Category Archives: Govt

With a target to attract over six million international visitors a year by 2030, Qatar Tourism (QT) has partnered with Kazunion, one of Kazakhstan’s largest tour operators, to operate four commercial charter flights a week from two cities in Kazakhstan (Almaty and Astana) to Qatar via FlyArystan from January to March 2023. Kazakhstan is one of 15 target markets identified by Qatar Tourism as a primary source for tourists looking to relax, rejuvenate and soak in Qatar’s vibrant culture. The commercial charter flights from Kazakhstan to Qatar are part of a travel package deal formed by Kazunion which include flights and beach side accommodation for travellers looking to explore Doha’s rich arts, culture, and retail offerings. Celebrating this key milestone, Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, Berthold Trenkel, said: “We are delighted to partner with Kazunion to launch Qatar’s first commercial charter flights to and from Kazakhstan. Our agreement will help sustain the growth of Qatar’s tourism sector by promoting the country as a family-friendly, cosmopolitan, and culturally rich destination for travellers from Kazakhstan.” Qatar Tourism’s 2030 strategy aims to increase the number of visitors to Qatar by threefold, increase spending by 3 to 4 times, and grow the GDP contribution of the tourism sector to 12% by 2030. Kazunion is actively promoting these travel packages among its business-to-consumer and business-to-business targets using various advertising channels across digital, broadcast, cinemas, billboards, and professional events that gather the country’s travel agents. Founded in 2009, Kazunion currently has six offices in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. In Kazakhstan, the tour operator has four offices located in Astana, Almaty, Aktau and Aktobe. Kazunion also has a wide network of partners, with 5,000 agencies in …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is organizing the first official football tournament in the region, which is witnessing competition between 140 players from more than 20 different nationalities compete for the title and total prize of USD $40,000. Footgolf is a hybrid sport that combines the rules and principles of golf with the skill and athleticism of soccer. It is played on a golf course, but instead of using clubs and balls, players kick a soccer ball towards a hole in the ground or a barrel. The objective is to complete each hole in the fewest number of kicks possible, and is a fun and exciting sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. Commenting on the upcoming event, HE. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the SCTDA said, “In the Emirate of Sharjah, the government is committed to organizing and hosting events that align with the overall development goals of the region, address the needs of the community, and promote healthy and enjoyable lifestyles through sports. This is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who emphasizes the importance of improving individuals’ health and quality of life. The SCTDA is dedicated to implementing this vision in all of its initiatives, programs, and projects. One example of this is the recent Sharjah International Footgolf Tournament and Padel Tennis tournament, which were held in partnership with Air Arabia and the Sharjah Sports Council.” He added: “Through the tournament, the Emirate of Sharjah will host ex-football stars with their fan base and supporters, and bring together local …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) announces its highest ever annual visitor numbers, with the Emirate welcoming over 1.13M overnight arrivals in 2022, a total increase of 15.6% vs 2021. The results exceed pre-pandemic levels indicating recovery and resilience in a volatile year. Despite geopolitical and economic challenges, Ras Al Khaimah has become one of the fastest destinations to bounceback. In addition to its record visitor numbers, key 2022 achievements include: Launched Balanced Tourism – its roadmap to becoming the regional leader in sustainable tourism by 2025 Announced the largest foreign direct tourism investment project in partnership with Wynn Resorts, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), Mövenpick and Radisson brands entered the destination for the first time, marking a 17% annual growth in hotel supply to over 8,000 keys 5,867 keys scheduled to be added over the next few years, a 70% increase on current inventory – among the highest growth rates in the UAE 40% increase in international visitors driven by 90+ roadshows, trade fairs, workshops and media events across 24 markets Recognition in Time magazine as one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2022 and CNN Travel’s best destinations to visit in 2023 Opened new attractions, including Jais Sledder, which has seen more than 100,000 visitors since its February opening, and the longest developed hiking trails in the Emirate Achieved a visitor satisfaction score (NPS) of over 80% – far above the industry average of 51 Hosted over 50 events including the prestigious Global Citizen Forum, 15th edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, Arab Aviation Summit, DP World Tour and secured the 2023 Minifootball (WMF) World Cup for the first time in …

