Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and Skift Inc., will host the inaugural Skift Global Forum East in Dubai from December 13-15, 2022. This event is the first-ever international extension of the world’s flagship travel conference: Skift Global Forum, held each September in New York City for the last decade. The conference has welcomed over 1000 global industry leaders, providing a forum to discuss the latest industry developments and emerging trends. Skift Global Forum East will assemble top CEOs and creative leaders to explore initiatives shaping the industry post-pandemic— the intersection of technology and marketing, consumer-facing advances across user experience and design, sustainability’s ever-increasing role in the business of travel, how progressive modern economies prioritize travel as their future economic engine, and much more. Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, commented: “In rolling out a remarkable recovery strategy, Dubai has also won global acclaim for the series of measures it has taken to further elevate its international standing as a leading hub for business, tourism and events including the hosting of the hugely successful Expo 2020. As Dubai continues to build on the successes of a robust and meticulous post pandemic recovery strategy, Skift Global Forum East will serve as a platform for collaborative dialogue, future thinking and innovation showcase to help shape a sustainable and agile future for the wider travel and tourism industry. We look forward to welcoming partners and leaders from all over the world in Dubai for what will no doubt be an incredible two days of insights and learning for us all.” Rafat Ali, founder and CEO of Skift, said: “I am excited to expand our premier Skift Global Forum …

Having promoted the destination heavily during Expo 2020 and at Discover Europe Travel Summit in Dubai, Switzerland tourism continues to work with the travel trade from the GCC to experience the destination physically. According to Matthias Albrecht, Director GCC, Switzerland Tourism, they will be further enhancing cooperation with the GCC travel trade in two very important roadshows. Albrecht reiterated, “GCC travel trade is most important to us and for the next quarter we have planned two events, one to be held in Switzerland by inviting the most important decision makers in the travel trade and the other one will be visiting around 30 Swiss partners within all GCC countries. The first workshop will be conducted in Switzerland for GCC travel trade in September with 50 – 60 key decision makers from the GCC being already invited. This workshop will give them an opportunity to interact directly with over 80 Swiss tourism suppliers as well as to learn more about new places, different areas, latest attractions, new hotels, and other experiences offered. The second roadshow will be in November in the GCC where we will meet around 600 to 700 agents from the GCC.” Switzerland has been promoting their Swisstainable initiative with the GCC and the rest of the world in making tourism more sustainable. The four pillars of this project will also be shared during the roadshows and workshop planned for the rest of the year.

In a recent interview with Tracy Lanza Group Head of Global Brand Development at The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), shared that the development of The Red Sea Project will be in two phases, one to be completed by end of 2023 and second to be completed by 2030. She reiterated, “we’re looking forward to welcoming our first guests early next year. Following that, the first phase will be fully completed and operational by the end of 2023. It will include 16 resorts for a total of 3,000 keys, 18-hole championship golf course, luxury marina, and retail and entertainment facilities. Phase two is scheduled for completion in 2030, and will include 50 resorts with 8,000 keys, and 1,000+ residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites.” Commenting further that the work is on track in order to welcome guests, “We’re fortunate to be able to partner with some of the world’s most iconic hotel brands, including EDITION, St Regis, Fairmont, Raffles, SLS, Grand Hyatt, Intercontinental, Six Senses, Jumeirah, Miraval, Rosewood and Ritz Carlton Reserve. Some of these will be able to host their first guests by early next year, while others will open their doors in the months following.” In keeping with the Vision 2030 of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lanza shared, “The project supports the Saudi vision through the development of a brand-new tourism industry that has not existed in the Kingdom before. It will open the door for thousands of young Saudis to pursue new careers and opportunities. We expect to create up to 70,000 new jobs and contribute as a much as 22 billion Saudi riyals (USD 5.3 billion) to the nation’s GDP.”

