Category Archives: Govt

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed a 22.9% increase in visitor spending in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023, with total expenditures surpassing SAR 45 billion. Additionally, the “travel” item reports that the Kingdom earned SAR 24 billion, reflecting a growth of over 46% compared to the same period in 2023. Preliminary data from the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) on the balance of payments’ “travel” item indicates that travelers from the Kingdom spent approximately SAR 21 billion during the same timeframe. The increase in inbound visitors’ spending in the Kingdom marks another milestone in the ongoing success of its tourism sector. In 2023, the Kingdom topped the UN Tourism list for the highest growth rate in both international tourist numbers and tourism receipts among the world’s leading destinations, compared to 2019. This achievement highlights the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and other components of the Saudi Tourism Ecosystem in promoting the tourism sector and contributing to the national economy’s growth. It is a key aspect of the National Tourism Development Strategy. The released documents have confirmed the effectiveness of the efforts by the Tourism Ecosystem to position the sector as a global leader. This has been achieved through the implementation of best practices in tourism development, the enhancement of tourism services and products, and ongoing collaboration with all government entities to support the development of the Kingdom’s tourism sector.

Dubai offers a new eco-tourism experience to visitors as the new Jebel Ali Beach Development Project receives approval which extends 6.6 km, the beach is poised to become a distinctive recreational destination that places a high priority on environmental preservation and the protection of local ecosystems and wildlife. The project features exceptional services, facilities, and public amenities. Offering a new eco-tourism experience, visitors to the beach can enjoy watching turtles in their natural habitat. Various measures and regulations will be put in place to protect them and provide them a safe nesting environment. These efforts align with the efforts of relevant bodies in the UAE to rescue, rehabilitate, and return turtles to their natural habitat and preserve the UAE’s rich marine environment. In line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to create the world’s best public beaches in the emirate, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, approved the Master Plan for the Jebel Ali Beach Development Project. Dubai currently has a total of eight public beaches: Al Mamzar Beach, Al Mamzar Corniche, Jumeirah 1, Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Umm Suqeim 2, and Jebel Ali Beach. All of them have obtained the globally prestigious Blue Flag accreditation awarded to public beaches that meet its criteria including compliance with the programme’s standards such as marine water quality, environmental education, environmental management, public safety, and services for five consecutive years. The two beaches will be equipped with advanced technology services and systems, such as advanced lockers, Wi-Fi …

Qatar launched its latest tourism project spanning 8 million square metres, featuring a 7km waterfront that stretches over Qatar’s eastern coastline. The project opens diverse investment avenues for the private sector, with over 16 plots available for development. These include luxury resorts spread across four distinct areas, a theme park, a world-class 18-hole golf course, residential villas, a yacht club and a marina, as well as restaurants and shops. In addition, the project will rely on sustainable construction and operation, incorporating cutting-edge smart systems and innovative technologies while prioritising the use of locally recycled materials. By boosting non-oil sector contributions to Qatar’s economy, empowering the private sector and attracting foreign direct investment, the Simaisma Project marks a significant milestone towards achieving the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030. HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, launched the Simaisma Project, an initiative led by the Ministry of Municipality and developed by Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company. Set to become a new cultural landmark, the project will span over 8 million square metres, featuring a 7 km waterfront that stretches over Qatar’s eastern coastline. Speaking at the event, HE Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, Minister of Municipality, emphasised the importance of public and private sector partnerships in achieving Qatar’s development. He explained: “We are steadily advancing towards realising Qatar’s national vision 2030, building a more prosperous and stable future for coming generations across the economic, social and environmental domains. We are thrilled to contribute to the growth of the tourism and entertainment sector by spearheading innovative projects that meet the rising demand in this crucial industry.” Eng Ali bin Mohammed Al …