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced today the Diriyah Project as PIF’s fifth giga-project, reflecting Diriyah’s status as a unique destination with distinctive cultural, historical, and tourism landmarks. The announcement reflects HRH the Crown Prince’s efforts in enabling the Saudi cultural  identity, which includes the Diriyah Project due to its historic, cultural, and political value proudly showcasing to the world Saudi Arabia’s 300 years of history. Diriyah Project is a globally significant destination that includes the Turaif District UNESCO World Heritage Site. These cultural and historical aspects position Diriyah as an unrivaled destination of global significance where the authenticity of Saudi heritage can be celebrated, revealing the historic origins of modern Saudi Arabia. Tourists will have the opportunity to explore and get to know Saudi’s history, and its culture at the city’s museums and purpose-built pavilions. The Diriyah giga-project is expected to enable many strategic domestic sectors, create partnerships with the local private sector, and unlock many new investment opportunities throughout its development and production phases in sectors such as construction, operation and management of hotels, retail, entertainment, and cultural facilities, creating thousands of new job opportunities and providing a series of initiatives designed to contribute to enriching the quality of life for residents and visitors. Giga-projects form a key part of PIF’s strategy due to their ability to create new economic ecosystems that drive economic growth and diversification in Saudi Arabia. Diriyah becomes the fifth PIF giga-project after NEOM, Red Sea, Qiddiya, and Roshn projects. The Diriyah Project aligns with PIF’s strategy to focus on unlocking the capabilities of promising sectors, including tourism and …

Hajj and Umrah tour operator Mawasim, part of Almosafer – Seera Group’s travel platform, has recorded strong growth in Umrah bookings, with its new offices in Indonesia and Pakistan driving significant growth in pilgrim arrivals. The two countries are also the top international markets for Umrah bookings for Mawasim in 2022. Unveiling the new trends in Umrah travel at the 2023 Conference & Exhibition for Hajj and Umrah Services (Hajj Expo), the largest conference and exhibition for Hajj and Umrah services, Mawasim forecast exceptional growth for the coming year, with pilgrim arrivals from focus markets including Egypt, Algeria, India, Turkey, Malaysia, Iraq and Jordan, in addition to Indonesia and Pakistan. At Hajj Expo, organised by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Mawasim is showcasing its competencies and proven track record in delivering seamless Umrah services for pilgrims from around the world. The company reported strong growth in the last two quarters of 2022, despite the late start of Umrah, welcoming nearly 31,000 pilgrims from 43 countries and working with over 214 agents. Pilgrims accounted for a total of 81,730 room nights across 114 hotels with the largest number of bookings coming from Pakistan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Singapore and Egypt. With travel restrictions limiting Umrah arrivals from inbound markets during the pandemic, pilgrims have returned to make the most of their spiritual trips to Makkah and Madinah with group trips averaging 8 days and 40 passengers per booking. The increase in Umrah travel follows recent reforms in Saudi Arabia permitting visitors to perform Umrah on any visa, in addition to general visa policies that have eased access to the Kingdom with residents of the GCC now being able to obtain a visa …

The latest development project in the emirate of Fujairah is to develop the “Qidfa ” area aiming to attract 100,000 tourists annually by developing the tourism potential and introducing the distinctive capabilities that the region enjoys through the media to enhance its location as a tourist destination. The plan also works to launch 50 development projects for the region’s youth, in addition to training 200 youth and young women in various fields and sectors, in cooperation with a large group of strategic partners from the public and private sectors. In the government of Fujairah website, it further states that according to Emirates news the development paths of the “Qidfa” development plan attach great importance to youth by providing them with all means of support and enabling them to unleash their energies and raise their participation in various development paths. This path includes the establishment of commercial spaces and a local market for farmers and the development of innovative ways to market agricultural products to the people of the region in all emirates of the country. and its cities. The path of developing development projects is based on the construction of new pedestrian roads and bicycle paths between farms and linking them with the waterfront, in addition to developing the streets leading to the waterfront, and constructing car parks. In the course of village coordination, a tourist entrance will be built and guiding boards will be placed in all areas, in addition to renovating and unifying the side walls to create an attractive appearance and a tourist identity that reflects the unique natural capabilities of the region and highlights it as a tourist center. The path includes the development of the …