Effective 1 August 2022, residents of the UAE can apply for their Israel visas at the VFS Global Visa Application Centre in Abu Dhabi. The centre accepts applications for tourism, business, student, conference, medical, relatives and family visit categories. The contract was signed by H.E. Mr. Danny Gadot, Ambassador of Administration and Consul Affairs, Israel Embassy in the UAE, and Mr. Atul Marwah, Head – Middle East & North Africa, VFS Global, earlier this year. This is the first time the Israel Embassy in the UAE has outsourced its visa application pro-cess. Atul Marwah, Head – Middle East & North Africa, VFS Global, said, “We are excited to embark on this new partnership with the Israel Embassy in the UAE, bringing in VFS Global’s domain expertise to provide a smooth and efficient visa application journey. In February 2022, the Israel Ministry of Tourism signed a partnership with VFS Global as their tourism representation agency in the UAE. This new asso-ciation is another feather in the cap for VFS Global’s association with this beautiful country.” Applicants will benefit from a range of optional services offered by VFS Global, including passport withdrawal service, video conferencing for child applicants, form filling assistance, SMS updates, and courier return, among others. Applicants can also opt to submit their applications from VFS Global’s Premium Lounge, enjoying end-to-end personalised assistance throughout the submission process.

GCC travellers are increasingly visiting Austria during the summer as it is the best time to explore everything Austria has to offer, with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine, as well as cool evenings to stroll around picturesque towns. Whether it’s enjoying the unique landscapes, stunning nature parks, or iconic landmarks, summers in Austria offer the opportunity to explore the region’s cultural, historical, or gastronomic heritage making the country an exciting destination for the summer. With no obligation to provide a PCR test, proof of vaccination or recovery for entering Austria, travellers can travel easily to enjoy the beautiful country. In Austria’s well-developed and comprehensive public transport infrastructure, visitors will have little trouble reaching most of the country’s attractions. The local transportation system includes trains, trams, and buses, and the capital city of Vienna is also served by the metro. Located in the middle of Europe, Austria is a stunning country with natural beauty and unique history and culture. The beautiful crystal-clear lakes surrounded by blooming flowers, the breathtaking mountains, and the secret waterfalls make Austria an adventurer’s paradise. The captivating beauty of Austria allows travellers to recuperate from the stresses of everyday life by taking pleasant walks on an alpine pasture, swimming in a mountain lake or strolling through a forest. Over the years, Austria, with its lush green valleys and snow-capped peaks, has become one of the most popular European destinations during summer for holidaymakers from the GCC. Visitors can experience active outdoor activities, lazy days in the sun, and relaxing city breaks, all without having to travel far from home. Austria’s cultural diversity, outdoor activities, friendliness, and history make it one of Europe’s most accessible, year-round, and …

The number of visitors to Seychelles has surpassed figures for the whole of 2021 during the third quarter of 2022, proof of tourism recovery in the country. The 182,850th passenger disembarked at the Seychelles International Airport at Pointe Larue on Wednesday, 27th July 2022, topping the 182,849 passengers who travelled to the island destination last year. As a token of appreciation, the passengers of the morning flights were treated with small gifts from the Tourism Department. The Director-General for Destination Marketing, Mrs Bernadette Willemin, noted that given the difficulties the tourism sector has endured these past two years, she is proud of the great feat that has been achieved. As in previous years, Europe remains the main market source, which accounts for 73.83 per cent of all arrivals. Leading the European market are France and Germany, with the former drawing in a total of 24,615 visitors since the start of the year to week the end of week 29. Behind the European market sits the Asian market, with the United Arab Emirates, Israel and India taking the lead, respectively. “We are delighted to once again be celebrating a significant milestone in our journey towards the recovery of the local tourism industry. Reaching 2021 figures in only 7 months, is an achievement that would not have been possible without the collaborative effort of the government and private sector. We are keeping our eyes on making yet another hit in our 2022 arrival numbers,” said Mrs Willemin. Emphasising the importance of remaining competitive as a destination, Mrs Willemin added that the tourism team has been focused on reinforcing its marketing strategies and intensifying its online presence. “As a destination, we are striving …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) announces its highest visitor numbers since the onset of Covid-19, with the Emirate reporting visitor arrival numbers in line with pre-pandemic footfall across the first six months of 2022. The impressive H1 performance saw the Emirate welcome over 521,085 international and domestics visitors between January and June 2022, a total increase of +21% vs H1 2021 and a return to pre-pandemic figures from YTD June 2019. The Emirate’s strong performance in 2022 was bolstered by the opening of several new hotels and resorts, including Radisson Resort Ras Al Khaimah on Marjan Island, the InterContinental Mina Al Arab, the first InterContinental Hotels Group property in the Emirate, and most recently, the debut of Mövenpick at Al Marjan Island, located on a 300-metre stretch of golden shoreline and home to the largest floating water park in Ras Al Khaimah. The Emirate now boasts over 8,000 keys, with 4,617 new keys in the pipeline over the next few years. Celebrated for its outstanding nature, adventurous leisure, and authentic offerings, Ras Al Khaimah has quickly become one of the most sought-after sustainable destinations in the Middle East, most recently being included in Time magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2022. The annual list, which features 50 must-visit global destinations, highlighted Ras Al Khaimah for its adventure offerings and stunning, unique topography and geodiversity. In recognition of the Emirate’s incredible natural surroundings, the Authority has continued its development of sustainable new attractions to draw visitors both locally and internationally. A key new attraction to open was the Jais Sledder, the region’s longest toboggan ride, spanning over 1,840 exhilarating metres of hairpin curves and reaching speeds of up to 40 …

