Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, unveiled Saadiyat Island’s new vision, strategy and brand, positioning it as a leading beach, nature and cultural destination, which bolsters the emirate’s tourism sector and supports the diversification of Abu Dhabi’s economy. This new strategy is set to attract travellers seeking transformative, luxury experiences and drive Saadiyat Vision 2025 which aims to grow domestic, regional, and global visitor numbers, supporting the development of Abu Dhabi’s tourism ecosystem. Saadiyat Island is expected to attract 19 million visitors and contribute AED 4.2 billion in direct tourism revenue by 2025. As with the strategy, the island’s campaign ‘One Island. Many Journeys.’ and new brand have been designed to capture the essence of Saadiyat and underpin its wealth of offerings.  The logo, inspired by the island’s name and the Arabic letter ‘S’, taking the form of the letter in a modern calligraphy style, represents both the island’s rich culture and its modern offerings. H.E. Saleh Mohamed Saleh Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Saadiyat Island is undoubtedly one of Abu Dhabi’s finest treasures. It is unmatched anywhere in the world for its stunning natural beaches, world-class arts, cultural, educational, wellness, sporting and F&B experiences. This natural island is home to amazing wildlife and luxury hotels alike and there truly is something for everyone to enjoy, seamlessly fitting into Abu Dhabi’s wider strategy as the destination of choice for global travellers. We look forward to elevating awareness of Saadiyat’s enriching experiences as part of Abu Dhabi’s wider offering. From culture and entertainment to amazing landmarks and natural …

Discover Europe travel summit this year was organised by tourism boards of  Austria, Germany, Ireland and Switzerland. Over 95 partners were present from all 4 destinations and key travel agents from the GCC attended the summit over the last two days. It was the first time after the pandemic that all GCC countries got the opportunity to be present physically to meet and network with partners from Europe. The two day event kicked off with new campaign presentations by each tourism board director, followed by B2B meetings between the trade partners. Travel trade partners from Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attended the event with of course the host country participants from across the UAE as well. Robert Groeblacher Director Austria tourism shared that it was very refreshing to meet everyone in person this year as last year most GCC countries were still closed hence participation was limited but this year saw a rise in the number of entrants. He further reiterated that the past year Austria had a good number of visitors from the GCC as they opened fairly early in the region for travellers to visit the destination. Yamina Sofo Director Marketing German National Tourist Office for GCC countries in her presentation provided a sneak preview of one of the main campaigns to be launched this year which is based on nature. Embrace nature as the campaign started showed places and experiences that must be tried and should include in the bucket list. Sofo also shared that Germany had also achieved a high number of visitors from the region, hence they have more campaigns for the market this year. Aisling McDermott Manager tourism Ireland for Middle …

With Dubai fully regaining its vibrancy after safely navigating and accelerating out of the unprecedented global challenge, the city’s newly formed Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) will showcase the diversity of Dubai’s destination offering, along with innovative initiatives designed to further strengthen the city’s tourism industry, during the 29th edition of Arabian Travel Market. With this year’s ATM set to shine a light on the growth trajectory of the global travel and tourism industry, as well as the challenges ahead under the theme ‘The future of international travel and tourism’, DET looks forward to sharing and facilitating the exchange of information and ideas and leverage opportunities for sustainable growth. Located in Hall 3 at Dubai World Trade Centre, a bigger and all-new design Dubai stand (ME-3110) will see more than 100 partners and representatives from government entities, hotels, destination management companies and tour operators join DET to safely welcome visitors, as well as over 290 international hosted buyers to the event. The Dubai stand will also highlight key activities of government bodies and industry stakeholders including Dubai Police, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA -Dubai), Dubai Health Authority, SMCCU, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Culture, Accor and Marriott International.   Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, commented: “ATM is an important platform for global and regional tourism and this year the forum is happening at a time when the world is increasingly looking to take a leaf out of Dubai’s successful tourism recovery strategy. As the host destination and one of the longstanding partners of this annual event, Dubai’s participation together with a cross-section of  government and industry partners is fundamental to providing …

