Category Archives: Govt

Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Israeli Minister of Tourism welcomed the first Gulf Air flight from Bahrain to Israel, along with a delegation of key stakeholders in the tourism industry led by Minister of Economy and Tourism Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani. Following the reception, Minister Farkash-Hacohen said, “The opening of direct flights, and the travel of people between the countries, is an essential step towards building peace between our nations. I look forward to hosting the Minister and his delegation, showing them a taste of Israel’s scenes and heritage, and introducing them to Israel’s private tourism sector.” The Bahraini delegation includes, in addition to the Minister, the Director of the Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority, the CEO and CCO of Gulf Air, and the Chairman of the Association of Bahrain Travel & Tour Agents. During the visit, which will last until Thursday, Israel’s Ministry of Education will hold a series of working meetings between the visitors and key players in the local tourism industry, including President of the Israel Hotel Association, Amir Hayak, CEO of The Israel Association of Travel Agencies & Consultants, Tali Laufer, and CEO of the Incoming Tour Operators Association, Yossi Fatael. Additionally, the Bahraini delegation will tour Jerusalem and visit Tel Aviv. “For the past two months we have worked hard to turn peace from an idea to a reality, and the tourism MOU between the countries is an important step in that direction,” Farkash-Hacohen said. “The tens of thousands of tourists who will arrive from Bahrain and the UAE when the skies reopen will experience Israel in the best way possible. Such visits contribute not only to building peace between the countries and people, but also towards …

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE Youth Hostel Association and the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, with the aim of enhancing the guidelines, standards and mechanisms in managing youth hostels and improving the quality of services provided to the youth tourism sector while preserving the traditional houses of the emirate. The new initiative comes in line with Sharjah’s continuing efforts to strengthen its leading position on the global tourism map. The SCTDA has been tasked to take charge in the management, supervision and development of services of youth hostels located in the emirate, while the Sharjah Archaeology Authority oversees the maintenance and preservation of the facilities. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA stated, “This will ultimately benefit the local tourism sector and cement Sharjah’s position within the ranks of the most prestigious and distinguished tourist destinations in the world. We look forward to working closely with both entities, especially in the move to improve the quality of youth hostel services and the preservation of traditional houses. Our collaboration will help reinforce Sharjah’s reputation as a distinct destination that combines the past traditions with the present age in an urban setting. We are confident that this agreement, which will further enrich the tourism experience of Sharjah, will help strengthen our initial efforts to promote youth tourism. There is no doubt that improving youth hostels will have a positive impact on the tourism community, as they provide distinguished services that will help establish the emirate as an ideal destination for those looking to experience luxurious but cost-efficient holidays. The youth hostels offer multiple options to meet the different tastes and requirements …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) announced its collaboration with the Frontline Heroes Office to offer curated dedicated packages and benefits for frontline professionals as a sign of recognition for the key role they play in protecting the nation.As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, RAKTDA took quick action and launched several support initiatives aimed at its hospitality, leisure and development partners to lay the strong foundations for the sectors’ recovery. The Authority has now made strong strides towards achieving its recovery goals and aims to pay it forward to the nation’s heroes, who made these achievements possible by putting themselves on the frontline in service to the country and ensuring the population’s wellbeing and safety. “We would like to take this opportunity to honour their commitment to this responsibility and show our gratitude through a series of dedicated offers and benefits that they can avail when they visit Ras Al Khaimah,” said Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. He goes on to add, “It is with great pleasure that we welcome the nation’s heroes for a well-deserved break to enjoy the Emirate’s diverse entertainment and hospitality offering.” Her Excellency Professor Maha Barakat, Director General of the Frontline Heroes Office commented, “The Frontline Heroes Office strives to acknowledge the dedicated efforts of the country’s heroes, working with partners on exclusive offerings to express the nation’s gratitude. With the help of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and its array of partners we are able to continue to reward and recognise the heroic efforts of the country’s frontline professionals and their immeasurable actions to protect the UAE and its community.”

