Category Archives: Agents

In a special interview with Eddy K Soemawilaga – President – ASEANTA – ASEAN Tourism Association shared that the Middle East market is an important market for them and that they have restarted the ASEAN pass which enables easier accessibility to hitherto explored destinations across the region. This is also a platform where OTAs, and travel agents could provide a more seamless service to their customers. “To attract Middle Eastern tourists, ASEANTA collaborates with airlines and promotes initiatives like the ASEAN Pass, which offers affordable inter-ASEAN travel options. The pass, implemented via AirAsia’s platform, encourages multi-destination travel and invites participation from other airlines and travel agents. Partnerships with NGOs, governments, and organizations like PATA are in discussion to broaden ASEANTA’s scope. Future plans include engaging more stakeholders to foster regional and global cooperation.” As sustainability is an important aspect for travellers today, Soemawilaga added, “ASEANTA recognizes sustainability as a priority. Efforts include awarding businesses that implement sustainable practices and advocating for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and efficient navigation systems to reduce carbon emissions. In Indonesia, airlines are advocating for a 1% SAF adoption while promoting efficient navigation systems as a cost-effective alternative to reduce emissions post-COVID financial constraints.”

Almosafer (part of Seera Group) announced its partnership with Tasheer at the Hajj Conference and Exhibition 2025 in Jeddah. The two companies will collaborate on various initiatives to enhance the travel booking experience for travellers visiting the Kingdom. As the official travel partner, Almosafer will provide comprehensive travel solutions to Tasheer’s customers, ensuring a seamless and convenient booking experience. The agreement, signed at the Hajj Conference & Exhibition in Jeddah, expands on both parties’ ongoing collaborations, which currently serve pilgrims, to offer a seamless travel experience for all visitors utilizing Almosafer’s diverse offerings. The partnership will focus on three key verticals, with the streamlining of flight bookings through digital platforms at the forefront. Hajj & Umrah packages and leisure travel bookings will also play an important role, whilst Almosafer and Tasheer will further collaborate on travel management solutions. Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO of Almosafer, said; “We are proud to partner with Tasheer to expand our collaboration by leveraging Almosafer’s strengths as a holistic travel platform. With our market leadership, advanced technological innovations, and seamless travel solutions across booking channels, we aim to deliver exceptional experiences to travelers visiting the Kingdom. This partnership aligns with the broader goals of Saudi Vision 2030, supporting the national agenda to welcome more visitors and enhance their journeys to Saudi Arabia.” Eng. Fahad Al-Amoud, CEO of Tasheer, commented on the partnership, saying: We at Tasheer take pride in providing innovative and reliable services to visitors coming to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia across various segments. Our partnership with Almosafer will support the delivery of value-added services, enabling visitors to benefit from Almosafer’s extensive expertise in the travel sector, innovative booking solutions, and comprehensive services. Together, we aim to …

Visit Qatar hosted the Arabian Luxury Travel Show 2025, which was held for the first time in Doha from 12 to 15 January 2025. The event was designed to strengthen Qatar’s position as a leading luxury tourism destination in the Middle East, with more than 160 luxury tour operators and MICE agents from key markets, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and the Baltic States. More than 50 prestigious hotels, destination management companies and tourism authorities from across the region also participated in the event, including Qatar, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and the Indian Ocean. Participants showcased world-class luxury offerings and highlighted the Middle East’s world-class luxury offerings, reinforcing the region’s position as a hub for luxury tourism. The event included an intensive four-day schedule at The Ritz-Carlton Doha, which included two days of bilateral meetings aimed at facilitating important business deals. The last two days were also dedicated to networking events between buyers and exhibitors. Commenting on the event, Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, said: “Hosting the Arabian Luxury Travel Show 2025 in Doha is the perfect platform for Visit Qatar to present the unique luxury offerings that characterize Qatar, and through direct communication with influential buyers and travel professionals, we seek to strengthen Qatar’s position as a leading tourist destination for discerning travelers seeking luxury, as this event is in line with our strategic vision to establish Qatar’s presence in the global luxury tourism sector and strengthen our presence in key markets.” The successful hosting of the event underscores Visit Qatar’s commitment to strengthening Qatar’s position as a global luxury destination, in line with the objectives of …

