Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

Cozmo Travel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Moroccan National Tourism Office. This partnership marks a significant milestone for Cozmo Travel as it expands its reach into promoting destinations in the African continent. The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from both organizations, including Mr. Jamal Abdulnazar, CEO of Cozmo Travel, and Mr. Adel El Fakir, CEO of the Morocco Tourism Board. The MoU outlines the collaboration between the two entities in promoting and facilitating tourism to Morocco from GCC & India. This partnership will help to create new business opportunities, enhance customer experiences, and boost economic growth in all countries involved. Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Jamal Abdulnazar, CEO of Cozmo Travel, said, “We are thrilled to sign this MoU with the Morocco Tourism Board, which demonstrates our commitment to expanding our footprint in the African market. Morocco is a unique destination that offers a rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and a diverse range of experiences for travelers. We are excited to work with the Morocco Tourism Board to promote the country’s tourism offerings and showcase the best of what it has to offer to our customers.” With this partnership, Cozmo Travel and the Morocco Tourism Board aim to leverage their respective strengths to drive tourism growth and provide unique travel experiences to their customers. Cozmo Travel’s extensive network, expertise in travel management, and digital capabilities, coupled with the Morocco Tourism Board’s wealth of knowledge and resources, make for a powerful alliance that will benefit both organizations and their customers. As the travel industry continues to recover from the impact of the pandemic, partnerships like this one are vital to support the industry’s growth and provide …

Cozmo Travel has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) during the Arabian Travel Market 2023 for the second year in a row. The signing of the MoU was a significant achievement for Cozmo Travel and STA, as it signifies their continued collaboration to promote Saudi Arabia as a top travel destination for tourists from around the world. This year’s agreement builds on the successful partnership established between Cozmo Travel and STA in the previous year, which has contributed to the growth of Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry. Cozmo Travel’s CEO, Jamal Abdulnazar, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with STA, stating that “the MoU reflects our shared commitment to promoting Saudi Arabia as a world-class tourist destination. We are excited to continue working with the Saudi Tourism Authority to showcase the unique beauty and rich cultural heritage of this remarkable country.” As part of the MoU, Cozmo Travel will offer exclusive travel packages and tour itineraries to travelers looking to explore the kingdom’s most iconic destinations, including its stunning natural landscapes, historic sites, and vibrant cities. Moreover, the collaboration will also focus on enhancing the tourist experience by facilitating dynamic travel arrangements, including visa processing, transportation, and accommodation to travelers through the expansive Cozmo Travel Network of branches and outlets across 11 countries. The partnership between Cozmo Travel and STA highlights the growing importance of the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia and the region. As the country continues to invest in its tourism infrastructure and diversify its economy, Cozmo Travel is proud to be a key player in promoting this vision. Overall, the signing of the MoU between Cozmo Travel and STA is a testament …

Qatar Tourism hosted the World Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) conference for the Middle East and Africa region, which came to Doha for the first time from 9 to 11 May. This year’s edition of the prestigious conference, the Middle East’s largest gathering of business events experts, attracts representatives of business events stakeholders including government entities, conference promotion bureaus and some of the region’s leading tourism industry oversights. Hosting the conference is a key step for Qatar’s tourism sector, where specialized tourism sectors such as conferences, travel incentives, exhibitions and meetings are of vital importance, as part of efforts to achieve the ambitious goal of the Qatari tourism industry of increasing the number of arrivals to Qatar. His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, President of Qatar Tourism and Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways, said: “We are delighted to host this prestigious conference in Qatar for the first time. We have a great ambition to become a leading global destination for hosting business events that is a key pillar of Qatar’s Tourism Strategy 2030. Qatar’s strategic location, award-winning airline and airport, the country’s visa facilities and state-of-the-art exhibition and conference facilities make it an ideal choice for business visitors who want productive, enjoyable and seamless journeys.” Held under the theme ‘Towards Sustainable Growth’, this year’s edition of the conference presents actionable strategiesand solutions that can help business leaders achieve their goals in terms of combating climate change. During its sessions, the conference is expected to present a variety of interviews and meetings and lively discussions involving prominent figures and representatives from the business events industry.

