Category Archives: Agents

The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) successfully concluded its five-day GCC roadshow at the German Ambassador’s residence in Abu Dhabi, marking the end of a productive journey across the region. The purpose of the roadshow was to foster relationships and gain insights with local tourism professionals and media partners in the Gulf. Starting on October 29 at the private residence of the German Consul General, Her Excellency Dr Eltje Aderhold, in Jeddah, it was followed by a visit to Riyadh and the private residence of the German Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Michael Kindsgrab. The roadshow then moved to Kuwait City at the private residence of the German Ambassador, His Excellency Hans-Christian Freiherr von Reibnitz, followed by a stop in Doha in the presence of the Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy in Doha, Mr. Thomas Triller. The roadshow concluded its journey November 2 at the residence of the German Ambassador, His Excellency Alexander Schönfelder, in Abu Dhabi. Yamina Sofo, Director of Marketing & Sales Office Gulf Countries at the GNTO, expressed her enthusiasm about the roadshow’s impact: “The GCC roadshow was an incredible experience for us. It enabled us to expand our network and explore promising opportunities in these major cities. We not only raised awareness about Germany among the local travel trade, but also diversified our campaign offerings, sharing valuable knowledge with market experts.” During the roadshow, Munich Tourism, as one of the attending partners, highlighted its hospitality offerings for GCC travellers, emphasising amenities such as Arabic-speaking staff and Khaleeji chefs during the summer season. It showcased the upcoming events such as UEFA Euro 2024 taking place in 10 German Cities 14 June – 14 …

Participating for their first time, Smartzett.com was crowned as the fastest growing B2B portal at the sixth edition of Arabian Travel Awards. Accepting the award, Afi Ahmed – Chairman – Smart Travel shared, “Smart Travel feels very proud to receive this prestigious award. We thank our trade partners who have faith in www.smartzett.com and voted us to victory. It has motivated Smart Travel to launch more travel solutions to affiliates registered on our B2B portal.” Smartzett.com is known as one of the largest online B2B marketplaces connecting travel suppliers with an extensive inventory of worldwide tours, transfers, hotels etc which would expand business reach. HE Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil bin Shamsuddin, Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE graced the occasion of Chief Guest presenting the awards to the stars of the night. It was an amazing night of celebration as the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards concluded recognizing the stars of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry at the Sofitel downtown Dubai. The Chief Guest H.E Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil Bin Shamsuddin Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE gracing the occasion shared, “It is an honour and privilege for me to be invited to join the experts in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry this evening. To the organiser, please accept my appreciation and gratitude in organising the 6th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards, which recognises the contribution of the leaders of travel, tourism and hospitality in the Middle East. ”

The sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards will return tonight recognizing the key players who contributed immensely to the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors in the UAE. It is an invitation only event to be held at the Sofitel Downtown Dubai. Arabian Travel Awards is a platform for the Middle East market to appreciate the efforts of the travel, tourism and hospitality specialists who have contributed to the booming travel, tourism and hospitality industry. The aim is to encourage them to continue promoting travel, tourism and hospitality in the region. The Arabian Travel Awards are fair and unbiased, following a systematic method of internet-based voting. These awards are supported by Tourismbreakingnews.ae, TravelTVmiddleeast.news and TravTalk Middle East who are premier media partners for the coverage of the event. The awards will be divided into four categories: Personal Awards, Business Awards, Trending Awards and Partner Awards. They will include awards for Best Business Hotel, Best Family Friendly Hotel, Best City Hotel, Best Green Hotel, Best Leisure Hotel, Best Destination Management Company, Best Hotel Apartments, Best B2B Travel Portal, and Best Luxury Hotel to name a few. San Jeet Director Arabian Travel Awards shares, “Our awards have been evolving over the years to recognize the untiring efforts of the industry experts. This year will be the first time that we can finally say that we are back on track, especially with the UAE recording numbers higher than the pre-pandemic era. In today’s travel, tourism and hospitality landscape there are many changes and new trends that have emerged. As UAE declared this year as the year of sustainability and carrying forward their legacy to become the host nation for COP28, this is indeed …

