series of special events, with thousands of visitors safely enjoying the festivities, with many taking advantage of the AED 95 festive pass valid until the end of December. Visitors and performers have shown collective responsibility in the face of heightened health concerns. Academy and Grammy award-winning composer A.R. Rahman, during a special concert on 22 December, thanked audiences for being responsible and encouraged everyone to wear masks – a message echoed on Christmas Day by award-winning actress and singer Lea Salonga and internationally acclaimed singer and pianist Joe Stilgoe. On 24 December, The Holy See held a prayer service for humanity, award-winning Lebanese singer Tania Kassis and the Festival Chorus performed a special carol service, while the UK’s most successful gospel choir group, the London Community Gospel Choir and American soul artist Naia Izumi delighted audiences. The next seven days promise another host of events to dazzle, entertain and educate, with a special focus on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Helping visitors ring in 2022 will be two of the world’s biggest DJs …

Mohammed Hanif Al Qassim  an Emirati hotelier and the Managing Partner at The Manor by JA hotel, has been appointed as one of the youngest global advisory council members at the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) organization. Al Qassim, who is also the only Arab member, will serve in a three year term commencing on 2022 at the advisory council of the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®). HITEC event has been produced by HFTP organization to serve as a forum for hospitality professionals to exchange information and ideas on the latest products and services. The council will produce international education programs that leverage the skills-set of the hospitality professionals and help them to be ready to run successful hotel operations in the future. In addition, HITEC council members will engage in identifying the current and the most important hospitality topics. The advisory council is also mandated to focus on the capacity building side of the hospitality industry and evaluating the relevant programs for the hoteliers and professionals around the globe. Commenting on the appointment, Frank Wolfe, CAE, FIH; CEO at HFTP said: “since 2016, our activities in the UAE have been largely regional with the HFTP Dubai Chapter and HITEC Dubai. Now with Mohammed Al Qassim joining the HITEC Advisory Council, we are fostering an increasingly international perspective for a global industry event. This is the real definition of what HFTP is about.” “As the network expands internationally, like-minded professionals have a broader source of information to draw from. And now, as HFTP grows in the UAE there is the opportunity to hear from the experiences of members in the region, considering that the UAE have a …

In a move that further contributes to realising the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to make Dubai the world’s best city to live, work and visit, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched an online portal that provides a ‘One-Stop-Shop’ for timeshare operators to register and apply for permits and provide insights and guidance to customers and tourists. The new portal, which facilitates a seamless experience for customers, tourists, investors and vacation operators in the city, supports the legal framework created by Dubai’s new Timeshare Law. The Timeshare Portal developed by DET in cooperation with partners allows potential operators to register and submit their applications for timeshare properties, obtain a permit as a licensed timeshare operator, and renew these permits on a yearly basis. The portal brings immense benefits to the tourism ecosystem, further strengthening investor confidence in the city and its real estate and hotel offerings. Additionally, it will speed up the approval process and provide guidance and easy access to information sought by investors, owners and operators, as well as tourists who wish to use timeshare during their visit to Dubai. The Timeshare Portal, which incorporates global best practices, aims to establish a better business environment and seamless experience for all parties and ensure customers are protected. A multi-entity Dubai-wide initiative, the portal is primarily driven by a partnership between DET and Dubai Land Department (DLD), backed by continuous coordination with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).  The easily accessible online portal seeks to further stimulate and encourage investments in the vacation ownership sector. The Timeshare Law, which regulates the …

Radisson Hotel Group is delighted to announce the opening of the Middle East’s first Radisson Resort, Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island – a perfect beach getaway just a 45-minute drive from Dubai, offering direct beach access and panoramic views of the surrounding waters. Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island features 388 rooms and suites with sea views or balconies to enjoy the fresh sea air and spectacular vistas of the picturesque Marjan Island, a group of four man-made coral-shaped islands in Ras Al Khaimah spanning 4.5 kilometers into the sea. The unique landscape covers an area of 2.7 million square meters. The resort has a scenic panorama of the Arabian Peninsula and the surrounding Yanis and Jais Mountains , conveniently situated close to a range of activities and attractions, including the world’s longest zipline, the Jebel Jais Flight, the terracotta dunes of Al Wadi and Ras Al Khaimah’s National Museum. The emirate is home to magnificent landscapes, breathtaking coastlines, vast desert plains and 64 kilometers of white sandy beaches. Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President, Middle East, and Africa at Radisson Hotel Group, says, “We are honored to end the year with the opening of the Middle East’s first Radisson Resort right here in the UAE, and our first hotel in Ras Al Khaimah. The opening of Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah Marjan Island means that we are now present in six of seven Emirates and the new resortperfectly complements our existing hotel portfolio of 15 hotels across the UAE. Ras Al Khaimah Tourism has been doing a fantastic job promoting the destination and we look forward to contributing to the destination’s attraction with our new resort.” …

Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) continues to act on its commitment to build sustainable tourism in the country by joining the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI).  As the pandemic continues, ATB has been putting more and more emphasis on building responsible and sustainable tourism offerings as well as involving key local players in the process.  “Understanding the urgency to act for sustainable development, we are pleased to join an international initiative to reduce the environmental impact of the tourism industry in a collective effort with our esteemed stakeholders”, said Florian Sengstschmid, CEO of Azerbaijan Tourism Board. By joining the GTPI, ATB commits to stimulating the elimination of problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging and items by 2025 and involving local stakeholders in this process through discussion platforms and meetings with key players such as industry experts and experts in plastic pollution.  ATB’s commitments within the initiative also include to encourage change in traveller behaviour on recycling and reuse during their journey in Azerbaijan through tour guides trained and educated in the matter in question. Developed within the framework of the Sustainable Tourism Programme of the One Planet network, the Initiative is led by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organization, in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to drive the shift towards a circular economy of plastics.

Etihad Airways and ADQ announced a proposed transaction that will support the ongoing transformation of Etihad Airways and the future growth of the civil aviation sector in Abu Dhabi. As part of the proposed transaction, a number of Etihad’s businesses providing airline support services will become part of a new ADQ aviation company. Once the transaction is complete, the airline support services businesses will benefit from being part of ADQ’s broad mobility and logistics portfolio, which includes Abu Dhabi Airports and AD Ports Group. The businesses included in the proposed transaction are Etihad Engineering, Etihad Airport Services Cargo, Etihad Airport Services Ground, Etihad Aviation Training, Etihad Secure Logistics and Etihad Technical Training.   Additionally, the proposed transaction will see two Etihad businesses join Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC). Etihad Airport Services Catering will combine with ADNEC’s catering business Capital Hospitality, and Etihad Holidays will join ADNEC’s tourism promotion business, Tourism 365. The proposed agreement marks the start of a new chapter for Etihad Airways, allowing the airline to further sharpen its focus on its core business and respond with greater agility to market opportunities as global travel demand rebounds from COVID-19.   H.E. Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, CEO of ADQ, said: “With the proposed addition of Etihad’s experienced aviation support businesses to our new dedicated aviation company, ADQ is primed to develop an integrated aviation platform that is driven by performance and a robust financial foundation through its new company. With an integrated mobility and logistics portfolio that plays a leading role in the development of Abu Dhabi’s global connectivity, we are well-positioned to unlock the growth potential of these aviation services businesses. We see potential to capitalise on growth …

Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director, Amadeus Gulf  shares insights on how technology has become key to post pandemic travel recovery. After a turbulent two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the appetite for traveling is accelerating, according to recent research by travel technology company Amadeus, with 50% of travelers expecting to have taken a business flight by the end of 2021. The Rebuild Travel survey, which surveyed consumers across the UAE, France, Germany, India, Spain, Russia, Singapore, the UK, and the US, shows the need for human connection has not been dampened by the turmoil of the last two years. In fact, our “Rebuilding Hospitality: Trends in Demand, Data and Technology That are Driving Recovery” study showed global hotel occupancy increased to 60% in July 2021, nearly doubling 2020’s performance for the same month. These numbers mean that global hospitality occupancy had climbed 80% of the way back to pre-pandemic norms of around 75% for the first half of the year. For instance, the UAE registered a 62% hotel occupancy rate in the first half of the year, according to government figures That being said, traveler concerns still exist around issues such as last-minute cancellations and refunds, for example.  There is also a growing demand for apps and solutions where digital health data and travel information can be stored in one place for convenience. Digital transformation Technology plays a prominent role in combatting these concerns, particularly touchless experiences across the customer journey. Eighty per cent of travelers said technology – specifically, touchless technologies – would increase their confidence to fly. Ideally, it would reduce queues and congestion in public spaces and face-to-face/physical contact. More than half (56%) of the travelers …