Category Archives: Associations

‘Journeys in Arabia’ Roadshow 2021

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) will conduct a two-day roadshow curated for travel trade partners in the Middle East on 8th and 9th March 2021 from 8am to 8pm GST. The roadshow is part of STA’s ‘Journeys in Arabia’ virtual engagement series and is an opportunity for partners to meet one-on-one with senior representatives from the key destinations, experience, and hospitality brands. For the first time ever, local travel trade partners and key stakeholders are being brought together on one platform, to build relationships and stimulate conversations around potential commercial partnership opportunities. As it relates to leisure tourism, Saudi is a relatively new destination hence the focus is two-fold. While it is fundamental to drive awareness about Saudi amongst travelers around the world, also it is also critical to engage, educate and inspire travel trade partners about the diverse products and experiences that Arabia offers. Saudi Arabia aims to achieve 100 million annual visits to the Kingdom by 2030, made up of both domestic and international travelers. In order to achieve this goal, STA has developed a comprehensive strategy to drive the number of visits, increase spend and build a leading tourism brand for Saudi. Across the world, 15 priority leisure source markets have been identified spanning the GCC region, Asia, North America, and Europe. This is broken down further into three target segments, leisure, MICE, and spiritual travel. Since the opening of doors to leisure tourism in September 2019, STA has unveiled many new destinations and experiences for audiences from home and abroad. The Saudi offering is unique– its rich culture, deep heritage, diversity of landscapes and unparalleled hospitality. It is the authentic home of Arabia: a place of exploration, …

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RAKTDA launches new outdoor programme for nature enthusiasts

As the milder temperatures continue to set the perfect conditions to explore the great outdoors, the team at Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) is sharing useful tips and information to inspire nature enthusiasts to explore the Emirate’s spectacular trails. Running throughout March, the tourism team will release a series of expert-led videos on its social media channels advising hikers (and avid walkers) how best to prepare for an excursion as well as offering interesting insights into the various routes and tips on safety. Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said, “The diverse terrain of Ras Al Khaimah offers hikers an extensive choice of outdoor experiences that appeal to first-time adventurers as well as experienced hikers. With this program,  we wanted to shine a light on the spectacular natural wonders of Ras Al Khaimah, as well as providing all hikers with guidance and support to enjoy memorable and safe nature-based experiences.”

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Malaysia becomes diamond partner at GTS 2021

Tourism Malaysia pledges partnership for the second consecutive time at the second edition of the Gulf Travel Show to be held on March 31 and April 1, 2021 as diamond partners. Shahrin Mokhtar, Director of Tourism Malaysia – Dubai shared, “Tourism Malaysia Dubai, Jeddah & India join forces with major tourism partners to spearhead Malaysia promotion in Virtual Gulf Travel Show 2021. Tourism Malaysia has become the Diamond partner in GTS 2021 to further communicate the “Malaysia Truly Asia” brand to the travel industry fraternity in MENA and India markets. This time we are planning to showcase Malaysia with our 10 selected tourism partners who will engaged with Middle East & India potential buyers during the 2 days virtual show. This a great opportunity for us to interact with the industry players and plan for the New Normal once Malaysia opens its borders to welcome tourists. For this year, we are promoting the hashtag #WeMissYou to the market indicating that we miss the tourists coming to our beautiful country and can’t wait to see them again at the Malaysian shore soon.” The first edition of the Gulf Travel Show successfully concluded in 2020 with 40 plus exhibitors, 6000 one-to-one meetings, and 2,500 visitors from 59 countries which included travel agents, tour operators, tourism boards, airlines, hotels, travel management companies, and international agencies encouraged the emergence of a second edition. Once again, the show promises some of the key travel, tourism, and hospitality experts from across the Middle East share their insights on the industry through one on one sessions and panel discussions.

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Tourism Malaysia launches ‘Malaysia specialist certification programme’

Tourism Malaysia Dubai & Jeddah is launching  Malaysia Specialist Certified Programme (MSCP) to educate travel professionals on destination information to become certified Malaysia travel experts. Conducted by Malaysian destination experts from the state tourism boards of Penang, Melaka, Selangor, Sabah, Sarawak, and Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), the programme comprises a series of six webinars, spanning one hour per session from March 9 to 25, 2021, designed specifically for travel agents. The travel agents will go into deep dives on major attractions, local events, and tourist accommodation premises in Malaysia during webinars. Besides that, the MSCP will also be used to promote Sabah and Sarawak as the new destinations for Middle East travellers. Shahrin Mokhtar, Director of Tourism Malaysia – Dubai, stated, “The MSCP is expected to make a significant headway which will enable us to reach a higher number of travel agents in the Middle East.” Putra Hilmy Elias, Director of Tourism Malaysia – Jeddah, added, “This programme ensures that the travel agents have knowledge of Malaysia and also allows them to grow their businesses by leveraging on Malaysia’s diverse tourism offerings.” The MSCP is a part of Tourism Malaysia Dubai’s initiative born out of the COVID-19 pandemic besides the ‘#WeMissYou’ hashtag strategy to spur the readiness of travel professionals in the Middle East once Malaysia is reopened for business. The participants will be awarded certificates and entitled to enter a lucky draw for the chance to win hotels stay in Malaysia with a validity period until 2022.