In line with the summer season, Visit Qatar has launched its Qatar calendar of events and ‘Your Summer Starts Here’ campaign, including a host of offers, events and fun activations targetting the GCC visitors. Curated for people of all ages, the ‘Your Summer Starts Here’ campaign showcases what the country has to offer from outdoor acitivities to exclusive offers in iconic locations. The campaign video shows Bahraini influencer and film-maker Omar Farooq head to Doha for a 24-hour visit where his friend, renowned Qatari athlete, Mutaz Barshim meets him. Together, both Barshim and Farooq experience Qatar’s curated summer offerings. Following its success last year, the Qatar Toy Festival returns to Qatar this summer in its second edition from July 15 to August 14 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC). The Qatar Toy Festival will be an unforgettable experience for families of all ages. Qatar is also home to several indoor parks including Doha Quest, Virtuocity, Angry Birds World and Trocadero. With world-class private beaches, Qatar is set to welcome GCC visitors to its shores. West Bay Beach, 974 Beach, Doha Sands Beach, Banana Island Resort, Doha Beach Club, Katara Beach and many others will be operating throughout the summer with special events and offers. GCC visitors can benefit from Visit Qatar’s promotions, including up to 40% in multiple locations by Katara Hospitality. Some of these promotions include a festive brunch, lunch or dinner, hotel stays among other exciting offers. Additionally, families with children can visit Inflata City at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) until July 13 for fun activities on inflatables. Msheireb Downtown Doha is hosting ‘Summer Nights’ until August 31 with immersive festivities catered to all …

Philippines welcomed over 600 global delegates of the inaugural UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific as it formally opened on Wednesday (June 26) at The Marquee of Shangri-La Mactan. Philippines successfully hosts first UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific Courtesy of the Department of Tourism – Office of Public Affairs and Advocacy. Co-organized by the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT), the UN Tourism, and the Basque Culinary Center, the event gathered participants from UN member-states, affiliate members, and tourism stakeholders from national and international organizations. A first of its kind in Asia and the Pacific the forum seeks to become a platform to celebrate the power of gastronomy tourism by bringing together destinations and international experts in an exchange of knowledge and best practices, in order to fully harness the transformative power of gastronomy tourism, especially its benefits to local communities and the environment. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, BCC Director of Masters and Courses Idoia Calleja, Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative Ma. Cynthia “Cindi” King Chan, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan, UN Tourism Ambassador for Gastronomy Tourism Chef Vicky Cheng of VEA Restaurant in Hong Kong, and foreign dignitaries led the ceremonial pouring of rice into a giant pusô, a rice cake made by boiling rice in a woven pouch of palm leaves that serves as a major culinary pride of Cebuanos, one of the diverse gastronomic offerings that can be found in the Philippines. The Philippines holds the honor of hosting this inaugural UN Tourism forum, after its election as Chair of the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific during …

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) revealed that the sector’s contribution to Egypt’s GDP grew almost 24% last year to reach a record E£953BN – nearly 21% ahead of the previous peak. The data also shows that across sector jobs, international and domestic visitor spending, the sector fully recovered last year to reach record-breaking levels. Domestic visitor spending grew almost 9% year-on-year to reach more than E£328.5BN, while spending by international visitors saw a strong 38.5% year-on-year growth last year, to reach E£470.4BN. Jobs supported by the sector grew almost 10% to reach more than 2.5MN, representing one in 12 jobs across Egypt. Although this is strong recovery, it continues to lag previous record job numbers for the sector, set 15 years ago in 2008, when job numbers reached 3.7MN. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said; “Egypt’s Travel & Tourism sector has made an extraordinary recovery, surging past previous records, highlighting the sector’s resilience and its vital role in Egypt’s economy. “The Egyptian Government recognises the value of Travel & Tourism to the Egyptian economy and jobs, placing it at the forefront of the agenda, with a real focus on investment.” This year, the sector’s GDP contribution is forecast to reach almost E£988BN, accounting for 8.1% of Egypt’s economy. International visitor spending is anticipated to grow 6.2% to reach just under E£500BN this year, with domestic visitor spending expected to reach over E£340BN. Sector jobs are projected to grow 5.7% to reach 2.67MN, to account for almost one in 11 jobs in Egypt, although still below the previous peak.With the right government support, WTTC is forecasting that the sector could grow its annual GDP contribution to E£1.57TN by 2034, representing …

