Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

On the celebration of the Golden Year of the Department of Tourism (DOT), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr., along with Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco unveiled a tourism campaign, ‘Love the Philippines’, on the department’s 50th Foundation Year. Addressing the event, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., expressed his support for Love the Philippines, saying the campaign “springs from the genuine love that you, me, and all of us have for the Philippines”. “The new branding will serve as a guidepost for the Philippines tourism industry. Besides promoting the Philippines Tourism, the campaign aims to enhance the overall experience of travel, building infrastructure for ease of travel, promoting regional products, and championing green movements, among others,” the President averred. At the same time, he also appreciated Tourism Secretary Frasco and the DOT team. “As we go the past 50 years of DOT and welcome a new era of tourism, it is but right that we take the opportunity to reintroduce the Philippines to the world,” Secretary Frasco said. “Love the Philippines goes to the heart of every Filipino and, the guests who come to our country, our communities, and our homes. It is a recognition of our natural assets, our glorious history, our rich culture, and diversity,” she said, while adding there is much more than ‘fun and adventure’ to the Philippines. “The country is a powerhouse of mega biodiversity, being one of 18 biodiverse countries in the world. Apart from being a tapestry of indigenous peoples, the Philippines is also a gastronomic delight,” Secretary Frasco said. Immersive experiences Following the changing global tourism landscape post-COVID, and the immersive experiences for the travellers, the DOT viewed the enhanced brand as a …

The Department of Tourism (DOT) foresees a robust recovery for Philippines Tourism, underpinned by the encouraging figures in the Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts (PTSA) for 2022, as compiled by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The Tourism Direct Gross Value Added share of tourism to the Philippine economy, as measured by the GDP, was estimated at 6.2 per cent for 2022. The TDGVA last year amounted to PHP 1.38 trillion, 36.9 per cent higher as compared with the PHP 1.00 trillion in 2021. Internal tourism expenditure, combining inbound and domestic tourism expenditure, saw a growth last year, tallying PHP 1.87 trillion in 2022, a 131.2 per cent growth from the PHP 810 billion in 2021. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco noted the DOT’s commitment to sustain last year’s gains through its seven-point agenda to be pursued by the Marco’s administration. “We are elated by the figures enclosed in the 2022 Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts. We ascribe last year’s gains to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr., vision, which inspired the DOT, and all players making up the tourism value chain and allowed the Philippines to achieve greater heights,” Secretary Frasco said. “As we continue to ride the wave of travel resurgence coming out of COVID, we in the DOT, acknowledge the initiatives to make the Philippine Tourism sustainable and resilient for the next several years,” she added. The 2022 PTSA showed inbound tourism expenditure posted the growth out of the different forms of tourism expenditure, recording PHP 368.67 billion last year compared with PHP 27.63 billion in 2021. Inbound tourism expenditure, referring to the expenditure of non-resident visitors or those foreign and Filipinos permanently residing abroad, contributed 5.9 per cent to …

Qatar Tourism revealed that the country welcomed 253,191 cruise visitors during the 2022/2023 cruise season (December 2022 – April 2023), representing an increase of 151% compared to the same period last season (100,500 visitors). Qatar continues to strengthen its position as a global tourism destination supported by a variety of leading tourist attractions and a range of exciting festivals and events. This significant growth in total visitors is particularly significant given that this year’s cruise season started later than usual (i.e. in December instead of October), as Doha Port welcomes floating hotels to accommodate visitors and fans coming to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ™™. Of the cruise ship visitors received this season, 20 per cent were part of the partial transformation flights from which Doha was the starting and returning point, an increase of 790 per cent compared to the 4,172 passengers who came on these cruises during the previous season. Qatar also received 54 cruise visits during the 2022/2023 cruise season, whether transit or round trip, representing an increase of 59% compared to last year. Qatar’s cruise sector has shown great resilience and remarkable growth, and despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar has seen a steady increase in the total number of cruise ships received and the number of visitors on board, and the cruise sector promises further growth in the coming seasons. Qatar’s growing cruise sector has become a key pillar of the country’s efforts to achieve the objectives of its long-term tourism strategy, as evidenced by the comprehensive refurbishment of Doha Port, which can now receive two superships at a time and up to 12,000 visitors per day arriving on cruises. Commenting …

