Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

In a recent interview with tourismbreakingnews.ae Nuwal Fadhilah Ku Azmi, Director International Promotion Division, North and East Asia, covering Asia and Africa shared that they are expecting a double increase in terms of tourism numbers from the GCC. Last year, Malaysia welcomed 164,568 tourists from the region, representing a substantial increase of 85.88% compared to 88,534 tourists in 2022. Therefore, we are optimistic that the arrivals from this region will double compared to last year. In mid-2024, Malaysia’s tourism sector showed strong recovery and growth in tourist numbers compared to previous years. Malaysia experienced a significant increase in international arrivals in 2024, with a 28.9% growth from January to June compared to the same period in 2023. Specifically, the West Asia market saw a rise from 56,592 tourists in the first half of 2023 to 85,559 tourists in 2024, an increase of 51.2%. Malaysia has been actively refining its strategies to attract visitors from the West Asian market. Tourism Malaysia will continue to collaborate with national carriers and foreign airlines through the Charter Flight Matching Grant (GSPC) to increase air traffic from the West Asian market to Malaysia. As of now, the number of flights for the year 2024 is 138 per week with a seating capacity of 41,956 from the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman. Leveraging air connectivity to increase arrivals to Malaysia and rejuvenating offerings will further enhance Malaysia’s appeal as a preferred tourist destination in this region. Tourism Malaysia and Emirates signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MOC) for a joint promotion campaign at the Arabian Travel Market 2024. In general, our marketing approach for 2024 is geared towards high-impact and fast conversion strategies by …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) celebrated the graduation of 57 Emirati students from its Tourism Youth Summer Camp 2024. This initiative aligns with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and the newly launched Tourism Strategy 2030 by empowering over 60 students annually to drive growth in the emirate’s tourism and hospitality sector. Completing its 11th edition this summer, the two-week programme introduced participants aged 16–21 to Abu Dhabi’s tourism and hospitality sector. The graduation was attended by participants, their families, key industry partners, and government officials, including: Fergus Bugg, Senior Vice President of Guest Experience at Miral Destinations, Salama Al Shamsi, Culture Sites Management Department Director at DCT Abu Dhabi, Ziad Makhlouf, Director of HR at Abu Dhabi National Hotels, Amna Al Suwaidi, Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (NAFIS); Maral Jule Bedoyan, Education and Learning Resources Manager at Louvre Abu Dhabi. Saleh Al Geziry, Director General of Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Across 11 highly successful editions of the Tourism Summer Youth Camp, DCT Abu Dhabi has strategically fostered growth within the sector, fulfilling our mandate to build capacity and meet tourism demand now and for years to come. We are proactively encouraging and engaging talented Emiratis, who represent the future of travel and hospitality in Abu Dhabi. We are committed to championing our youth, ensuring they are empowered to contribute to the sustainable development and economic growth of the emirate.” During their five-day placement at 22 prestigious Abu Dhabi hotels (ranging from 4- to 5-star), students rotated through various departments, including the front desk, food and beverage service, kitchen, recreation, and events. This experience provided them with a comprehensive understanding of the …

The Ministry of Tourism reported that Inbound tourists spent over SAR 141 billion in the Kingdom in 2023. According to the Ministry’s annual tourism statistics report for 2023, the largest portion of spending was on accommodation, surpassing SAR 45 billion. The report also highlighted that shopping spend exceeded SAR 25.5 billion, with Local Transport amounting to approximately SAR 21.5 billion. Food and beverage spending approached SAR 19.4 billion, while other expenses surpassed SAR 25.5 billion. Additionally, entertainment spending topped SAR 4.0 billion. In 2023, Saudi Arabia welcomed more than 27 million international tourists, with spend exceeding SAR 141 billion. Furthermore, the combined total of domestic and international tourists for that year surpassed 109 million.