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group), the executive arm of the Sultanate of Oman for tourism development, announce plans for the upcoming Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences Muscat, Oman. The luxury development will comprise of an urban style resort, perfect for business travellers or leisure guests looking to visit the historic sights of Oman’s capital city – a rare opportunity to relish in the relaxing mountain and seaside setting. For those looking to make Four Seasons part of their everyday lifestyle, the project will also include a collection of Private Residences with sweeping views of the Sea of Oman. “The Middle East continues to be an integral part of Four Seasons growth strategy, as we look for opportunities to offer unmatched Four Seasons experiences in exciting and dynamic destinations such as Muscat,” says Bart Carnahan, President, Global Business Development and Portfolio Management, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “We are excited to be a part of OMRAN Group’s long-term vision for the future development of Oman’s tourism landscape, further accelerating the strategic growth of its capital city and continuing to attract luxury guests and residents from around the world with a brand new Four Seasons offering.” Oman is located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, along the Sea of Oman. Muscat is an ancient city with a long history as an important port destination with a vibrant culture. The idyllic landscape is marked by the backdrop of the Al Hajar Mountains with unending views across the Arabian Sea. In addition to the tranquil setting, leisure travellers can enjoy local attractions such as myriad museums, mosques and heritage sites. “Muscat is a destination …

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has announced its participation during the 2022 edition of Arabian Travel Market in a bid to develop and deepen trade relationships within the Middle East’s travel industry. During the event, visitors to the JTB stand will discover Jamaica’s world-class hotels, rejuvenating spa and wellness offerings, soft adventure activities, as well as gain familiarity with industry updates following Jamaica’s positive participation during Expo 2020. During the travel trade show, travel trade professionals will be able to explore leisure travel opportunities and learn more about the destination’s hotels, cruises and restaurants, as well as business incentives in the MICE space, in addition to investment opportunities. Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board commented: “We are excited to engage with travel and tourism professionals from the region as we look forward to welcoming travellers from the MENA region to explore “The Heartbeat of the World”. Tourism is such a key part of Jamaica’s DNA and we are excited to share how the island’s hospitality is evolving and how deeply connected we are to the Middle East.” Following their successful participation during Expo 2020 whereby the destination welcomed more than 250,000 visitors to the Jamaica Pavilion, the Jamaica Tourist Board will highlight ongoing positive discussions with Emirates Airlines to enhance connectivity with the Middle East, as well as meet new and existing trade partners as the island moves to capitalise on its popularity as an emerging holiday destination for travellers from the region. Arabian Travel Market is set to take place from 9th-12th May at the Dubai World Trade Centre, welcoming a host of key travel trade experts from across the region and beyond. The Jamaica Tourist Board …

Discover Europe Travel Summit, the annual two-day event, is set to make a successful return to Dubai 7-8 May, with more than 4,000 pre-scheduled meetings taking place. The summit will bring together a delegation of 97 exhibitors from across Austria, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland, to meet with more than 100 hosted buyers from the GCC. The highly anticipated event enables the European nations the chance to share their attractions and other strengths, as well as create lasting professional relationships. Tourism spokespeople from the four European nations will gather between May 6–9 at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, with the aim of strengthening ties with the Middle East market. Held immediately before the ongoing Arabian Travel Market, the two-day Discover Europe networking event is the perfect pre-cursor to the region’s largest travel exhibition, which will involve discussions and debates on an array of topics, including new technologies and industry trends. “The GCC remains a key market from inbound tourism to Germany,” said Yamina Sofo, Director of Sales & Marketing at the German National Tourist Office, the regional office of the German National Tourist Board. “With our incredible cultural offerings and beautiful nature, we believe we offer GCC residents the opportunity to explore something different. The Discover Europe event is the perfect way for us to introduce that to key partners.” Aisling McDermott, Manager Middle East & Asia of Tourism Ireland added: “We’re really pleased to make our inaugural appearance at the Discover Europe event and are excited to see the fruits of our labour come to the fore. Joining the event was an easy decision for us as we’ve witnessed the success in previous years and it’s …