Saudi Arabia commits to sustainable tourism by launching for the first time in Hajj, self-driving vehicles to transport pilgrims. The Transport General Authority, for the first time, is launching the trial of self-driving electric buses to serve the pilgrims this Hajj season. It aims to provide innovative modern technologies for sustainable and environment-friendly transportation. The initiative is part of the authority’s efforts to offer multiple transportation options, making it easier for the pilgrims. The self-driving buses utilize artificial intelligence, cameras, and surrounding sensors to operate without human intervention along a predefined route. They gather information during movement and analyze it to make necessary decisions, aiming to enhance passenger experience and ensure safety. Each bus has 11 seats, operates for 6 hours per charge, and can reach speeds of up to 30 km/h. The service aims to facilitate the transportation of pilgrims and assess the feasibility of using these technologies during Hajj. It also aims to establish the necessary requirements for their commercial operation in coming years. This falls within the role of the authority in providing different and diverse transportation options, as well as adopting modern technologies and smart mobility solutions to assess their suitability and contribution to providing a unique transportation experience for Hajj pilgrims. It aims to ensure smooth and comfortable transportation and enable pilgrims to perform their rituals with ease and peace of mind. — SPA

Abu Dhabi’s unique culture is central to plans to increase overall visitation to more than 24 million, from 18 million in 2022. DCT Abu Dhabi’s research reveals that culture was the primary reason for travel for almost half (47 per cent) of international tourists. With the rise of the culture-seeker segment, about 4 million visitors are expected at DCT Abu Dhabi’s cultural sites this year – more than one million additional visitors compared with the previous year. His Excellency Saood Al Hosani, Undersecretary at DCT Abu Dhabi, said the plans to promote and protect the emirate follow a strong 2022 performance that demonstrated innovation, resilience and integration of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors. His Excellency Al Hosani said: “With culture at the heart of everything we do, we have set bold and ambitious targets for 2023 as we promote, protect and progress Abu Dhabi and share it with the world. We are proud to share some of our 2022 results, which powerfully demonstrate how we re-ignited the engine of growth through resilient culture and tourism sectors, with visionary leadership and key partnerships across the different creative industries. “We are progressing Abu Dhabi by creating new job and career opportunities and enabling growth across the culture sector throughout the culture and creative industries (CCI) while enabling business and leisure tourism to thrive. Our purpose is to share Abu Dhabi with the world and enrich lives.” With the promotion and protection of culture central to its mandate, DCT Abu Dhabi is building on the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Founding Father, to strengthen national identity, nurture talent, create better awareness of Emirati heritage and …

For the fourth successive month this year, Dubai’s tourism sector delivered a stellar performance, welcoming 6.02 million international visitors from January-April, an 18% YoY increase, compared to 5.10 million visitors during the same four-month period in 2022. Dubai’s hotel sector has also demonstrated resilience and strength, with an average occupancy of 80% during the January-April period this year, among the highest in the world, exceeding the 76% level achieved by city hotels during the corresponding period in 2022 and nearly matching the pre-pandemic 83% occupancy in 2019. According to a STR Global Hotel Monitoring Update, Dubai ranked first in occupancy, with a rate of 79.9%, only 2.9 percentage points below the pre-pandemic levels of 82.7%, placing it ahead of other global destinations like London, New York, Los Angeles and Paris. The report also revealed that Dubai ranked first in Gross Operating Profit per Available Room (GOPAR), with a rate of USD145 (AED530), just 9% below pre-pandemic levels, followed by Paris (USD 113) and Singapore (USD 102) respectively. Hotel supply reached 148,949 rooms in 814 hotel establishments at the end of April 2023, a 26% growth over the pre-pandemic figures of 118,449 rooms in 722 hotel establishments at the end of April 2019. Moreover, the average length of stay by guests has increased by 13% to four nights compared to 3.5 nights in 2019, indicating Dubai’s appeal as a destination for longer-stay travellers. According to data from industry expert Amadeus, search and booking volumes for Dubai remained steady from September 2021 to April 2023, with searches and bookings to Dubai during January to April 2023 nearing pre-pandemic levels and especially close to the high numbers seen during the Expo and pre-World …

Almosafer, and Klook have together launched the first ever holistic tours and activities platform for the KSA market, Almosafer activities. The launch follows the signing of an agreement between the two travel industry powerhouses in early 2022 to establish the joint venture with the purpose of creating a holistic B2B marketplace for activities in the Kingdom, addressing a gap in the market which has thus far largely seen fragmented options for bookable ‘things to do’. Almosafer Activities is a one-stop digital platform with end-to-end content and inventory management solutions that supports tourism and leisure activity merchants in Saudi Arabia, as well as distributors across the globe, to provide an unprecedented choice of product offering for travellers to, from, and within the Kingdom. The platform, which will go live for distributors in Q3 2023, will leverage Klook’s position as a leading global distributor of experiences and services and enable domestic and international tourists to book activities with ease. Almosafer Activities will provide seamless booking experiences, connecting Saudi Arabia travellers to global platforms, starting with Klook. The launch of Almosafer Activities supports the tourism agenda of Saudi Vision 2030 by boosting inbound and domestic tourism. The platform will also support small and medium-sized merchants by providing them with a platform and exposure to more distribution channels. Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board at Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “Saudi is setting the pace for global tourism development. We are currently undergoing a remarkable transformation and experiencing unprecedented growth, positioning ourselves as the world’s largest investor in tourism – this presents an exciting opportunity for both our existing and new partners. “The launch of Almosafer Activities represents another significant stride towards establishing …

