World tourism executives and  delegates from across the global travel and tourism sector gather in iconic Manila for the 21st World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit under the theme, “Rediscovering Travel”. In her speech during the opening ceremonies of the summit, dubbed as the most influential event in the travel and tourism industry, Philippines Department of Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat expressed optimism about the growth and resurgence of the country’s tourism sector as the Philippines becomes one of the first Asian countries to reopen with the simplest requirements for fully-vaccinated tourists in a bid to revive the pandemic-hit sector. “With nature revisited, and sustainability reinforced, we move for the normalization of standards we have put in place for a safe, seamless, responsible, and fun travel,” said Puyat. We have strived to promote programs that ensure the return of confidence in traveling. We also saw a significant shift in tourist behavior and preference, and we seized this opportunity to shift the status quo to regenerative tourism, which seeks to leave a destination in a better state than it was before,” she added Puyat was joined on stage by WTTC Chair and Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald and WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson. With the country’s first-ever hosting of the WTTC summit held annually, Puyat emphasized that now is a time to revive connections and engagement with people, and how both governments and the private sector can accelerate recovery and sustain growth. She also noted that the Philippines has remained committed to combat the effects of the changing climate and promote green tourism. According to the WTTC’s projection in its latest Economic Impact Report (EIR), travel and tourism in …

At the opening of the global summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Julia Simpson, President and CEO WTTC in her welcome address shared the agenda for the summit and the new initiatives to be launched. “Ma-bu-hi. It’s incredible to think of what we have been through since we gathered for WTTC’s last Summit. But we are here in Manila to Rediscover Travel… together. Dear Members, Excellencies, WTTC Friends. I am honoured to address you at our 21st Global Summit and my first as President & CEO. In times of crisis we have seen the true grit and resilience of the Travel & Tourism sector. During the COVID pandemic our airlines transported vaccines and PPE; our airports became vaccination centres; and our cruise liners used their connections to help repatriate people. Hotels opened their doors to the homeless and today are giving shelter to 1000s of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. The pandemic rewrote the rule book on how we live and how we travel. It showed how totally inter-reliant we are. Businesses and governments need each other to make travel happen. And our whole sector relies on the communities who host us. For over 30 years WTTC’s mission has been to highlight our sector’s economic and social value. But, it took a pandemic for leaders to really understand our worth.For almost a decade our sector’s growth outstripped that of the global economy. COVID changed all that. Now, recovery is in our sights. It is not uniform, it is faltering, but it IS recovery. Here in Asia-Pacific the reopening is just beginning. I congratulate the Philippines, a nation that has shown determination and courage to reignite travel. But the great powerhouse …

Cruise Saudi’s six-month long Winter Season 2021/22 which began in November last year came to successful close last week. About a third of the 30,000+ passengers sailing in the Winter Season were international guests, representing more than 80 nationalities aboard. The Winter Season itinerary saw the region come together to develop three, four, or seven night itineraries including ports of call in Jordan as well as around the Saudi coastline for the first time. Two of Saudi’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites were also available to visit as part of 14 different tour programs available, Hegra in AlUla and Historic Jeddah, the Gateway to Makkah. Cruise Saudi has activated a total of three cruise ports – in Jeddah, King Abdullah Economic City and Yanbu – and ensured they are equipped with the necessary infrastructure and facilities to welcome cruise lines and passengers. A fourth port in Dammam on the Arabian Gulf is ready to receive cruise ships soon. Cruise ships from four international cruise lines – MSC Cruises, Scenic Group, Viking and Silversea – were welcomed and conducted more than 70 safety and security incident free sailings in total around Saudi waters, with above average NPS scores. This included both MSC Bellissima and Scenic Eclipse home porting in Jeddah throughout the Summer and Winter Seasons. Cruise Saudi CEO, Lars Clasen, commented on the milestone saying: “The successes achieved in such a short span of time, from developing the necessary infrastructure for the cruise industry to partnering with government entities and international cruise lines and welcoming passengers from all across the world, have left us humbled. Cruise Saudi’s aim is to catalyze the development of the local cruise industry by promoting …