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is set to return to the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) next month by unveiling of two campaigns to the GCC market, which will run throughout 2022. The market-leading, international travel and tourism event will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 9-12 and Germany’s presence will feature a strong focus on local culture and the diversity of its various cities. Located in the Europe Hall at stand EU1235, GNTB’s participation will reinforce Germany’s efforts of enhancing sustainable travel and enjoy the support of six delegated partners: Baden-Baden Tourism Board, Breuninger, Frankfurt Tourism Board, Düsseldorf Tourism Board, Hotel Palace Berlin and visitBerlin. Positioning Germany as a leading cultural and environmental destination, the two campaigns span nature, sustainability, and traditional culture. In essence, each highlights Germany’s key objectives of promoting enjoyable, sustainable travel with a focus on diverse local culture accessible throughout the country. “We will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee of our long-standing friendships with the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman next month,” said Yamina Sofo, Director of Sales & Marketing, German National Tourist Office (GNTO), the regional office of GNTB. “Our relationship with the region has seen monumental growth as travellers from across the GCC have been exploring Germany’s vast itineraries for years. The appetite of GCC nationals to visit Germany’s cultural sites, national parks, and urban destinations remains undiminished, and we look forward to the continuous growth of our campaigns and regional appeal.” Baden-Baden Tourism is set to highlight its latest accomplishment of being awarded UNESCO world heritage status as part of the ‘Great Spa Towns of Europe’. Despite travel restrictions within the past couple of years, GCC visitors remains a …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), in partnership with RAK Ports, announces the appointment of Zaiton Consultancy to support the Emirate’s cruise tourism. Experts in developing and promoting cruise services, Dubai-headquartered Zaiton Consultancy will be responsible for developing and marketing Ras Al Khaimah’s burgeoning cruise sector.  The announcement comes as the global industry gathers at the Seatrade Cruise Global event in Miami until April 28, where Zaiton Consultancy is participating as Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority’s representative. One of the fastest growing sectors in tourism, cruising saw an annual passenger growth rate of 5.4% from 2009 to 2019, with services now close to pre-pandemic levels owing to immediate action and thoughtful planning. In recognition of the importance of cruise tourism, the Authority and RAK Ports have worked together on a number of projects to further develop the Emirate’s offering. This includes the transformation of its old ferry terminal into a modern and efficient boutique cruise passenger terminal and the development of marine transport infrastructure around it. The Authority has also invested in designing bespoke visitor itineraries for arrivals to attract a larger segment of leisure cruise passengers and welcome new audiences from across the world to the destination. Considered as one of the most diverse and fastest growing destinations in the region, a key part of the Authority’s strategy to attract three million visitors a year by 2030 is to ensure accessibility via all means of transport, including luxury cruise ships. These passengers will be welcomed to the Emirate via the dedicated terminal, which is able to accommodate multiple cruise ships of up to 214m in length docking simultaneously. To ensure a continuation of the service levels luxury …

It was announced by the Spain tourism authority in the GCC that they will be exhibiting at this year’s Arabian Travel Market from 9th to 12th May 2022. Spain is a destination which caught the attention well ahead of time to the travelers from GCC, mainly due to the bilateral relationship which exist between the countries, the fact that the country opened fairly early than the rest of Europe and also vaccinated their population just like the UAE ahead of the rest. Daniel Rosado, Director Spain tourism in GCC reiterated, “We will be promoting Spain as a destination which is safe, friendly and offering a vast variety of activities where to enjoy a hassle free holiday. We will present various destinations and also continue to promote our current campaign ´´You deserve Spain ´´In addition to this we will be signing up with an online platform   for a campaign to promote Spain this summer. There will be around 30 partners from across Spain representing various regions, DMCs, Hotels etc.” During the pandemic, Spain has been proactively working to ensure that their destination was top on the minds of the travelers with many B2B sessions online and then when they finally opened borders, ensured that the physical road shows continued. 2021, for Spain was a considerably good year as the visitor numbers form the GCC rose due to ease of restrictions. Rosado shared, “We had relatively good numbers from GCC in 2021 despite the fact that the country opened up only in June. we are positive that the trend continues and with the ease in restrictions for GCC travelers and the seasonal summer flights to Malaga other than the regular Madrid – …

Wego and Tourism Ireland, sign a campaign to get GCC travelers to visit the Island again. Wego is working with leading tourism boards across the world to boost tourism recovery and help travelers select the best destinations for their next holiday. Wego and Tourism Ireland are bringing the best of the island of Ireland to GCC travelers offering them a glimpse of Ireland’s wonderful city breaks. With Eid holidays coming up, travelers can book their holiday to enjoy one of the exciting experiences the island of Ireland has waiting for you. Discover UNESCO City of literature, the culturally rich and invigorating Dublin. Travelers can opt to visit the vibrant galleries and old museums and castles, try exceptional food experiences, learn the story of this incredible city and much more. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and India of Wego, said: “We are excited to partner with Tourism Ireland to promote yet another marvelous country to our users. Wego is seeing a great demand for this country with marvelous city escapes for all types of travelers. We are seeing positive signs of recovery for tourism and through these collaborations, we aim to encourage people to travel more in the new norm.” Another city that is a must see for everyone, is Belfast. People come to Belfast to explore the maritime heritage and, to experience Titanic Belfast, which tells the story of the famous liner which was built in Belfast city. Belfast is also home to an incredible music heritage, wonderful Botanic Gardens, and lots of great places to eat and listen to traditional Irish music. Aisling McDermott, Manager Middle East & Asia for Tourism …