UNWTO will be celebrating World Tourism Day under the theme Tourism and Green Investments from 27th to 28th September in Riyadh Saudi Arabia with its call to action to the international community, governments, multilateral financial institutions, development partners and private sector investors to unite around a new tourism investment strategy. UNWTO has identified investments as one of the key priorities for tourism’s recovery and future growth and development. For World Tourism Day 2023, UNWTO highlights the need for more and better-targeted investments for people, for planet and for prosperity. Now is the time for new and innovative solutions, not just traditional investments that promote and underpin economic growth and productivity. Investing in People: Prioritizing Education and Upscaling Skills “Education is a fundamental human right. It’s the bedrock of societies, economies, and every person’s potential. But without adequate investment, this potential will wither on the vine” – Secretary-General of the UN, on the occasion of the International day of Education (2023). The crisis has revealed the need to rethink the structure of tourism economies to improve competitiveness and build resilience and accelerate the implementation of SDG 4 (quality education). To that end, the sector should invest in education and skills development, including for women, in all areas to promote added value jobs and resilience. We cannot build a more sustainable tourism without the right talent. Tourism is one of the world’s leading employers. In 2019, the sector employed one in 10 people worldwide and has proven to be a tool for economic diversification and a major employment engine with a multiplier effect on other sectors that contribute to rural development. Furthermore, tourism in rural areas can particularly benefit traditionally disadvantaged groups …

Qatar welcomed more than 2.56 million visitors from January to 25 August 2023, surpassing the total number of visitors for the whole of 2022, marking a 157% increase in the number of international visitors compared to the same period last year. This significant increase in the number of visitors to Qatar reflects the country’s growing position as a leading tourist destination in the world, supported by the success achieved following the successful hosting of the FIFA  World Cup Qatar 2022™, which put Qatar on the international tourism map. The tourism sector has received a boost thanks to the extension of the validity of the Hayya Card to its existing holders and the relaunch of the Haya platform to become a unified visa portal for visitors coming to Qatar, as the country welcomed visitors from all over the world, with visitors from Saudi Arabia, India, Germany, the United States of America, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan topping the list of countries for visitors coming to Qatar. His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, President of Qatar Tourism and Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways, said: “This growth in international visitors to Qatar is the result of Qatar Tourism’s strategy to capitalise on the tourism momentum that accompanied the hosting of the world’s biggest sporting tournament late last year. Thanks to our focus on priority tourism markets, our multi-pronged approach, our tireless efforts and pioneering initiatives across the pillars of our tourism strategy, we have been able to attract visitors from all over the world and highlight the unique blend that Qatar offers to its visitors, which combines sophistication and modernity on the one hand …

FlyArystan continues to expand its international network commencing operations between Astana and Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan in October and is also evaluating the launch of new services to destinations including Abu Dhabi (UAE), Oman and Saudi Arabia during the next stage of its network expansion. The carrier currently offers services from Kazakhstan to destinations in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, China, UAE and Uzbekistan. “The launch of FlyArystan in May 2019 has proven to be a tremendous success for Air Astana Group in pioneering the rapid development of low-cost markets in Kazakhstan and Central Asia,” said Peter Foster, President and CEO of Air Astana Group. ”Dramatic growth in demand from a completely new segment of passengers in these markets is being followed by an exciting new phase of international network expansion, with the launch of services to cities in dynamic India and Central Asia markets, plus others in the Middle East on the horizon.”

SAUDIA Group announced that its performance reports, following the Hajj Season 2023, show distinguished operating rates during the peak of the summer travel season from May 21st to August 2nd, 2023. SAUDIA Group’s performance during this period peaked as the airline allocated more than 1.2 million seats for Hajj pilgrims, while operating 79,000 flights. SAUDIA’s fleet flew an average of half a million hours, while recording an on-time-performance rate of 83.8%. Meanwhile, 1,768 pilots and assistant pilots have also contributed to SAUDIA’s success by managing the flights efficiently, while the guest cabin crew worked at full capacity during the season, with a total of 6,063 crewmembers, who speak more than 42 languages, working during the summer months. The Hajj season also saw the mobilization of the Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) which operated at full capacity with its automated capabilities and qualified cadres to ensure the provision of the best services. SAEI dedicated a specialized team to support during Hajj season which included the allocation of 112 maintenance stations which were operated by 1,154 technicians. In addition, SAEI supplied SAUDIA with 3,896 different types of aircraft parts while the time spent on maintenance amounted to 50,700 hours. SAEI has obtained many international licenses and certificates from the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the US Federal Aviation Authority, the European Organization for Aviation Safety, among others. Moreover, SAEI obtained licenses approved by manufacturers which allow the company to manufacture aircraft spare parts in a limited capacity. The Saudi Airlines Catering Company (SACC) has also played a major role during the Hajj season, as they provided best-in class production of meals that comply with the best international standards. SACC also provided comprehensive …