Being one of the 12 destinations which offer visa on arrival for expats from UAE, Azerbaijan tourism has taken one step further to include in their specialized itinerary an authentic and historical location known as Sheki located at about four and a half hour drive from Baku, this city charms its visitors with its Silk Road ambiance with caravanserais and hammams, delicious cuisine, natural surroundings and warm hospitality. Palace of Sheki Khans together with its historic centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Built in the shade of hundreds-year old plane trees, this 18th-century palace was the summer residence of Sheki khans – the-then rulers. One of the most distinctive features of this architectural pearl is its interior decorated with floral frescoes and shebeke windows made by filling wooden lattices with tiny glass pieces without using any nails and allow a ray of lights to come through in a magical manner. Another must-visit spot is the Karvansaray hotel established within a 18th-century caravanserai where you can feel the ancient Silk Road vibe while having the best of local sweets and enjoying the much famous tea culture in Azerbaijan. Speaking of sweets, you will notice that there are many sweet shops in the streets of Sheki. Quite famous for having a sweet tooth, locals here are masters in preparing some of the best sweets such as bamiya and halva. Bamiya are fingers of dough draped in syrup while Sheki’s signature halva is a type of pakhlava made of very thin dough layers packed with ground nuts, syrup, saffron and spices. Especially the latter reminds of a true work of art, and you can take it home as a great souvenir …

Ajman tourism is set to launch a number of innovative initiatives and projects to enhance the tourism sector as a part of the department’s efforts to showcase Ajman’s natural touristic destinations, and rich heritage, aiming to increase its visibility and attractiveness for visitors from all over the world, and achieve the emirate’s tourism vision. Ajman Museum Smart App – in conjunction with the renovation of the museum to provide a unique interactive experience enhanced with the latest technologies to stimulate all senses, through exhibits explained in Arabic and English, to promote it by providing a detailed audio-guided tour of all sections of the museum and a map of the site, opening times and how to reach the museum. The Visual Identity of Ajman Museum, Masfout Museum, & Al Manama Museum – Ajman Tourism also launched the new visual identity for Ajman Museum, Masfout Museum, & Al Manama Museum, one of its initiatives aimed at preserving the unique heritage of Ajman and present it in a renovated updated look. Moreover, the department unveiled the “Media Hub” which is a digital media library project, and an integrated platform for displaying promotional images and videos for Ajman that is constantly updated, and displayed on a dedicated page within the ADTD’s official website to serve all stakeholders and community, where images and videos can be downloaded, and to eventually become the largest digital archive documenting the main tourist attractions of Ajman. Ajman’s Heritage Path – Ajman Municipality and Planning Department revealed the latest activities of the Heritage Path project, which is located in the Al-Nakhil neighborhood and stretches over 1,025 km, linking heritage buildings starting from the Ajman Museum and the heritage district to …

With the aim of promoting tourism within the country, Kuwait tourism is on its way to develop a mega project in Messilah Beach by 2023. The project aims to develop Messilah Beach into an integrated and contemporary facility covering an area of 70,000 square meters, containing recreational and sports activities to meet the needs of visitors of all age groups throughout the year. As a center of attraction for families, the development of the project includes the provision of water games for all ages, in addition to swimming pools, sports and marine games, restaurants, cafes, shops and much more.