Abu Dhabi Maritime, established by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) and AD Ports Group as the primary custodian of Abu Dhabi’s waterways, has announced that it has launched a new Public Water Taxi service within the greater Yas Bay and Raha Beach community, in collaboration with Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences. The Public Water Taxi service will enhance connectivity between a number of Abu Dhabi’s waterfront attractions while offering an alternative transport option for the public. It will initially operate across high-demand locations including Yas Bay, Yas Marina and Al Bandar with further stops to follow. The service will be open seven days a week following scheduled timings which ensure vessel availability at each stop every hour. H.E. Dr. Salem Khalfan Al Kaabi, Director General of Operational Affairs, Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) said: “We are working closely with AD Ports Group as part of our collaboration with Abu Dhabi Maritime to provide advanced services that will boost the emirate’s connectivity making access to high-demand destinations even easier for Abu Dhabi residents and tourists. The new Public Water Taxi service underscores our efforts and commitment to developing state-of-the-art maritime services needed to support Abu Dhabi’s global position as one of the best destinations to live, work and visit.” Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, said: “Our partnership with Abu Dhabi Maritime for the launch of the Public Water Taxi Service reiterates our commitment towards further positioning Yas Island as a top global destination for entertainment and leisure. With enhanced connectivity, residents and visitors will have the opportunity to navigate, explore and enjoy the island’s world-class offerings and landmarks. “The launch …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) successfully concluded the ‘Experience Abu Dhabi GCC Roadshow 2022’ in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Kuwait recently. The roadshow drew the participation of 17 DCT Abu Dhabi partners, including Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE; and Miral Destinations, the one-stop trade and promotional partner for Yas Island and Saadiyat Island. The partners jointly showcased how GCC families, couples and youth can enjoy Abu Dhabi’s diverse range of exciting, inspiring and restoring experiences in the winter season. The roadshow kicked off in Saudi Arabia, a top five source market for Abu Dhabi,  with the final leg concluding in Kuwait. Through one-on-one meetings, presentations and group discussions, DCT Abu Dhabi and its delegation met with nearly 600 travel trade professionals where they presented the new destination campaign, ‘Experience Abu Dhabi. Find Your Pace’ as well as highlighted the action-packed Abu Dhabi Calendar that continue to feature a vibrant line-up of sports, family fun, culture, music and nightlife events. Abdulla Yousuf, Director of Travel Trade and Market Development at DCT Abu Dhabi said: “It was an absolute pleasure to meet our valued travel trade partners in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and to share everything that Abu Dhabi has to offer in the new year and beyond. The GCC region continues to be one of our biggest source markets for leisure travel in Abu Dhabi. Through this roadshow, we were able to reaffirm our support for our valued stakeholders, showcase our destination highlights, and introduce our new destination campaign, which is inspiring more and more travellers to consider Abu Dhabi for an unrivalled holiday experience.” The roadshow also spotlighted the many …

Emirates has sealed an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas to promote tourism to the Caribbean archipelago. The airline and The Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism will embark on joint initiatives to boost visitor traffic into the islands from key markets across Emirates’ network. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and Chief Executive and HE Tony Joudi, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the UAE and the State of Qatar at the Emirates Group Headquarters. Also present at the signing ceremony was Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer and Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for the Americas. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and Chief Executive said: “We are pleased to collaborate with The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas in supporting its goals to boost the nation’s tourism economy. Through our partnerships with United and Air Canada, we look forward to playing a key role in promoting The Bahamas as a key leisure destination. Our global customers from across our network can enjoy Emirates’ services to our points in North America and benefit from enhanced connectivity and access to the islands.” His Excellency Tony Joudi, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the UAE and the State of Qatar said: “I would like to thank Emirates for playing a role in strengthening the connection between the two countries. Tourism is the lifeblood of our nation’s economy and, by growing visitor arrivals to our tropical island paradise, we hope to achieve our goals of stimulating the tourism economy and providing impetus to the business climate. “Emirates is a …

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of a range of products, packages and experiences for pilgrims from Turkey who are wishing to visit Makkah and Madinah. A special trade roadshow hosted in Istanbul recently by the Saudi Tourism Authority announced that Turkish citizens can now obtain an entry visa into Saudi quickly and easily. Turkish nationals wishing to visit Saudi will now have the option to obtain a tourist visa through the Saudi Embassy or Consulate in Turkey, the visa issued within 48 hours through accredited travel and tourism offices in Turkey which are listed on the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Residents of the United States of America, United Kingdom, and European Union countries, or holders of United States, United Kingdom, and Schengen active visas; can obtain the visa upon arrival at the international airports in the cities of Jeddah, Madinah, Riyadh and Dammam. The Ministry of Hajj & Umrah also launched Nusuk (nusuk.sa/tr), an integrated digital government platform designed to enhance and enrich the Umrah experience for Muslims visiting Makkah and Madinah in Turkish. The platform will enable simpler arrival procedures for visitors to perform Umrah and a range of services that will include facilitating visas, permits, booking processes and procedures along with special packages for Makkah, Madina and a host of other historical religious sites in Saudi. Additionally, Saudi citizens can now issue a personal visit visa for their friends, as can citizens and residents wishing to host their relatives.  This can be done through the unified national visa platform visa.mofa.gov.sa. Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board at Saudi Tourism Authority and Managing Director of Nusuk, said: “Saudi continues its efforts …