TravTalk ME as media partner at ITB Asia will be looking forward to a great event with its top exhibitors for the highly anticipated 16th edition, set to take place from today, 25 – 27 October 2023 in Singapore. Co-located with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia, this year’s event promises three full days of networking opportunities with international exhibitors, complemented by insightful conference sessions at the iconic Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. ITB Asia Sponsors and Key Exhibitors The exhibitors’ list offers a strong mix of all stakeholder groups. This includes top business players such as Aircalin, Air India, Banyan Tree Group, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, BWH Hotel Group, Club Med, EVA Airways Corporation, Finnair, Icelandair, NEOM, Philippine Airlines, Inc., Worldwide Hotels, Vietnam Airlines and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts; National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) including Visit Brussels, Croatian National Tourist Board, Czech Tourism Authority, Visit Finland, Visit Norway, Palestine Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities, PROMPERU, Tourism Seychelles and more; as well as Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) such as Visit Berlin, Department of Tourism and Creative Economy of Jakarta, Taipei City Government, Zagreb Tourist Board and more. “ITB Asia is putting together a strong representation from all travel segments. As the industry revives, we are enthusiastic to serve as a tried and tested platform for building new partnerships. The level of expertise provided by global tourism leaders will ensure Singapore is the place where we can shape the future of tourism,”, says Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), Organiser of MICE Show Asia, Travel Tech Asia and ITB Asia. Among this year’s exhibiting NTOs are Brand USA, Croatian National Tourist Board, Czech Tourism Authority, Japan National Tourism Organisation, Korea …

The sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards will return tomorrow recognizing the key players who contributed immensely to the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors in the UAE. It is an invitation only event to be held at the Sofitel Downtown Dubai on 25th October 2023. Arabian Travel Awards is a platform for the Middle East market to appreciate the efforts of the travel, tourism and hospitality specialists who have contributed to the booming travel, tourism and hospitality industry. The aim is to encourage them to continue promoting travel, tourism and hospitality in the region. The Arabian Travel Awards are fair and unbiased, following a systematic method of internet-based voting. These awards are supported by Tourismbreakingnews.ae, TravelTVmiddleeast.news and TravTalk Middle East who are premier media partners for the coverage of the event. The awards will be divided into four categories: Personal Awards, Business Awards, Trending Awards and Partner Awards. They will include awards for Best Business Hotel, Best Family Friendly Hotel, Best City Hotel, Best Green Hotel, Best Leisure Hotel, Best Destination Management Company, Best Hotel Apartments, Best B2B Travel Portal, and Best Luxury Hotel to name a few. San Jeet Director Arabian Travel Awards shares, “Our awards have been evolving over the years to recognize the untiring efforts of the industry experts. This year will be the first time that we can finally say that we are back on track, especially with the UAE recording numbers higher than the pre-pandemic era. In today’s travel, tourism and hospitality landscape there are many changes and new trends that have emerged. As UAE declared this year as the year of sustainability and carrying forward their legacy to become the host nation for COP28, …

As travel picks up once again around the world. Wego provides a detailed report on Egypt’s top flight destinations for domestic and international travel in 2023. According to Wego’s 2023 data so far, Kuwait and Jeddah are highly favored by Egyptian travelers as top international destinations due to convenient accessibility and wide range of attractions. Following these two cities are Dubai, Doha, and Muscat. On the domestic front, Cairo takes the lead as the most popular choice even for local tourists. Along with Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Aswan, and Luxor also captivate Egyptian travelers with their unique characteristics. During the ongoing changes within the travel industry, Wego’s core mission is to assist Egyptian travelers in uncovering their preferred destinations, offering a streamlined booking process for flights and accommodations to ensure an exceptional travel experience. With a wide range of flight options at their disposal, those with a passion for global exploration will find countless opportunities in 2023.    