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai has signed a cooperation agreement with Dubai Airports to enhance cooperation between the two sides, provide the best services to passengers and position Dubai Airports as a leader in offering premium services among international airports. The signing ceremony was attended by HE Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the GDRFA, and Paul Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Airports. HE Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri said: “The agreement will significantly support GDRFA’s strategy designed to enhance cooperation with key partners and ensure the provision of integrated and effective services to passengers at Dubai Airports.” Al Marri emphasised that GDRFA is committed to offering top-notch services by adopting the latest technologies and best international practices, adding that the partnership with Dubai Airports is a significant step towards achieving the vision of making Dubai Airports among the best in the world by enhancing the travel experience and providing a safe and seamless environment for all travellers. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said: “This agreement marks another significant step in our ongoing efforts to solidify Dubai’s position as a world-leading aviation hub. Our partnership with GDRFA is essential for providing a seamless and efficient journey for all travellers at our airports. The agreement allows us to harness cutting-edge technology to streamline processes and further enhance operational efficiency, aligning perfectly with Dubai’s strategic aspirations for its aviation and tourism industries.” The partnership is set to upgrade the process of inquiring about registration at the smart gates via the website by providing a link on the Dubai Airports website, which would enable passengers to check their registration status in the …

Trump International Resort is expected to be constructed in Oman with 140 hotel units, suites, villas, residential apartments, and a golf course. The project will further include international restaurants and places for meetings and conferences. His Highness Sayyid Dhi Yazan bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, sponsored today at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel the launch ceremony of the Trump International Resort, which is being held within the “Aida” project in the Yiti area in the state of Muscat. Yousef Al Shalash, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Company, explained that the project will provide a high level of hospitality and hotel services in the Sultanate of Oman, noting that the partnership with the Trump Group will add an aesthetic touch through its global expertise. On the other hand, Ziad Al-Shaar, CEO of Dar Global, the developer of the “Aida” project, indicated that the project will be available for investment, as investors can purchase hotel units (villas and hotel apartments), adding that the project will also include international restaurants and places for meetings and conferences. It is noteworthy that the “Aida” project comes within the general plan of the Yiti integrated tourism project in the state of Muscat, and is being held in partnership between the Omran Group and the Saudi company “Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development.”

In keeping their commitment to the digital transformation UN Tourism partnered with UAE to integrate an e-platform for the governing body meetings. Under an agreement announced during the 121st session of the UN Tourism Executive Council, the United Arab Emirates will sponsor the implementation and maintenance of a Mobile Application integrated platform. The platform includes an electronic voting system for the Organization that would be available at the meetings of its Governing Bodies (the General Assembly and the Executive Council) and its subsidiary organs. It also offers other features such as documentation management, online registration process and interactive communication between participants, among other features. The adoption of the new electronic platform sponsored by UAE further underscores UN Tourism’s commitment to the digital transformation of every part of the tourism ecosystem, as well as its ongoing focus on promoting innovation and modernizing its processes. UN Tourism will make use of a new electronic voting system for the meetings of its key statutory meetings and other meetings of its Governing Bodies.  

Spain tourism authority announced a significant rise in the number of visitors coming from the GCC as they welcomed 430,000, while the number of visitors from Saudi Arabia increased by 92% and from the UAE by 16% compared to the previous year. Spanish tourism authority Turespana also shared the latest recommendations revealed by the Turespana campaign and other tourist places outside of Madrid, Barcelona and Andalusia to spend a great summer visiting the country. With summer approaching, high temperatures and longer daylight hours offering more opportunities to explore the city, there’s no better place to spend summer than Spain. The country combines festivals, food and hidden gems around every corner, offering a variety of experiences beyond the traditional tourist points of Madrid, Barcelona and Andalusia. Whether you’re travelling with family, couples or alone, the country offers an amazing mix of diverse adventures. For tourists from the GCC in particular, rugged mountains, desirable coastlines and desert-like areas, as well as two groups of beautiful islands – the Balearic and Canary Islands – offer the perfect getaway for enjoyable cultural holidays. There is more to explore in the country, than many imagine. The Balearic Islands archipelago is located off the east coast of Spain and consists of the islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca. Mallorca features mountain ranges ideal for cycling and hiking, as well as boutique hotels set amidst lush countryside gardens, and the city’s rooftop bars, making you want to explore every corner. Valde Musa, Soller, Pollença , and Puerto Portals is one of the most loved destinations for luxury holiday seekers. Ibiza, or “White Island”, is famous for its nightclubs, sunsets and tranquil Boho atmosphere, but it’s not …