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Shurooq introduces Moon Retreats to increase domestic tourism

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) is gearing up to cross a brand new milestone in its journey of transforming Sharjah into a vibrant hub for sustainable eco-tourism in the region. The authority has announced that the family-friendly Moon Retreat, which will be the fourth eco-luxury retreat to join Shurooq’s Sharjah Collection brand, managed by Mysk by Shaza, is all set to welcome overnight guests – desert adventurers and glampers alike – from around the world in Q1 of 2021, when the UAE’s weather is ideal for immersing in the flurry of outdoor activities and nature-inspired experiences that the archaeologically rich Mleiha region has on offer. Khawla Al Hashimi, Director of Project Development at Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), said, “Moon Retreat offers camping enthusiasts, tourists and visitors of all ages looking to explore the region’s most stunning natural attractions, an unparalleled opportunity to indulge in unique holiday experiences and relax in nature, away from the hustle of the city. It is a part of Shurooq’s broader vision and mission to bolster the existing offerings at the Mleiha Archaeological and Eco-tourism destination, transforming this historic land of archaeological wonders into a fully-integrated and serviced community for tourists and visitors looking for a one-of-a-kind adventure experience in the UAE.” She added, “Developing such eco-friendly retreats continues to position Sharjah as the hub of responsible tourism in the region. Shurooq’s eco-tourism projects have contributed significantly to helping tourists and visitors connect with our heritage and nature while playing a great role in boosting the emirate’s leisure and cultural status across the global tourism sector.  They not only contribute to making a positive impact on the environment and economy but also help …

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Saudi Tourism Authority launches ‘Journeys in Arabia’

Bringing together Travel Trade Partners together for the first time, an exclusively curated webinar to explore and Discover Saudi’s exciting new tourism offerings was conducted online. The global travel industry is undergoing its most profound transformation. As the landscapes evolves, it is more important than ever to continue to inspire, engage and educate travel trade for when the world safely re-opens and travel resumes. Saudi Arabia is a relatively new destination on the global stage. As the authentic home of Arabia, Saudi offers unique, diverse and unparalleled experiences, a land of natural assets, rich culture and heritage and adventure. To bring to light the Saudi offering, the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has launched ‘Journeys in Arabia’, an exclusive online event curated especially for Travel Trade Partners around the globe. The virtual engagement series, taking place across six markets around the world, is a first-of-its-kind initiative for STA, a source of inspiration and excitement, designed to inform partners about the diverse products and experiences that Arabia offers. The session provided insights into the current state of travel and the opportunities and challenges in addressing the growing demand and interest in Saudi as a new destination. Panelists discussed the huge shift in domestic travel and potential of the regional audience as an untapped segment, highlighting infrastructure, connectivity and capacity as the three fundamentals in further developing Saudi’s tourism ecosystem. Giga projects including NEOM were referenced as key in driving tourism to Saudi in the future, while investment into activities and experiences was also identified as critical components in elevating Saudi’s appeal amongst key stakeholders and potential partners.

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Wego inks deal with STB (Middle East) to invite GCC travellers to Reimagine travel in Singapore

Wego has signed deal with Singapore Tourism Board (STB) Middle East to reimagine travel in Singapore and invite travellers from the GCC to visit the country once the borders are fully open. As countries are reopening their borders and aim to vaccinate the population in the fight against coronavirus, people are gearing up to travel again. Singapore has also started their vaccination drive by rolling out the vaccines amongst healthcare workers, followed by elderly and now to all residents. Singapore has enough vaccines for its 5.7 million population. Wego and Singapore Tourism Board Middle East are working closely to raise awareness about reimaging the future of travel in Singapore through fresh and innovative experiences that will ignite travelers’ passions. The new initiative ‘SingapoReimagine’, prompts audience in the Middle East to reimagine how travel will be like through Singapore’s reimagined offerings, which will be available across Wego’s diverse targeted marketing channels. The country provides its visitors a safe and seamless travel experience through its initiative SG Clean Quality mark, which requires tourism establishments to adhere to stringent levels of hygiene and sanitization as well as Safe Management Measures (SMMs). The city has been reporting low cases over the past few months. A recent Brand Health Study, conducted by STB’s appointed market research company Ipsos, revealed that confidence in travelling overseas for leisure and business has been steadily increasing, with 76% of leisure travelers and 90% of BTMICE travelers indicating they are likely to travel in the next 12 months, if possible. Singapore is a city known for its great food, authentic culture, all around family friendly atmosphere and world-class attractions which have always been attributes that attract GCC tourists to the …

