Oman Airports launched new e-gate system at Muscat International Airport to enhance the travel experience and streamline travel procedures in collaboration with Royal Oman Police. This includes smart electronic gates for departing and arriving passengers so that it will significantly improve and smoothen the travel experience. This project comes within the plans of Oman Airports to accelerate travel operations and procedures as part of its goal for Oman Vision 2040.

Reinforcing its commitment to enhancing the travel experience, Oman Air has resumed three seasonal routes for winter; Zurich (starting 5 October), Malé (starting 27 October) and Moscow (starting 29 October). With fares starting from just OMR 88 one-way, it’s the perfect time for travelers to start planning their winter getaway. With direct flights from Muscat to over 40 destinations across Europe, the Far East, Indian Subcontinent, Africa and Middle East, and more frequencies than any other airline, guests can enjoy unmatched choice and convenience. Oman Air is also looking into increasing frequencies on its most popular routes, which will be announced soon. Gearing up for the peak winter season, the airline offers an exciting range of travel experiences for the whole family, from the sun-soaked shores of the Maldives to the snow-capped slopes of Switzerland and the cultural and historical riches of Russia, as well as many more. Whether traveling for business or leisure, guests can take advantage of affordable fares, seamless connectivity and award-winning service.

With TravTalk ME as media partner for China Visitors Summit, more partners have joined in for this year’s event as travellers from China increase to the emirate of Dubai for its flexibility and visa on arrival. Dubai Entertainment Holdings joins CVS, China Visitors Summit as a golden sponsor from 5- 6 September at SO/Uptown Dubai.  As part of their sponsorship, they will host all 120 participating Chinese buyers for a day of thrilling adventures at Real Madrid World and a dinner reception at the magnificent LAPITA Hotel and Resort. Dubai Holding Entertainment is one of the largest and most diversified entertainment groups in the region, dedicated to cementing the Emirate as one of the world’s most desirable tourist destinations. Real Madrid World Adventures: All 120 Chinese buyers from mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong will experience a day at Real Madrid World (RMW), the first-ever Real Madrid-themed park celebrating football and basketball.

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and SETI Institute announced their collaboration agreement as part of a long-term vision to further the development of AlUla Manara Observatory as a leading destination of the future, for space research, discovery and astro-tourism. AlUla is an ancient desert oasis located in North West Saudi Arabia with more than 200,000 years of recorded human history and ancient heritage sites with 7000 years of successive civilisations. The AlUla Manara Observatory is part of an ambitious plan to develop AlUla into a premier destination with a focus on sustainability, community and cultural and knowledge enrichment. As part of the agreement, the SETI Institute will facilitate installation of a Laser SETI instrument at AlUla Manara Observatory. LaserSETI, an optical SETI project, monitors the sky for laser flashes that could indicate the presence of extra-terrestrial technology. The LaserSETI station would be part of a broader network scanning the entire northern hemisphere night sky from various locations. Naif Almalik, AlUla Manara’s Executive Programme Director, said, “This collaboration enhances AlUla’s evolving role as a dynamic hub for science and knowledge exchange. It will equip AlUla Manara with the instruments needed to observe the cosmos in extraordinary detail and establish AlUla as a premier destination for research and astro-tourism. Just an hour’s drive from AlUla’s center, the observatory will inspire local youth to pursue diverse careers in advanced STEM fields, supporting the growth and economic diversification of Saudi Arabia in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions. “ Additionally, the SETI Institute will support in developing data analysis systems for some of the telescopes housed at AlUla Manara Observatory and provide expertise in hardware and instrument development. The SETI Institute’s Centre …

It was confirmed that Etihad Airways will resume flights to Nairobi, Kenya, starting 15 December 2024, with seats now on sale. The airline will fly four-times a week nonstop between Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). Lena Havia, Etihad’s Vice-President Network and Scheduling, said: “We are pleased to resume flights between Abu Dhabi and Nairobi this winter. We are grateful to the Kenyan and UAE authorities for the authorization to resume flights and thank our passengers eager to use this popular route for their patience.”

SAUDIA retained its position as the global leader in July, with an OTP of 88.15% according to Cirium’s latest report. It further stated that  the CrowdStrike outage had less impact in the Middle East and Africa region. Affected airlines and airports were able to quickly resolve the situation and return to normal operations by using an alternative system for the check-in processes. King Khalid International Airport (RUH) secured the third-place position in the Global Airports category with an OTP of 83.27%.