Emirates announced a renewal of its longstanding partnership with reigning America’s Cup champions Emirates Team New Zealand for the 37th America’s Cup, and all preliminary regattas. The 19-year partnership has been highly successful for both parties, including memorable victories in the 35th America’s Cup as well as its cup defence in front of a home Auckland crowd in the 36th America’s Cup event. Emirates will continue to be the Lead Sponsor of Emirates Team New Zealand, with naming rights for the team, as well as the designation of Official Airline and Carrier of Emirates Team New Zealand. Emirates joined the team as naming sponsor in 2004 when the team began its quest to bring the America’s Cup back to New Zealand. The airline remained a stoic supporter through two close Challenges in 2007 in Valencia and 2013 in San Francisco before Emirates Team New Zealand proudly lifted the ‘Auld Mug’ again in Bermuda in 2017. A victorious defence in the 36th edition of the America’s Cup in Auckland 2021 saw Emirates Team New Zealand achieve a sensational victory on its home turf. Emirates is proud to sponsor a further defence of the 37th edition of the America’s Cup, this time in Barcelona, Spain in 2024. The renewal of sponsorship signals a continued commitment to New Zealand sailing and reflects the deep-rooted connection Emirates has built with New Zealand, having recently celebrated its 20th anniversary of operations in the country. Emirates operates daily A380 services direct out of Auckland as well as Christchurch via Sydney, offering passengers the only opportunity to travel across the Trans-Tasman on the iconic double decker aircraft. Boutros Boutros, Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing & Brand …

Rayna Tours unveiled their latest addition, the thrilling Paramotor Desert Adventure, launched on September 1st, 2023, promising to take adventurers in Dubai to new heights – quite literally. In the ever-evolving landscape of travel and leisure, Rayna Tours stands out as a pioneer in creating remarkable experiences that captivate the hearts of adventure enthusiasts. With a remarkable portfolio of air, sea, and desert escapades, Rayna Tours has been at the forefront of redefining adventure tourism in the UAE. “At Rayna Tours, we believe in the power of creating unforgettable experiences that ignite the spirit of exploration within each of us. Adventures are not just a part of our repertoire – they are our specialty,” says Senthil Velan, Group CEO at Rayna Tours. “We take immense pride in curating journeys that resonate with the daring souls who seek thrill and exhilaration. Today, I’m thrilled to announce the latest addition to our family of adventures: the Paramotor Desert Adventure.” This fresh venture is a testament to Rayna Tours’ commitment to enhancing customers’ journeys and pushing the boundaries of adventure tourism. The Paramotor Desert experience offers participants the chance to soar above the breathtaking desert landscapes of Dubai, creating an adrenaline-pumping encounter that blends the excitement of flying with the serene beauty of the desert terrain. It’s an experience that embodies Rayna Tours’ dedication to providing unique and memorable escapades in Dubai and beyond. Rayna Tours’ adventure offerings are already extensive and diverse, encompassing various terrains and activities across the UAE. From the tranquil beauty of ‘Balloon Flights’ that provide a bird’s-eye view of picturesque landscapes, to the mysteries of ‘Deep-Sea Advetures’ and the heart-pounding excitement of activities like ‘Drive The Thrill’ and …

According to IATA’s latest report passenger traffic recovery has been strong for Middle East carriers with 31.4% YoY in the second quarter of 2023. The region’s airlines saw their RPKs reach within 0.9% of their Q2 2019 levels. The Middle East outperformed the global recovery in RPKs, which reached 93.7% (within 6.3%) of pre-covid levels for the quarter. Since most of the passenger traffic for the Middle East is international, total RPKs followed similar growth trends and recovery rates as international RPKs.  Ticket sales for the region have outperformed the global average and continue to trend upward, indicating sustained passenger demand. Local holiday shifts in the region caused some fluctuations but the overall trend remains positive. The Middle East also saw a solid recovery in origin-destination (O-D) passenger traffic in Q2 2023 compared to pre-covid periods. Passenger traffic growth generally varied among the countries in the region, with the strongest performances seen in the UAE, Qatar, and Jordan. The UAE led with an impressive 17.2% growth in O-D passenger traffic, compared to the same period in 2019. Other countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were within 2% and 5.6% of full recovery. While Iran’s O-D passenger traffic remained 34.4% below pre-covid levels (Chart 86), other countries also exhibited subdued growth in the second quarter compared to the previous period. This was primarily due to the timing of Ramadan in 2023 compared to 2019.