Ministry of Economy (MoE) launched the ‘International Advisory Council on the New Economy’, a first of its kind initiative, with the participation of international experts, advisors and economic policy makers, as well as influential national figures involved in the formulation and development of many of the UAE’s economic development programs. H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq AlMarri, UAE Minister of Economy, said: “The Council is a new initiative that the UAE is developing, through which we will work to develop ideas, proposals and formulate new economic policies.” The Council will undertake a set of tasks related to the structure of the new economy, including the development of ideas and proposals; providing advice to decision-makers in new economic fields, development of research papers and studies; and development of new models for regional and international partnerships in the fields of the future economy. In addition, the Council will contribute to coordination efforts with research centres and academic institutions, with the aim of strengthening the UAE’s position as a global hub for innovative ideas and sharing the UAE economy’s experience with external partners. H.E. Bin Touq added that the changes the world is currently witnessing as a result of the pandemic are being reflected across all aspects of life, ranging from our daily lives to travel, trade and other vital economic sectors. However, the current circumstances do not limit the UAE’s aspirations. Instead, they motivate us to convert challenges into opportunities and employ them in the service of long-term development goals and objectives, he said. Bin Touq continued, “The government of the UAE was the most prepared one to deal with most of the challenges that emerged as a result of COVID-19 and was also …

There is huge potential for the UAE and Vietnam to expand ties in renewable energy, trade, investment, logistics, maritime transportation, medical tourism and aviation, according to government officials and trade experts who spoke at the first Global Partnership Series event. The virtual forum, organised by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, was attended by 80 participants from the UAE and Vietnam, including government officials, industry experts and business leaders. “I expect that the efforts from two sides will create the favourable conditions and further enhance the economic, trade, industry and investment relationship between Vietnam and UAE,” said H.E. Nguyen Manh Tuan, who outlined several recommendations for boosting bilateral ties including promoting cooperation between free zones, increasing business and knowledge exchange, and driving participation of businesses in the seminars, workshop, exhibitions and trade fairs organised in Vietnam and Dubai. Addressing participants, H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair elaborated on the state of UAE-Vietnam trade ties, which he said have expanded rapidly following the mutual opening of embassies many years ago, strategic cooperation agreements and the establishment of direct flights between the two countries. The UAE is Vietnam’s top trading partner in the Middle East and North Africa, and Dubai serves as a gateway for the re-exporting Vietnamese goods and products. Yet, he noted that there is still plenty of scope to expand Dubai-Vietnam non-oil trade beyond the $7.4 billion accounted for in 2019, adding that the virtual forum supports Dubai Chamber’s efforts to explore untapped economic potential in Vietnam and other emerging markets around the world.

Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) has launched inspection campaign across the emirate’s tourist establishments to ensure compliance with ‘BV’ certification to protect guests, visitors and hospitality employees in Ajman, in line with the strengthening of precautionary measures taken by the UAE. Bureau Veritas (BV) includes a comprehensive checklist to confirm compliance with good hygiene practices, social distancing, and all other recommendations to maintain the highest levels of safety. It also includes field audits to check that the expected protective measures are implemented efficiently. Sultan Ali Al Nuaimi, Director of Licensing & Tourism Standards Department at Ajman Tourism, said, “This campaign comes as part of our efforts to ensure that all tourist establishments are following the best preventive measures as the emirate continues to consolidate its position as a favourable destination for the UAE residents and tourists. We continue to work closely with our partners in the hospitality sector to preserve the safety and health of the guests of the Emirate of Ajman.”

Ministry of Economy, UAE and Dubai Chamber, which is the key local partner for Google’s ‘Grow Stronger with Google’ programme, discussed digital transformation in the sector Small and medium enterprise, during a webinar in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises. His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises, spoke about the need to continue investing in modern technologies to enhance the effectiveness of responding to the repercussions of the pandemic. He stressed on the vital role of technology in accelerating the pace of economic recovery and restoring momentum in various sectors, especially retail sales, tourism and hospitality services. During the panel discussion, His Excellency further added that “The challenges that the world faces today have proven that investing in technology, innovation and digital transformation is no longer an option, but rather has become an imperative to ensure the continuity of competitiveness. There is no doubt that the post-Covid-19 scene will not be like earlier times and the speed of adapting to the new reality will be a key factor in accelerating the pace of recovery of economies globally and returning to the path of growth. He also remarked on how Governments, and the private sector provide virtual channels of coordination and communication at a time when direct communication is difficult due to the preventive measures in place. “In this context, we would like to commend the partnerships between government agencies in the UAE and global technology leaders such as Google, as these partnerships and initiatives contribute to increasing the resilience of the …