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is inviting travellers to embark on an enchanting journey through the country’s rich history and fairy tale landscapes this Eid al-Fitr. From royal palaces to charming castles, travellers can this summer immerse themselves in Germany’s awe-inspiring world, where medieval tales come alive. With 25,000 enchanting sites, from UNESCO World Heritage Sites to hidden gems, Germany’s historic treasures offer both romantic getaways and legendary tours filled with pure magic. Whether it is the Baroque-style Moritzburg Castle constructed on its own artificial island near Dresden or Kriebstein Castle that looms ominously over the River Zschopau in Saxony; the Barockgarten Großsedlitz in Heidenau or Germany’s oldest “porcelain palace”, the Schloss Favorite Rastatt near Baden-Baden.The wonderous sites promise unique experiences, from open-air concerts under starry skies to captivating exhibitions. Visitors can participate in the Hohenzollern Mountain Race, conquering 365 vertical metres to reach Hohenzollern Castle’s courtyard; explore the world’s first playing card museum to design their own cards at Altenburg Residential Castle; or experience music fusion at Spandau. Explorers can also discover other fascinating landmarks such as Sanssouci Palace, which is actually an ensemble of palaces and gardens; immerse themselves in culture at regular musical performances and events at Wartburg Castle; experience the annual theatrical tribute paid to William Shakespeare at Neuschwanstein Castle; and visit Heidelberg Castle, which hosts a series of unforgettable theatre, opera, and concert productions. Each of these landmarks highlight Germany’s rich history and architectural wonders. Furthermore, Germany has been promoting its slogan, “Germany Simply Inspiring”, aimed at promoting sustainable travel and communicating the country’s positive image as a travel destination with a wide range of eco-conscious tourism experiences. The goal is to extend the …

Qatar Tourism hosted the British Travel and Tourism Institute (BITC) Conference in Doha again two decades later. Sponsored by destination partner Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways as official airline partner, the three-day conference was held at the Waldorf Astoria Lusail Hotel Doha, in the presence of more than 200 senior representatives of the UK travel industry including government officials and major international airlines. The conference included a series of panel discussions during which the growth prospects of Qatar’s tourism industry were reviewed, with the participation of prominent figures in the travel and tourism industry, including Gary Wilson, CEO of easyJet Holidays, and His Excellency John Wilkes, British Ambassador to Doha. Bertold Trinkel, Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, said: “Qatar Tourism is delighted to host this important conference in Doha and showcase Qatar’s key tourism offerings and benefits to some of the UK’s leading travel industry. The relationship between Qatar and the UK is gaining great importance and vitality, not only in terms of tourism, but also through the common history that unites the two countries. As we continue to participate in such travel and business events, we look forward to strengthening Qatar’s position as a leading destination for hosting global business events.” The BITTI’s member-only conference follows a series of high-profile business events hosted by Qatar Tourism since the start of the year, including the World Association of the Exhibition Industry Middle East and Africa conference in May. The UK is one of Qatar Tourism’s 15 priority markets as per its National Tourism Strategy 2030 and has always been among the top 10 countries in the list of source markets. to Qatar.

For the first time, the Spanish Tourism Office in the Middle East together with the Tourism Board of Andalusia came together to organize Middle East Meet in Andalusia with Lufthansa Airlines as the official airline partner. Andalusia Tourism has emerged as a captivating destination with a rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes. Located in southern Spain, Andalusia offers a unique blend of history, art, and natural beauty that has attracted travelers from all over the world, including the Middle East market. From the vibrant city life of Seville and Malaga to the tranquil beaches of the Costa del Sol, Andalusia provides a variety of experiences that appeal to different travel interests. Additionally, the region’s cuisine, characterized by flavorful dishes such as paella and tapas, can also entice Middle Eastern visitors seeking culinary delights Andalusia’s accessibility and excellent transportation infrastructure have made it easier for Middle Eastern tourists to explore the region. The presence of direct flights and convenient connections from major Middle Eastern cities has contributed to the increasing number of visitors from the region. Lufthansa Group airlines have a strong network into Spain, with 17 cities .with the Premium Economy a very popular segment for family travel, 2 PC Free baggage allowance in both directions & with extremely competitive fares , it is a great option for those looking into flying into any of the 17 Spanish cities in their network. The event was conducted in 2 parts in Cordoba & Marbella , from June 11-15th , 2023 at the Eurostars Palace Hotel & El Fuerte Marbella hotel respectively. 15 buyers from across GCC – KSA, Qatar, Kuwait , Oman , UAE met with the representatives of local tourist …