Air Arabia announced the resumption of its direct flights between Sharjah and four cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Taif, Al Jouf, Gassim, and Hail, starting April 28, 2022. Passengers will enjoy flying directly from Sharjah International Airport to these cities, where frequencies will increase during summer. Schedule to Taif, effective April 28, 2022 (all times local): Schedule to Taif, effective April 28, 2022 (all times local):   Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency  G9 1187 Sharjah 12:30 Taif 14:10 Airbus A320 Mon/Thu G9 1188 Taif 15:10 Sharjah 18:50 Airbus A320 Mon/Thu   Schedule to Al Jouf, effective April 28, 2022 (all times local):   Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency  G9 1221 Sharjah 14:25 Al Jouf 16:00 Airbus A320 Mon/Thu G9 1222 Al Jouf 17:00 Sharjah 20:30 Airbus A320 Mon/Thu   Schedule to Gassim, effective April 28, 2022 (all times local):   Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency  G9 1181 Sharjah 15:30 Gassim 16:30 Airbus A320 Mon/Tue/Thu /Fri/Sun G9 1182 Gassim 17:30 Sharjah 20:20 Airbus A320 Mon/Tue/Thu /Fri/Sun   Schedule to Hail, effective April 28, 2022 (all times local):   Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency  G9 1197 Sharjah 11:15 Hail 12:30 Airbus A320 Thursday G9 1198 Hail 13:30 Sharjah 16:40 Airbus A320 Thursday   Customers can now book their direct flights from Sharjah to the four cities in Saudi Arabia by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies.

The Middle East’s aviation industry is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 6 percent during the period 2022-27, according to data from research firm Mordor Intelligence. The news comes as the global travel and tourism community prepares to gather in Dubai for Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022, which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from Monday 9 to Thursday 12 May. Although the recovery estimated for international passenger traffic is gradual, Mordor Intelligence shows that the Middle East’s private and domestic aviation segments remained resilient during the pandemic and are continuing to display signs of growth. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – Arabian Travel Market, said: “The latest market analysis suggests that budget carriers such as Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will drive demand for new narrow-body aircraft during the coming years. “The Middle East’s aviation sector has also witnessed high demand for private travel during recent years, thanks to corporations and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) opting for business jet and helicopter journeys during the pandemic,” she added. “As such, the Middle East’s aviation sector will represent a major focus at ATM 2022, thanks to a dedicated session on the ATM Global Stage, plus a number of related events and forums throughout the event. We also look forward to exploring long-term opportunities related to the future of transport,” she added. On the second day of ATM 2022, ‘Airlines Evolving for the Future: Hear From the Industry Leaders’ will address pandemic-related challenges faced by the industry. Moderated by John Strickland, Director of JLS Consulting, speakers including Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group and Adel …

The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in China held a webinar on District 2020, the dynamic Dubai development that has evolved from Expo 2020, as part of efforts to showcase the huge potential it offers international entrepreneurs and investors, while reaffirming Dubai’s position as a destination of choice for global travellers. The webinar titled ‘District 2020: A lasting legacy after Expo 2020 Dubai’ was held in collaboration with District 2020, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.  Among the participants at the virtual forum were diplomats, senior officials and representatives from the media and businesses community. Among those who addressed participants at the webinar were His Excellency Dr. Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, Ambassador of the UAE to the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency E. Zhang Shenfeng, Vice Chairman of the China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and Commissioner General of the China Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai,  Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) and Sanjive Khosla Senior Vice President of Transition Unit – District 2020. They shared the successful results of Expo 2020 Dubai and the China Pavilion, as well as providing information on the tourism and business sectors of District 2020 to Chinese audiences. The speakers at the event stressed that Dubai will continue to attract global visitors in the post-Expo era. China is a key market for Dubai’s tourism industry, which continues to be at the forefront of global tourism recovery. After 182 days of memorable experiences, Expo 2020 Dubai successfully drew to a close on 31 March, having attracted over 24 million visits by residents …

Valor Hospitality Middle East announced its first hotel in Muscat, Oman, adding to its portfolio in the Middle East. The upscale, full-service hotel in Muscat, Oman is scheduled to open in Q1 2024, after complete renovation, refurbishment and rebranding. When open, the hotel will feature 201 guest rooms, ballroom and conference facilities, leisure and fitness amenities and multiple bars and dining venues. Located in the centre of Muscat, in Qurum, the hotel will offer a great location and diverse room mix for both short and long stays, corporate and leisure travellers. “After our recent hotel opening in Dubai, UAE, it gives us great pleasure to expand our third-party hotel management services in the Middle East by partnering with Mustafa Sultan Enterprises for our first of, hopefully, many hotels in Oman,” said Julien Bergue, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Valor Hospitality Middle East. “We are working closely with the ownership on the full renovation plan and in identifying a suitable brand fit for the fully revamped hotel” Bergue continued. Shabeer Mustafa Sultan, Chairman of Mustafa Sultan Enterprises, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Valor Hospitality for operating an international branded hotel in Muscat, Oman and to provide the best possible guest experience.  This collaboration points to a full renovation and rebranding investment that supports our mission to create long-term value for the tourism, real estate and leisure sectors across Oman. With our shared values and Valor Hospitality’s global expertise in managing hotels, we are confident the hotel will add great value to the vision of Oman’s leaders, particularly in the upscale hotel segment. We look forward to delivering an engaging and positive experience for all our guests”.