Servantrip has announced an impressive 82% year-on-year increase in B2B bookings for 2024, marking a 1.5x acceleration compared to the growth recorded in 2023. Servantrip grew across the Middle East, Europe, LATAM and the USA connecting over 12,500 points of sale by Q1 2025, highlighting the growth in channel distribution across retail, OTAs, and wholesalers. The company plans to focus on activating over 10,000 additional points of sale between 2025 and 2026, either already connected or nearing connectivity, from the 2,850 active points of sale in 2024. This milestone reflects the company’s ambitious trajectory toward global leadership in the travel sector, underpinned by three transformative achievements in 2024: 1. Advancing technology: Enhancing the industry’s most sophisticated and seamless API for tours, activities, and transfers. 2. Expanding the ecosystem: Establishing the largest network in the transfers and activities sector, with over 60 API integrations and agreements to onboard 5,000 additional points of sale. 3. Strategic expansion: Launching an operational hub in Buenos Aires and initiating U.S. operations through a subsidiary in Miami. In 2024, the transfer services business was a standout success, recording a 109% increase in bookings. Supplier connections to Servantrip grew by 78%, while the number of buyer nationalities expanded by 20% to include travellers from 132 countries. Destinations offering booked services also grew by 10%. Manuel Núñez, Founder and CEO of Servantrip, highlighted the pillars driving the company’s success: “Our growth in 2024 was built on three key strengths: highly scalable, advanced technology; the world’s most comprehensive portfolio of qualified suppliers; and the dedication of the Servantrip team to providing an outstanding customer experience. Many of our clients were introduced to us through recommendations, a testament to our impact in …

Sabre Corporation announced the launch of SAUDIA ’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) content on the Sabre marketplace. This milestone marks a significant advancement in SAUDIA ‘s distribution strategy, enabling the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide enriched content and offers to travel buyers globally. SAUDIA’s NDC content is now accessible through Sabre’s extensive global travel marketplace, marking the first time SAUDIA has made its NDC content available on a GDS. This technical integration empowers travel agents, travel management companies (TMCs), and corporations to deliver tailored offers to their customers. It also supports SAUDIA’s goal of modernizing its distribution capabilities, offering more dynamic and personalized content to travel buyers while elevating the traveler experience. “We are excited to partner with SAUDIA in advancing our mutual goal of enhancing the retailing experience through NDC,” said Kathy Morgan, Senior Vice President of Product Management and Distribution Experience at Sabre. “The launch of SAUDIA’s NDC content through Sabre demonstrates our commitment to enabling seamless access to multi-source content, ensuring that travel agents and corporations can easily shop, book, and service NDC offers alongside other content in our marketplace.” SAUDIA, the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, is eager to unlock new retailing opportunities through this collaboration, offering travelers more flexibility, choice, and tailored services. With Sabre’s NDC-enabled solutions, SAUDIA can reach more travelers, delivering a more frictionless, personalized booking experience aligned with its distribution strategy. Arved Von Zur Muehlen, Chief Commercial Officer at SAUDIA, said: “Our partnership with Sabre is a significant step toward realizing our vision of transforming the travel experience for our guests. By adopting NDC, we can offer more personalized and relevant options, delivering a superior booking experience …

The eighth edition of MOTN Festival(Mother of Nation Festival) wrapped up its largest season, with more than 259,000 visitors attending across Al Dhafra, Al Ain, and Abu Dhabi Corniche over the past one month. This year’s MOTN Festival, held under the theme Out of This World, featured various rides, engaging entertainment, diverse culinary cuisines and family-friendly games. The 31-day festival offered more than 350 experiences for its visitors. The eight edition of the MOTN featured the Out of This World Museum that aimed to provide young visitors an immersive journey through carefully curated and artistically designed rooms. The festival also included a Giant Ferris Wheel, a video game-inspired Five Nights at Freddy’s maze and the Space Flight wind tunnel. The festival also featured the MOTN Theatre, the MOTN Basketball Hub, the Ninja Kidz Action Park, Skill Games, a Community Stage, a DJ Booth, a Space Park, and arts and crafts stations. The festival showcased a diverse array of innovative and award-winning international and homegrown food concepts, with more than 30 vendors across Al Dhafra, Al Ain, and Abu Dhabi Corniche. Regional artists also performed at this year’s festival, including Hamad Al Ameri; Asaad Al Bathari; Balqees; Eida Al Menhali; Harbi Al Ameri; Oumaima Taleb; Ayed Youssef; Muslim; Siilawy; A5RASS; and Mohammad Hamaki, who closed the year with a New Year’s Eve concert.