Wego recently signed a new partnership with Egyptian Tourism Authority as part of its efforts to boost tourism in the region. This partnership is aimed at promoting Egypt’s rich history, culture, and tourism opportunities. Through this campaign under the theme “In Egypt, your expectations are history”, we will work closely with Egyptian Tourism Authority to promote this campaign on all our marketing channels and bring travelers the best of Egypt’s summer and Eid Al Adha celebrations, including festivals, events, and attractions. Mamoun Hmedan, CCO and MD, MENA and India, Wego, said: “We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Egyptian Tourism Authority. Egypt is a perfect destination for travelers looking for a mix of history, culture, and adventure. Summer and Eid Al Adha are the ideal times to visit Egypt. We have recorded over 24 million searches from MENA to Egypt between 1 January to 27 April 2023 and we expect to see a surge around the Eid Al Adha period.” Wego will be presenting its users with a comprehensive guide highlighting the best places to visit, things to do, and experiences to enjoy. To reward travelers, a social media competition will run online to give people the chance to visit this must-see destination. Egypt has a variety of activities and experiences to offer visitors during summer and Eid Al Adha. Travelers can explore ancient monuments as Egypt is home to some of the world’s most iconic ancient monuments, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the temples of Luxor and Aswan. Amr ElKady, CEO of Egyptian Tourism Authority, commented: “We are excited to partner with Wego for another year. With Egypt’s rich cultural heritage, diverse landscape, …

Within the framework of stimulating and developing the tourism sector, Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) has celebrated the official opening of the dual Zipline project in Khasab, Musandam. The Zipline, spanning over 1,800 metres, has officially broken the Guinness World Record for ‘The world’s longest Zipline over water’. The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of His Excellency Sayyid Ibrahim bin Saeed Al Busaidi, Governor of Musandam. The event was attended by Eng Mohammed Salim Al Busaidi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of OMRAN Group, along with several officials from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, sheikhs, and dignitaries of the region. Representatives from Guinness World Records were also present at the ceremony. The Zipline project is the first activity and a key component of Oman Adventures centre, which will serve as an integrated platform that offers exciting and enjoyable tourism experiences for adventure enthusiasts visiting the Governorate. This project will help enhancing the Governorate’s position as a prime destination for adventure seekers from within and outside Oman. Speaking at the project’s official opening, Daoud Sulaiman Al Rashdi, Director of Product Development and Tourism Experiences at Ministry of Heritage & Tourism said, “We are pleased to officially open Oman Adventures centre. The project has undergone extensive testing by specialised teams to ensure compliance with safety and security regulations specific to the adventure tourism sector. We are confident that the centre will be a valuable addition to Musandam’s tourism offerings and will cater to adventure enthusiasts visiting the Governorate. The entry of the Zipline project into the Guinness World Records today is a notable achievement. However, it is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting …

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) signed two Memorandums of Cooperation (MoC) with Tourism Malaysia, at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023. The MoC will provide a framework in which Tourism Malaysia will be able to collaborate with SAUDIA through its travel service provider “SAUDIA Holidays” and ultimately drive more tourism to the destination. The mutually beneficial agreement will help further advance SAUDIA’s objectives to strengthen its international presence and bring the world to Saudi Arabia, offering convenient connections and flexibility, increasing tourism to and from the Kingdom and generating greater awareness about Malaysia and its destinations to Saudi residents. This will include a one-year promotion on new products and destinations in Malaysia while Tourism Malaysia will provide 24/7 support and assistance for bookings through “SAUDIA Holidays”. Mrs. Manal Alshehri said: “It was important for us to be able to give more travel opportunities to Saudi nationals and residents to discover new destinations easily, and it is now possible thanks to Tourism Malaysia. We look forward to starting a fruitful with two eminent entities in the tourism industry.” Honourable Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia said: “This collaboration aims to boost the tourism industry and strengthen economic ties between Malaysia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We hope that SAUDIA continues to work together with Tourism Malaysia to promote Malaysia as a fascinating holiday destination, highlighting unique cities such as Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.” The MoC was signed between SAUDIA and Tourism Malaysia which took place at the airline’s stand at ATM, in the presence of Mrs. Manal Alshehri, VP Passenger Sales at SAUDIA and Dato’ Dr. Ammar Abd. Ghapar, Director General Tourism Malaysia.

Dubai welcomed 4.67 million international overnight visitors in the first quarter of 2023, compared to 3.97 million tourists during the same period in 2022. This marks a 17 % YoY growth and the city’s best Q1 performance since the pandemic, placing it firmly on track to becoming the most visited international destination, according to the latest data published by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). The growth, which sets the city on course to full tourism recovery, contributes to the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai this January, to consolidate Dubai’s status as one of the world’s top three cities. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said: “The remarkable growth in international visitation achieved by Dubai in the first quarter of 2023 demonstrates the city’s emergence as one of the key destinations leading the way in the rebound of the global tourism sector. This achievement has been made possible by the far-reaching vision of the leadership to transform Dubai into one of the world’s fastest-growing metropolises and the globe’s pre-eminent hub for travel, talent, entrepreneurship and investment. The Dubai Economic Agenda recently launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, charts an ambitious new path for Dubai to enhance its contributions to shaping the future of the global economy. The tourism sector is not only the strongest pillars of our economy but also a key enabler …