The Ascott Limited (Ascott) announces the re-opening of its fully renovated Qatar-property, Somerset West Bay Doha.  The revamp is in line with the group’s tenacious expansion plans for the region. Owned by Katara Hospitality, Somerset West Bay Doha originally opened in 2008 with a total of 200 units comprising of two- and three-bedroom apartments and was primarily focused to cater to long-stay guests. In line with changing traveller needs, the newly revamped property now offers 228 units in one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and is the perfect choice for solo, business, and leisure travellers. Mr. Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s Managing Director for the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India, said: “We are delighted to announce the re-opening of our newly renovated flagship Qatar property, as we introduce stylish urban living in the heart of Doha once again.  Sharing the neighbourhood with some of the country’s most iconic establishments, we are confident that Somerset West Bay Doha will provide an elevated accommodation offering for our existing traveller base as well as new markets. This much awaited re-opening is among the many exciting upcoming projects we have planned for the region in the coming months and beyond.” Offering style, comfort and a sense of home, the fully refurbished rooms exude a warm setting, inspired by contemporary and Arabesque décor. Each guest room is complete with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide breathtaking views of the gleaming Doha skyline, along with a range of modern appliances, a fully-equipped kitchen and a dedicated living and dining area, to make each stay convenient and memorable. A range of recreational facilities, lifestyle activities and business support services are available at the property, including a swimming pool, gymnasium, business centre, …

Hilton and Al Taif Investment announced the signing of an agreement to open DoubleTree by Hilton Fujairah City Centre – a new build hotel that will soon welcome guests to this vibrant city of the northern United Arab Emirates. This hotel will provide all of those travelling to and living in Fujairah with Hilton’s world-class service standards and DoubleTree by Hilton’s signature hospitality,” said Carlos Khneisser, vice president, development, Middle East & Africa, Hilton. “We are grateful for the opportunity to bring DoubleTree by Hilton to the emirate and delighted to support the vision of our partners at Al Taif Investment – as we strive to support Fujairah as it continues to enhance its tourism and visitor offering.” Located in the city centre, the hotel forms part of a mixed-use development known as Al Taif Business Centre which includes offices and residences. Al Taif Business Centre also has a shopping mall, which the hotel will have direct access to. We conceptualized and designed Al Taif Business Centre as an inclusive facility, providing an iconic fusion of business and leisure facilities, and we are pleased to be working with Hilton to open the hotel at our flagship project in Fujairah,” said Khalid bin Kalban, CEO, Al Taif Investment. “With the emirate continuing to be an important logistics hub for the UAE, hosting several world-class medical facilities and developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects, it is an ideal venue to host many domestic and international tourists – and we are positive that this new addition will serve as a catalyst for the emerging needs of the emirate.” Expected to open in late 2022, DoubleTree by Hilton Fujairah City Centre will have 228 …

flydubai announced that flights to Gassim in Saudi Arabia will commence on 01 May with a daily service. This brings the number of destinations served by the carrier in the Kingdom to eight. flydubai has built a network of more than 95 destination in 50 countries served by a young fleet of 63 Boeing 737 aircraft. With the resumption of daily flights to Gassim, flydubai’s network in Saudi Arabia has now grown to eight destinations including AlUla, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Riyadh, Taif and Yanbu. Flights to Gassim International Airport (ELQ) will operate daily from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB) between 01 May and 09 May. These flights will temporarily operate from Dubai World Central (DWC) during the northern runway refurbishment project announced by Dubai Airports which is scheduled to take place from 09 May to 22 June 2022.  Flights to Gassim will resume from Dubai International (DXB) from 23 June. Return Business Class fares from DXB to ELQ start from AED 4,500 and Economy Class Lite fares start from AED 1,450. Return Business Class fares from ELQ to DXB start from SAR 4,500 and Economy Class Lite fares start from SAR 1,390.