Germany has witnessed a considerable surge in tourism from GCC countries, recording a remarkable 40.9 per cent increase in overnight stays during the first half of 2023 compared to the same period 12 months prior. Further, the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) revealed a huge 593 per cent rise in visits by Gulf nationals in H1 2023 compared to the same period in 2021, underscoring the enormous post-pandemic recovery the country has undertaken. And while overall figures are still 10.3 per cent lower than the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, a 40.9 per cent increase from 2022 is stark evidence of the country’s enduring appeal. Additionally, with GCC providing 478,715 overnight stays in H1 2023, compared to 338,000 in H1 2022 and just 81,000 in H1 2021, the GCC region has established itself as the third-largest Asian source market for inbound tourism to Germany. Yamina Sofo, Director at the German National Tourist Office (GNTO), said: “The GCC stands out as one of the top Asian source markets, showcasing a strong increase in travel interest due to recent successful campaigns by GNTB. Both longstanding and first-time travellers are increasingly eager to explore everything that Germany has to offer.” To sustain this positive momentum, GNTB recently reintroduced its ‘Simply Feel Good’ campaign last month, providing valuable tips on eco-friendly initiatives to reduce carbon footprints during travels. This campaign aligns with the demands of conscientious travellers, emphasising Germany’s commitment to environmentally conscious travel experiences. In tandem, the ‘Embrace German Nature’ campaign, running across the GCC since March, has heightened awareness of Germany’s diverse natural wonders. From protected landscapes and cycling trails to rejuvenating spas and much more, the campaign resonated with GCC travellers seeking …

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the upcoming change in the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) Remittance Frequency for IATA accredited agencies from fortnightly to weekly effective January 1, 2024. This change will impact the following BSP Gulf countries: Oman, UAE and Bahrain. The changes, including remittance and settlement dates, will be reflected in the calendar application on the IATA Customer Portal before January 2024. “IATA is committed to supporting the travel agency community during this transition. The change has been communicated to all agencies and the 2024 remittance calendar will be made available by the end of the year to enable them to prepare accordingly,” said Mr. Khaled Al-Eisawi, Area Manager Gulf and Near East at IATA. “The change means that IATA will be billing travel agencies for their airline sales on weekly basis and the travel agencies will be settling their dues to IATA within a week of receiving their invoices.  As the association representing travel and tour agencies in Dubai, we encourage our member agents and corporate customers to take the necessary measures and adjust their billing and payment schedules to effectively manage the impact of this change,” said Mr. Asim Arshad, President DTTAG. IATA remains committed to the facilitation of financial settlement between IATA accredited agents and member airlines under the Passenger Agency Program umbrella.

Cozmo Travel announced the inauguration of its office in Muscat, complementing the existing operations in Salalah. The new office in Muscat has been meticulously designed to serve as a convenient and accessible point of contact for clients, offering a comprehensive array of travel services, including flights, accommodation, holiday packages, visa assistance, and more. Jamal Abdulnazar, CEO of Cozmo Travel, expressed his enthusiasm for this new expansion, stating, “Our objective is to empower individuals and families to turn their travel dreams into reality. The inauguration of our new office in Al Khuwair, Muscat, underscores our unwavering commitment to providing convenient access to expert travel advice and services. We aspire to be the preferred choice for anyone seeking extraordinary travel experiences. Additionally, Cozmo Travel also is a partner of Visit Oman, a subsidiary of Omran Group and the national travel operator of Oman via an MOU signed in Dubai during ATM 2023 with the aim of promoting and developing Inbound tourism within various segments of tourists into Oman from all 11 countries within the Cozmo countries and our partners globally in over 90 countries. With the establishment of this new office, Cozmo Travel continues to make significant strides in revolutionizing travel experiences, ensuring that every journey transcends mere travel and becomes a memorable adventure. Operating across more than 70 branches in 11 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Armenia, and India, Cozmo Travel has a dedicated team of over a thousand employees. The company is committed to expanding its team’s reach and services, catering to the diverse travel requirements of individuals and corporate entities. The inaugural ceremony was graced by the presence of His Excellency …

General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai in a special interview with TravelTV Middle East shared that travel agents can  now make use of the smart portal to apply and obtain approval for bulk tourist visa within a few minutes with the new system in place. Lt.Colonel Dr. Ghalib Abdullah Hassan Al Majed Al Marri, Director of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence reiterated, “the new visa issuance application which process all the entry permits through AI solutions within 3 to 10 minutes with this new system. Travel agents apply through the smart portal, the main AI system  is comparison of pictures which is a new solution which expedite the process. The good part of this new solution is that you can obtain approval for bulk visa within a few minutes instead of the earlier time period. Before, if you had 100 or 200 tourists who needed entry visa you had to send each one for approval but with this new system, travel agents can obtain approval within minutes as it becomes one application through the new system.”