In a move to attract more visitors from the GCC Visit Qatar recently launched ‘Visit Qatar Pass’ which allows GCC visitors to redeem exclusive offers and discounts on a variety of services throughout Qatar until 1 September 2024. The Pass provides 30-50% discounts and buy-one-get-one deals across categories such as Food & Drinks, Beauty & Spa, Health & Fitness, Fun & Leisure, Room Nights, and Services and Retail. Available on the Visit Qatar mobile application, signing up to the Pass is free and requires only an email address for registration. The offers can be redeemed for advance booking services or at the destination during payment. The Visit Qatar app offers insights into Qatar’s travel, tourism, and hospitality offerings and is available in 8 languages. Qatar inaugurated new hotels and attractions in 2024, including the country’s largest waterpark, Meryal Waterpark, and a new resort experience, ‘Our Habitas Ras Abrouq’ at the edge of the UNESCO protected Al Reem Biosphere. Earlier this year, Visit Qatar and Qatar Airways launched the ‘Stopover in Qatar’ packages, offering five exciting options for travellers with limited time to explore the country. It is imperative to highlight that in 2023, the number of travelers and hotel room nights for stopovers in Qatar more than doubled compared to 2022. These events, initiatives, and attractions underscore Qatar’s commitment to diversifying its events calendar and offering unparalleled experiences for all kinds of tourists. In the second half of 2024, Qatar aims to further elevate its touristic landscape with exciting events, including the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 and the highly anticipated unveiling event for the Michelin Guide Doha 2025. Outdoor Cooling Technologies in Qatar Qatar’s innovative and …

According to the latest figures released by Qatar tourism, during the first seven months they received a total of 2.956 million visitors which is an increase of 26.2 per cent from the same period last year. During the month of July 2024 they welcomed 317,000 visitors. Saudi Arabia maintains its position as the number one source market with 0.86million visitors followed by India with 238,000 visitors and Bahrain with 135,000 visitors. Other top source markets on top are Kuwait, Oman, the US, UK, UAE, Germany and China.

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral are bringing the prestigious luxury travel fair LOOP CEE to the Middle East for the first time. Titled LOOP BEYOND BORDERS, the landmark event will be held from 15 to 19 September at Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas in Abu Dhabi and Anantara Qasr Al Sarab in Al Dhafra. The high-end platform aims to gather distinguished local hospitality brands, offering them an exclusive opportunity to showcase their products and engage with ultra-luxury buyers, travel partners, and agents from Central and Eastern Europe. Over the course of five days, each exhibitor will have the opportunity to conduct 62 appointments, each lasting for 15 minutes, alongside numerous other opportunities to connect with over 100 top tour operators and agents from 16 central and eastern European countries – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and North Macedonia. Abdullah Yousuf, Director of International Operations at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “We look forward to hosting the Middle East’s first ever LOOP CEE event in Abu Dhabi and Al Dhafra, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a premier destination for luxury travellers seeking the most refined of experiences. LOOP BEYOND BORDERS not only supports Abu Dhabi’s journey to becoming one of the most prominent, must-visit locations in the world, but provides unparalleled networking opportunities and knowledge exchange, strengthening our ties across central and eastern European markets, and fostering long-term collaboration.” Taghrid AlSaeed, Executive Director of Group Communications and Destination Marketing at Miral said: “We are happy to host the Middle East’s first-ever LOOP CEE event in Abu Dhabi, particularly on Saadiyat Island, …

The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) announced the successful conclusion of the first edition of the Bahrain Summer Toy Festival 2024 at the Exhibitions World Bahrain, where it attracted more than 97,000 visitors from the Kingdom and abroad. Visitors, particularly citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and residents expressed their positive reception of the festival. In its inaugural edition, the festival demonstrated a strong commitment to social responsibility by welcoming children from various charitable organisations and national initiatives. These included the Royal Fund for Fallen Servicemen, the Bahrain Association for Parents and Friends of the Disabled, Al Sanabel Orphan Care Society, and the Bahrain Down Syndrome Society. Dana Osama Al Saad, Deputy CEO for Resources and Projects at the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), announced the successful conclusion of the Bahrain Summer Toy Festival in its first edition. She commended the cooperative efforts of the relevant government authorities and private sector institutions, emphasising the positive impact of these collaborations on the event. Al Saad expressed her appreciation to Al Dana Amphitheatre, Spacetoon, Exhibition World Bahrain, and the National Bank of Bahrain for their joint and constructive efforts, which resulted in an exceptional summer entertainment festival. She emphasised that the event has significantly bolstered tourism across the Kingdom and strengthened the hospitality sector. She also expressed her aspiration to make the festival an annual event in cooperation with all partners, in line with the plans to develop the tourism sector and achieve the goals of the Tourism Strategy 2022-2026. The Bahrain Summer Toy Festival contributed to boosting the tourism movement in the 2024 summer season, resulting in a significant increase in the occupancy rates of hotels and hospitality establishments. It also increased …