Interim Committee responsible for the coordination and follow up with regard to the implementation of the flexible package and the general plan consisting of 33 initiatives to support the economic sectors, held a virtual meeting. The Committee approved the initiative’s implementation plan, which is divided into three main phases. The first phase aims to provide immediate support for business sectors and the economy through 15 major initiatives, while the second phase is to launch complementary support for sectors to enable rapid economic recovery. The third phase will provide integrated support to vital sectors and will open up a sustainable and flexible development path for the economy and future. The Committee approved six main work streams to implement the initiatives packages which include: empowering the new economy and developing priority sectors; opening new markets locally and internationally; providing financing support and facilitating lending; tourism promotion; attracting and retaining talent; and stimulating innovation. H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri said, “In light of the unlimited support and the guidance from our wise leadership, since the spread of the COVID- 19 pandemic until today, we have come a long way in driving forward economic recovery efforts, working on business continuity in many vital sectors in the country and supporting the private sector and stimulating trade and investment by following up the implementation of the first phase of the package of initiatives, led by a vision to work in a way that balances public health and economy. Bin Touq added, “Through the Interim Committee, we continue to implement the 33 initiatives packages designed to enhance the growth, sustainability and competitiveness of the country’s economic sectors.” Following up on the implementation of initiatives, the Committee …

Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) is ramping up its marketing efforts worldwide through a brand new global campaign, ‘Live Your Story’ designed to highlight the unique ways in which travellers can create their own special holiday experiences across the city. The ‘Live Your Story’ campaign was launched as a digital activation on Emirates’ popular inflight entertainment system, and will be gradually rolled out this month in 20 languages and via multiple platforms in key source markets that have reopened amid the pandemic. The campaign encourages visitors to enjoy much more than the world famous landmarks and attractions that are synonymous with Dubai’s tourism offering. It underscores the many exciting choices that await travellers and invites them to customise exceptional and ‘Only in Dubai’ experiences to suit their tastes, as well as bond with and benefit from the diversity of cultures that are intrinsic to the social fabric of this global metropolis. Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said, “As Dubai continues to welcome international tourists, we are also constantly looking at innovative ways to sustain global interest and consideration for the city as the first choice destination for travellers. With an ever-evolving destination proposition, Dubai is renowned for its array of offerings that visitors can enjoy, whether they are first timers or repeat visitors. However, as we make the transition to the new normal, people will be seeking unique and personalised travel experiences, and this campaign highlights our readiness to cater to such preferences. ‘Live Your Story’ shows a transformative shift in the way we position Dubai from a city of iconic skyscrapers and landmarks to a destination that celebrates …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and RAK Hospital announce a partnership to provide free PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) testing to international visitors staying in and departing from Ras Al Khaimah until 31 December, 2020. Subsidised by RAKTDA, the free PCR test is available for international visitors to avail either at RAK Hospital, one of the UAE’s most renowned private hospitals or RAK Medical Centre in Al Hamra Mall. The partnership marks the Emirate as the first global destination to provide PCR testing free of charge for its international guests and visitors. Earlier in the year, Ras Al Khaimah became the first city in the world to be certified as safe by Bureau Veritas, the global leader in testing, inspection and certification and the first Emirate to receive the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp, due to extensive hygiene and security measures in place at its hotels and attractions. This recognition was quickly followed by free COVID-19 PCR testing for hospitality staff across the Emirate’s hotels. All these efforts align with the Emirate’s recovery plans, including far reaching support initiatives aimed at hospitality partners and stringent safety measures implemented to safeguard guests and residents, which in turn, have led to green shoots of recovery for its tourism industry. “As travel corridors begin to open up, we will continue to incorporate and implement global best practices into our efforts to safeguard against the spread of the pandemic. This initiative comes at a perfect time as we move towards the cooler months of the year into the ‘Winter sun’ season, encouraging all visitors to experience all that the destination has to offer, from the striking Jebal Jais mountain …