According to the latest figures released by Qatar tourism, during the first seven months they received a total of 2.956 million visitors which is an increase of 26.2 per cent from the same period last year. During the month of July 2024 they welcomed 317,000 visitors. Saudi Arabia maintains its position as the number one source market with 0.86million visitors followed by India with 238,000 visitors and Bahrain with 135,000 visitors. Other top source markets on top are Kuwait, Oman, the US, UK, UAE, Germany and China.

The first Emirates Boeing 777 with a nose-to-tail cabin refresh sporting a new look has rolled into service, as it prepares to take off to Geneva this afternoon as EK 83. The aircraft took a total of 37 days for a complete revamp and will be entering service four days ahead of its officially announced deployment schedule. Watch this timelapse video offering a glimpse into how the first Emirates 777 cabins were gutted, fitted and refurbished by the airline’s seasoned in-house engineering team. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “Emirates continues to carry out our commitment to deliver an unmatchable onboard experience with the introduction of our latest Boeing 777 with new signature interiors, raising the industry benchmark when it comes to premium travel. Our latest Business Class cabin offers customers a sense of exclusivity and privacy, complemented by our best-in-class suite of onboard products. The addition of our popular Premium Economy cabin, rated one of the best in the industry, injects modern sophistication to the flying experience and is carefully designed for more comfort. With more Boeing 777s and A380s refreshed to sport our latest generation onboard products, customers can consistently have the very best experiences in the sky across both aircraft types.” The Emirates Boeing 777 entered refurbishment in early July, with a planned reconfiguration of the aircraft to make way for a new Premium Economy cabin consisting of 24 seats set in three rows in a 2-4-2 abreast layout. The cream leather seats, accentuated by wood panel finishings across the cabin, offer enhanced comfort with a 38-inch pitch, 19.5-inch-wide seats that recline 8 inches providing more space for stretching and relaxing, in addition to 6-way adjustable headrests. …

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) celebrates yet another milestone as over 5,000 properties across more than 80 countries have now embraced its Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics) programme. Independent hotel management companies and unique accommodation providers have also taken their first steps in sustainability by adhering to the Basics criteria. Aleph Hospitality, the largest independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa, Sanctuary Retreats by Abercrombie and Kent, luxury African safari lodges, amongst others, are now entering their second year of verification. Hotel Sustainability Basics has also gained endorsements from destinations worldwide, including the Caribbean, Mauritius, Colombia, UAE, Azerbaijan, Mexico, and Ecuador. This milestone signifies a pivotal step forward for Travel & Tourism. The global tourism body remains committed to leading the sector towards a more sustainable and responsible future. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, stated: “WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics is a powerful testament to our collective effort in promoting sustainable practices in the hospitality industry. Surpassing 5,000 verified properties is more than just a milestone; it demonstrates Travel & Tourism’s readiness to embrace sustainability globally. This initiative unites hotels, industry partners, and sustainability standards to create a resilient, responsible, and planet-friendly future.” Hotels in major destinations across Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific have adopted Basics, and the programme continues to receive global support with new partnerships in tourism powerhouses such as Japan, the Philippines and India. Designed to guide hoteliers in their initial steps towards enhanced sustainability, Basics is an independent verification program, supervised by renowned assessors Green Key and SGS, ensuring rigorous standards and credibility. The programme empowers hotels of all sizes with a comprehensive 12-step criteria aimed at reducing carbon emissions, energy, …

UN Tourism and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance will work together to implement a common framework for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) for the sector. The ESG Framework for Tourism Businesses, developed by UN Tourism in collaboration with the University of Oxford SDG Impact Lab, is aimed at helping enterprises across the sector measure and report their sustainability efforts and impacts more consistently and reliably. With this new agreement, UN Tourism will work alongside the Alliance to test the Framework, refine its indicators and relevant tools, and foster stakeholder engagement. UN Tourism Executive Director Zoritsa Urosevic says: “The ESG Framework for Tourism Businesses is set to transform the tourism sector by establishing harmonised and essential standards for companies to assess and report their sustainability efforts. The collaboration between UN Tourism and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance highlights how commitment and strategic partnerships can drive alignment and significant progress in ESG.” Glenn Mandziuk, Chief Executive Officer of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, adds: “Collaborating with UN Tourism on the development of a harmonised ESG Framework represents a significant milestone for the global tourism industry. This partnership not only underscores our commitment to sustainability but also highlights the collective power of our industry to drive meaningful change. By establishing standardised metrics and fostering greater alignment between the private and public sectors, we are paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient future for tourism worldwide.” Partners leverage fields of expertise The partnership comes as tourism businesses face increasing pressure to disclose their ESG actions and impacts. The ESG Framework for Tourism Businesses is rooted in the Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (SF-MST), endorsed by the UN Statistical Commission with …