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ZoodMall Jordan announces strategic partnership with HyperPay

ZoodMall, the fastest growing B2C cross-border e-commerce marketplace app, operating in Central Asia and the Middle East, announced a new strategic partnership in Jordan with MENA region’s leading payment gateway, HyperPay, to offer customers a convenient and secure online payment experience at checkout when completing a purchase on the ZoodMall Application. Recent studies confirm that the e-commerce sector in the Middle East and North Africa region is on the verge of distinct levels of continuous growth during the coming period, coinciding with the increasing demand among consumers for electronic payment options, and the awareness of merchants of the need to enhance their electronic presence during the Corona virus pandemic. Trade in e-commerce platforms is expected to reach USD 28.5 billion in 2022, which is over 3.5 times the current trade volume and nearly 7% of total retail sales. “The vibrant e-commerce market has witnessed an unprecedented increase during the pandemic period with the volume of e-commerce in the Middle East and North Africa region currently about $ 8.3 billion. With our vision and determination to continually expand our customer experience, ZoodMall recently partnered with HyperPay. This affiliation will enable our Jordanian customers to make payments online, using Debit and Credit Cards with ultimate flexibility, security and ease and will be the stepping stone to roll out ZoodPay ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ (BNPL) payment options towards Local purchases including three easy instalment plans of up to 60 days without incurring interest charges.” said Mohammad Al Yousef , ZoodMall Jordan’s Country Manager “We look forward to a long-term partnership with ZoodMall Jordan, and help our new partners grow their presence in the Jordanian eCommerce market as well as unlock their full potential …

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Sharjah Events launches campaign to boost activities and events

Sharjah Events has announced the launch of the #SeeSharjah campaign that aims to collate visual content shared on social media depicting the exciting activities, events and attractions held throughout the year in the Emirate. The ‘Sharjah Shines’ campaign stems from Sharjah Events’ vision to forge strong, meaningful and long-term connections with the public. Stunning, impactful photographs and videos will receive attractive prizes, and winners will be able to enjoy immersive experiences at some of Sharjah’s most popular tourist landmarks. Announcing the launch of the campaign, HE Tariq Saeed Allay, Director of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), said, “The objective behind the #SeeSharjah campaign is to utilise the powerful and innovative user-generated content shared on social media to create a sustainable content library that aligns with the vision of Sharjah Events. Compelling images that capture the beauty of the emirate and showcase the excitement and buzz during its year-long events and celebrations at museums, exhibitions, and other locations will find a place on sharjahevents.ae.” He added, “Monitoring user-generated content that creates an excitement about Sharjah’s wide range of events and activities is a unique opportunity to foster a long-term partnership with content creators and is a powerful resource to increase engagement with the public. Studies have revealed that more than 90 per cent of internet users both favour and trust user-generated content on social media platforms.”

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FCM Travel Solutions partners with Medcare Hospitals

FCM customers in the UAE and in several other growing FCM markets now have access to discounted rates for PCR/Serology tests and Nasal Swab/Deep Throat Saliva tests respectively, currently one of the lowest in the market for business travellers. In the UAE, FCM has formed a partnership with Medcare Hospitals & Medical Centres to provide this service to its clients at its Medcare Hospital Al Safa Dubai. “The business travel landscape and the needs of our customers have changed beyond all recognition over the last few months and business travel conditions will continue to evolve and shift as everyone comes out the other side of the global pandemic,” said Ciarán Kelly, Regional Director – Middle East & Africa, FCM Travel Solutions. “It is extremely important to partner with key private and public institutions to form an ecosystem that works together to operationalise cross-border travel. The reality is that many challenges lie ahead of us and the solution may not be straightforward. However, the process is an essential part of this transition into developing a safe and responsible cross-border travel system that works, and FCM is proud to be at the forefront of this initiative.” Dr. Shanila Laiju, CEO of Medcare Hospital Al Safa & Medcare Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, said, “Medcare Hospitals & Medical Centres is committed to ensuring the wellbeing of our community. As a combined effort of the nation’s initiatives to offer its people a safe environment, it is our priority to facilitate this by creating this secure space for all people travelling into the UAE and those needing to travel out of the country. With borders steadily reopening, we ensure the most trusted and safe access to …

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