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) announced a record-breaking financial and operational performance in 2023, achieving a net profit of OMR 31.6 million and a 44.6% revenue growth reaching OMR 70.4 million. This record growth underscores the continued support from the Group’s Board of Directors and Executive Management, as well as the strategic partnership with the stakeholders and partners in the tourism sector, amidst the steady and comprehensive economic growth the country is experiencing, resulting in positive outcomes in the sector. The Group witnessed an 8% growth in the occupancy rate of its resorts and hotels compared to 2022. This rise was reflected in the number of guests, with a total of 774,881 guests, representing an 11.5% increase compared to 2022. These achievements were highlighted during the recent Board of Directors meeting. The board reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to strengthening its role in driving economic diversification and significantly increasing its impact as a leading catalyst for development and investment in the tourism sector. This record performance translates the success of the efforts made and the efficiency of the implemented plans, driven by outstanding operational performance across the board. The high revenue rates from resorts, hotels, existing projects, and new tourism experiences and products contributed significantly, alongside continued efforts to improve spending efficiency and operational performance in its subsidiaries and assets. The total book value of the Group’s assets amounted to approximately 671 million Omani Riyals, and equity exceeded half a billion Omani Riyals, reaching 539 million Omani Riyals, a substantial increase from 379 million Omani Riyals in 2020. The Group continues to develop and enhance financial and operational performance, improve operating expenses, boost the competitive capabilities of all owned assets, …

Dubai maintains its position as business event hub winning 175 international events in H1, 2024 as business events continue to strengthen Dubai’s knowledge economy and contribute to tourism growth. The city winning an impressive 175 bids in the first six months of 2024 to host events through 2024 and beyond, which is an increase of 24% compared to the same period last year, these bid wins are expected to bring more than 92,000 delegates, enhancing the pipeline of attendees for business events over the coming years. The successful bids position the city to host several prestigious international conferences, congresses, and incentive meetings over the coming years, with an event win pipeline stretching into 2028. Spanning a wide range of sectors and professions, this achievement underscores the importance of business events to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy over the decade leading up to 2033 and reinforcing its position among the world’s top three cities to visit, live and work in. Dubai Business Events (DBE), part of Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the city’s official convention bureau, worked with stakeholders and industry experts, including Al Safeer Congress Ambassadors, to bid for and capture marquee business events. In addition to successful bidding activity, recent months have seen further global recognition for Dubai’s status as a leading business events hub. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) ranked Dubai the top city in the Middle East for the number of association meetings hosted in 2023, while Cvent ranked it number one in its ‘Top Meeting Destinations in the Middle East and Africa’. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: …

As the allure of the Maldives often leads travelers to its more famous atolls, there remains a treasure trove of lesser-known atolls that promise unique experiences, pristine nature, and a sense of secluded paradise. Among these hidden gems are the Shaviyani, Haa, and Thaa Atolls. Discover why traveling off the beaten path during the off-peak season to these stunning atolls can be a rewarding adventure. Shaviyani Atoll Shaviyani Atoll, located in the northern part of the Maldives, is known for its unspoiled natural beauty and tranquil environment. It’s a haven for those looking to escape the bustling crowds and immerse themselves in the serene surroundings. Top Experiences: Snorkeling and Diving: The atoll boasts vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life. Popular dive sites include Fushivaru Thila and the Big Wall, where divers can encounter a variety of marine species. Cultural Visits: Travelers can explore local islands to experience traditional Maldivian culture, including visits to local communities and craft shops. Water Sports: The calm lagoons are perfect for kayaking, paddleboarding, and jet-skiing.   Where to Stay: JW Mariott Resort & Spa: Find your respite in stylish overwater and beach villas, featuring  plush bedding, private pools, and decks that offer stunning views of the shimmering Indian Ocean. Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort: A luxury resort offering overwater villas and premium amenities, ideal for those seeking a high-end experience. Haa Atoll Haa Atoll, divided into Haa Alif and Haa Dhaalu, is the northernmost atoll of the Maldives. It is rich in history and natural beauty, offering a blend of cultural and marine attractions.   Top Experiences: Historical Sites: The atoll is home to ancient Buddhist ruins and local mosques that offer a …