Al Naboodah Travel and Tourism Agencies walked away with ‘Best GSA’ award at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024.  “It’s a wonderful experience. It’s a moment of pride, and it’s a moment of recognition for all those who have worked hard, who have worked smart, who have performed well. And I think this recognition will add a lot of value, confidence, and inspiration for all of us to do even better and better for the coming years. I am overexcited, and I am looking forward to winning more than three awards next year.” Nasir Jamal Khan, CEO, Al Naboodah Travel & Toursim Agencies

Jyoti Panchmatia, Regional General Manager, Travco, in a special interview with TravelTV shared that 2025 will see a growth in term sof cruise business in the Arabian Peninsula. “Cruise lines are planning itineraries for 2025 and 2026, reflecting a strong advance booking trend. There are two key aspects to this. The resort world’s positioning as a home port is primarily aimed at attracting both the local market and the GCC market. This includes two- and three-day cruises, offering a convenient staycation option that has become increasingly popular since COVID, with the term ‘workation’ gaining prominence. Additionally, we are introducing Celestial Cruises, which Travco represents in the local market. These cruises offer short, immersive experiences—ranging from two nights to three days—allowing guests to enjoy multiple destinations in a single trip, such as a breakfast in one location, lunch in another, and dinner in yet another. This new offering will provide exciting opportunities for outbound travel, with options to visit Mediterranean and Greek islands, fostering a fresh dimension to the cruise market from this region.” Overall, the cruise sector remains optimistic about long-term growth, particularly with expanded seasons and increased tourist activity expected from 2025 onward.

‘Discover Aseer’ one of the distinctive new destinations in Saudi Arabia’s tourism scene focusing on the cultural heritage and natural diversity of the region showcased its unique offerings for the first time at the third edition of Saudi Tourism Forum. Hatem Al-Harbi, Chief of Tourism at ASDA, said: “We are happy to announce the participation of ASDA through its tourist identity, “Discover Aseer”, for the first time at the STF to highlight Aseer’s unique offering as a tourist destination. We aim to create authentic and sustainable tourism experiences that strengthen our past and shape our future. Our participation today also sheds light on Aseer as an all-year-round tourist destination where the region aims to activate three seasons throughout the year, namely Spring, Summer and Winter seasons, in addition to its natural and cultural elements, various activities and activations, and ambitious future projects. We are also supporting and empowering destination companies, hospitality companies and owners of heritage villages, by enhancing their presence within the “Discover Aseer” pavilion to enhance tourism development opportunities of various kinds in the region.” By 2030, the region’s annual number of visitors is expected to reach 9.1 million, with 26 billion riyals contributing to tourism GDP. It also aims to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, both locally and internationally in the tourism sector, and will support opportunities that are aligned with the region’s economic and sustainable growth strategy.  

The Madinah Region Development Authority announced a strategic partnership with Almosafer to enhance tourism in Madinah. Unveiled during the Saudi Tourism Forum 2025, this collaboration aims to position Madinah as a premier destination for visitors from within the Kingdom and beyond. The partnership leverages Almosafer’s extensive travel services and diverse marketing capabilities to accelerate tourism growth in Madinah while delivering enriching and varied experiences for visitors. Almosafer’s market expertise and digital solutions will provide a seamless cultural and entertainment experience at competitive prices through its comprehensive portfolio for corporate, governmental, and individual clients. This initiative aligns with efforts to elevate Madinah’s tourism offerings and attract a broader audience locally and internationally. Commenting on the partnership, Mr Bandar Naqro, General Manager of Strategic and Corporate Communications at the Madinah Region Development Authority, said: “The unique historical and cultural heritage of Madinah makes it one of the most visited cities in the Kingdom, especially with the development of numerous archaeological sites and the activation of diverse tourism destinations. Our partnership with Almosafer will strengthen the city’s offerings and marketing initiatives, contributing to increased visitor numbers and enriched experiences, thereby achieving the objectives of Vision 2030.” Muzzammil Ahussein, CEO of Almosafer, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with Al Madinah Region Development Authority to help evolve and further promote one of the Kingdom’s most culturally rich heritage sites. Almosafer’s on-ground expertise, innovative technological solutions, and extensive reach enable us to offer a bespoke holistic experience for travellers from across the world. We look forward to further positioning Madinah as a wholesome tourist destination that provides an immersive cultural experience that is bound to be an unforgettable core memory for visitors. Saudi Arabia’s rich …