Expo Centre Sharjah has participated in the ICCA Middle East Summit 2023, which took place from August 30-31 at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre under the theme “Forging a Collective Path to a Prosperous Future.” During the event, HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, Chairman of the Arab Union for Exhibitions, and board member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry engaged in discussions with several CEO attendees, exploring avenues for strengthening strategic cooperation with association members to further the development and sustainability of the sector, initiate collaborative exhibitions and conferences, and broaden the prospects of the industry. HE Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of Expo Centre Sharjah, Chairman of the Arab Union for Exhibitions, and board member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, represented the centre in the summit to boost regional collaboration in the exhibitions and conferences sector and explore future opportunities and developments that solidify the sector’s contribution to economic expansion. Al Midfa also introduced a working paper highlighting the significance of the exhibition and conference sector on both regional and global scales. He emphasized its central role in bolstering economies, augmenting commercial activities, and widening the scope of economic and trade collaborations among individuals, businesses, and nations. He underscored that the global exhibition sector’s valuation, surpassing $151 billion, underscores its relevance to the world economy. Meanwhile, in the Middle East and North Africa, the sector’s worth is projected to escalate from $53.63 billion in 2022 to an impressive $76.67 billion by 2028. His Excellency shed light on the exceptional development and growth seen in the exhibitions and conferences sector within the GCC countries, with the UAE standing out notably. …

Abu Dhabi Airports has announced the forthcoming opening of its state-of-the-art new terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Known as Midfield Terminal Building during the construction phase, ‘Terminal A’ is scheduled to begin operations in early November 2023. Adding a world-class facility to Abu Dhabi’s rapidly evolving transportation infrastructure, the opening will mark a significant milestone for the emirate that has the potential to transform the local aviation ecosystem, strengthen Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as a destination of choice for travellers, and further boost its position as a global hub for trade and business. Equipped with the latest technologies, Terminal A boasts a range of interconnected biometric systems that will invite passengers to enjoy the speed and comfort of a seamless, digitised journey from pre-travel to boarding gate, facilitated by self-service kiosks, streamlined security checkpoints and state-of-the-art baggage handling systems. Covering 742,000 square meters of built-up area, Terminal A is among the largest airport terminals in the world and will significantly increase Abu Dhabi International Airport’s passenger and cargo capacity. Once operational, the new terminal will accommodate up to 45 million passengers per year, be able to process 11,000 travellers per hour and operate 79 aircraft at any given time. The imposing and memorable architecture of Terminal A has won international design awards and adds an architectural landmark to Abu Dhabi’s cityscape. Blending modern, lightweight aesthetics with functional brilliance, the building’s glass exterior maximises natural light while creating a monumental civic space inside the terminal. In line with the UAE’s sustainability aspirations and targets, the building features energy-efficient lighting, advanced Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems and has incorporated sustainable materials in its construction. As a major step towards realising …

The newly launched national carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Air, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Colleges of Excellence (CoE), a leading entity in providing training services in the Kingdom, established by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporate (TVTC) in Saudi Arabia. The agreement was signed by Riyadh Air CEO, Tony Douglas and the Colleges of Excellence CEO, Engineer Ayman Mustafa Al Abdullah attended by His Excellency the Governor of the TVTC, Dr. Ahmed bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid at its training facility. The agreement aims to solidifying both parties commitment to collaborate and create a transformative vocational program that will shape the future of the aviation industry, which includes the activation of a first of its kind, female training program specialized in the field of engineering and maintenance at the college in Saudi Arabia. The MoU aims to provide innovative and specialized training programs for students in the aviation sector, which will include qualifying the first cohort of Saudi females in the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering program. The students will gain insight from the exchange of experiences and information, hands on training and workshop in order to implement and support their studies, to be provided at the college facilities. Riyadh Air’s CEO Tony Douglas remarked, “We are thrilled to partner with the Colleges of Excellence to support the launch of the specialized aviation programs,” he added “By providing students with hands-on experience and specialized training, we aim to bridge the gap between education and industry requirements. We are particularly excited about the opportunities this program will create for women in technical engineering and maintenance, paving the way for a more diverse and inclusive aviation workforce.” The …