Honourable Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia said during the launch, “In line with the Visit Malaysia in 2025, Tourism Malaysia will strive to attract more tourists from the Middle East to Malaysia. We are confident that we will be able to achieve our target to put Malaysia as the top destination for Muslim travelers,”. Tourism Malaysia’s efforts to publicize its comprehensive promotional activities continues to the Middle Eastern region. The Malaysian delegation is led by the The Honourable Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia, to participate once again in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai from 1st to 4th May 2023 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The four-day ATM offers Malaysia as an excellent platform to market and promote the latest attractions and destinations for shopping, family fun, eco-adventure, honeymoon, luxury holidays, as well as safe travel destination. ATM 2023 also marks the 29th anniversary of Malaysia’s participation in this prestigious event, which is a strong testimony to the country’s support to the event and its commitment in attracting more Middle Eastern tourists to Malaysia. As in previous years, this prestigious annual event sees the participation of a strong Malaysian delegation from 76 organizations comprising hotels and resorts, travel agents, tourism products owners, representatives from various state governments, including Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Penang Global Tourism, Sabah Tourism Board, Sarawak Tourism Board, Tourism Melaka, Tourism Pahang, and Tourism Johor. The mission aims to reinstate and enhance the commitment to establishing good tourism cooperation, engaging in future collaborations, and cooperation with the travel and tourism industry in the region. Throughout the event, the Malaysian delegation …

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) presented a campaign update for their vision of ‘Making Tourism More Sustainable’ to GCC travel professionals at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023. Under the slogan, ‘Germany, simply inspiring’, GNTB is focusing on the sustainable related aspects across a number of tourism segments, which include: Embrace German Nature, highlighting natural landscapes and activity holidays; Historic Modern Germany, promoting cultural heritage and 51 UNESCO World Heritage sites, with a spotlight on traditions and customs of rural regions. And thirdly, their Feel Good – Sustainable Travel in Germany campaign, emphasising how to enjoy an environmentally friendly holiday in Germany. “We aim to make a meaningful contribution towards climate change mitigation, supporting Germany’s commitment to net zero, as well as driving increasing numbers of environmentally aware, inbound GCC tourists,” said Yamina Sofo, Director at the German National Tourist GCC Office (GNTO GCC), an affiliate of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB). “We want to present Germany as an all-year-round destination, that is not only sustainable, but diverse, accessible, inclusive, resilient and viable for the future,” she added. The GCC region is now Germany’s top performing inbound source market in Asia and Australasia, with 404,707 GCC guests generating almost 1.13 overnight stays during 2022, representing an increase of 117.6%, compared with the same period in 2021. “These figures confirm that Germany continues to be a preferred tourism destination for GCC visitors and unspoilt nature and careful use of resources are clearly becoming increasingly important to them. We also want to encourage longer stays in order to reduce the carbon footprint per travel day,” said Sofo. Germany boasts more than 350 spa and health resorts and the GNTB is focusing …

One of the key outbound destinations for Middle East travellers, Thailand held its press conference at the opening of Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. Speaking to media, Yuthasak Supasorn – TAT Governor reiterated, that responsible tourism and sustainability in tourism will be the main direction in the future. “Earlier this year, Thailand Tourism announced 17 sustainable tourism goals divided into four main categories to be incorporated and serviced over the year and beyond. From sustainable development goals it goes on to sustainable tourism goals, which focus on awareness, education and accessibility, the second main criteria is the socio-economic way in which the inclusivity and development of local sourcing to waste management play a key role. Thirdly the aspect of developing cultural strategies such as promoting sustainable destinations and local communities and the last segment which is the impact of environment a key factor in supporting tourism climate action and promoting land tourism ecosystems. The growing interest of the Middle East market in sustainable travel, shopping, health and wellness activities, we wish to deliver fresh travel experiences through Thailand soft power 5F: Food, Fight, Fashion, Film, and Festival, while highlighting Thailand’s strength in nature, and Thainess. TAT aims to create a meaningful travel experience that will not only be meaningful for travelers, but also for the local communities and the environment. In terms of the ATM exhibitors, we will have a total of 46 exhibitors from Thailand participating in the event.” He further shared the visitor numbers from the region, “In 2022, Thailand welcomed approximately 314,882 Middle East visitors, with nearly 100,000 visitors from Saudi Arabia, and around 66,000 visitors from the UAE. Visitors from the Gulf countries have a high average length …