Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

Bahrain ranked first in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) for attracting the highest tourism capital investment in 2020, according to the fDi Intelligence Tourism Investment Report 2021. Last year, major investments from UAE-based property developers helped Bahrain’s tourism sector remain buoyant and created jobs during the worst ever period for the global tourism industry. Bahrain secured $492 million of tourism capital investment in 2020, mainly made up of investments from global property developer Emaar Properties and real estate developer Eagle Hills, despite the overall regional decline in capital investment in 2020. Capital investment into MEA last year decreased 82% from 2019, dropping to $1.6 billion. The number of tourism jobs created in the region also experienced a similar decline, decreasing from approximately 17,400 in 2019 to 2,800 in 2020. Despite the pandemic, Bahrain ranked first in MENA for the number of tourism jobs created in 2020 and second for the number of tourism FDI projects. Prior to Covid, Bahrain was attracting around a million visitors a month on average and the tourism sector contributed around 7% to GDP. As the first economy in the GCC to diversify away from oil, the Kingdom has positioned its tourism offering to cater for a broader set of visitors through new attractions, hotels, F&B, and retail. During the pandemic, the country continued developing its strategy to transform its tourism sector, allocating more than $10 billion to tourism infrastructure projects, including the $1.1 billion modernisation of its international airport. More recently, Edamah, the real estate arm of Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, also announced several new upscale property projects in the country. Accor, a hospitality group with over 400 hotels, Minor Hotels, which has …

Indonesia Wellness Master Association (IWMA), Wellness &  Healthcare Entrepreneur Association (WHEA) & Indonesia Wellness Spa Professional  Association (IWSPA y/f INDSPA) with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative  Economy and BNI will inaugurate the biggest wellness festival in Indonesia, Indonesia Wellness  Tourism International Festival (IWTIF) which will be held on 1-30 September 2021 virtually. The opening of IWTIF 2021, carried out online and broadcast directly via IWTIF’s YouTube was  inaugurated by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, whereby the Deputy of Tourism  Product and Event Organiser; Indonesian Embassy Representatives in Bangkok (Thailand), Den  Haag (Netherlands), London (UK), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Indonesian Consulate  Representatives in Cape Town (South Africa); regional government representatives from Central  Java, Maluku, and Papua; Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs; Ministry of Industry; as well as  wellness SMEs; Wellness Enthusiasts; and Indonesian diaspora were in attendance. The launching of this event is in line with the fact that Indonesia is in the 17th place in the world in terms of wellness tourism market, whereas wellness tourism is a pilot project to encourage and promote inclusive business in Indonesia. The Covid-19 pandemic has majorly affected tourism businesses and others, especially in relation to health and nature-based activities. Local wisdom from approximately 1340 ethnic groups, herbs and spices as product ingredients, various cultural art as well as hospitality and act of services from Indonesian therapists can contribute towards developing the world’s wellness tourism. Local wisdom-based wellness or ethnowellness is the key for Indonesia to take part in the world stage and as a chance to recover the national economy from the tourism aspect. Conversely, Indonesian SMEs are one of the most important supporters of the strength …

Following the updated international entry guidelines recently announced by the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announces Abu Dhabi is set to welcome all fully vaccinated tourists and residents travelling from all countries around the world, as well as unvaccinated visitors from ‘Green List’ countries, with no quarantine measures. Vaccines must be approved by the World Health organisation (WHO). This will take effect starting 5 September 2021. Registering International vaccinations or exemption documents In order to support seamless entry for international travellers and enable visitors to safely enjoy the the UAE capital’s diverse experiences through the Abu Dhabi Green Pass, DCT Abu Dhabi has outlined a simple process to enable tourists to register their international vaccination certificate or vaccination exemption document for verification 5 days before their travel date, via the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) Smart app or via ica.gov.ae website. Applicants will receive an SMS confirmation that will include a link to the Alhosn app, which must be downloaded prior to travel. The Alhosn app displays users’ vaccination status and PCR test results, which are required to activate the Abu Dhabi Green Pass. Upon arrival, travellers will receive a Unified ID number, from airport immigration, or via the ICA Smart app or website; this will complete the registration on the Alhosn app. Following a PCR test at the airport, visitors can activate the Green Pass, allowing them entry to all public spaces in the emirate. Children under 12 and People of Determination (POD) with moderate and severe disabilities are exempt from COVID-19 PCR testing. Entry for vaccinated travellers from Green List countries Under …

At such an important time for the reactivation of post-pandemic tourism, Panama is reinforcing its image as a destination for leisure and business travel. Part of this task is carried out together with the main actors in the commercialization chain, such as tourism service providers, tour operators, wholesalers and travel agencies. With this objective in mind, PROMTUR Panama will hold a virtual fair called Explore Panama, in order to generate a commercial space where buyers and sellers can interact. The event will be held on October 20 and 21, 2021, and will have 20 virtual stands for local exhibitors, including the Tourism Promotion Fund (Promtur Panama), and is expected to attract around 350 travel agencies and wholesale operators from markets such as the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia and the United Arab Emirates, who, through a commercial agenda, will be able to interact with key suppliers of the Panamanian tourism industry. Panama will present the tourism activities that will lead this year and in the future, under the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism 2020-2025 (PMTS). The plan revives the “Tourism – Conservation – Research (TCI)” strategy by highlighting the country’s extraordinary natural, cultural and historical wealth with a strong focus on destination sustainability through research and conservation actions.  The updated strategy focuses on three fundamental pillars: Cultural Heritage (multifaceted culture), Green Heritage (extraordinary biodiversity) and Blue Heritage (ocean wonders). The event will allow real interaction between exhibitors and buyers in a 360-degree environment with customizable virtual landscape, virtual private meeting rooms, chat, browser-based chats, presentations and live keynotes. Buyers, once registered, will be able to view the profile of participating exhibitors to schedule their meetings and once at the …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) issued the updated ‘Green List’ of countries. All travellers arriving from these destinations will be exempt from mandatory quarantine measures after landing in Abu Dhabi. Travellers will be required to present a negative PCR COVID-19 test valid for a maximum of 48 hours before departure and undergo a PCR test upon arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Vaccinated passengers from the updated Green List will take another PCR test on day 6 (day of arrival counts as day 1). Unvaccinated travellers arriving from these Green List countries will also take a PCR test on days 6 and 9. Countries, regions, and territories included on the ‘Green List’ will be regularly updated based on international developments. Inclusion on the list is subject to strict criteria of health and safety to ensure the well-being of the UAE community. The list also only applies to countries that travellers are arriving from, rather than citizenship. Please note below the updated ‘Green List’ as of 1 September 2021 at 12:01am:               Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Comoros, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal,              Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia,           Slovenia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Province of China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. More information on the ‘Green List’ can be found on www.visitabudhabi.com.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Philippines is celebrating Siargao’s entry into Time magazine’s list of ‘The World’s 100 Greatest Places of 2021.’ Siargao earned its spot on the list not only because of its consistent waves but also because of its ongoing development to strengthen tourism infrastructure on the island. “While destinations such as Boracay, Cebu and Palawan nailed the mass market, the teardrop-¬shaped island off the coast of Mindanao until recently had been best known to a dedicated band of surfers lured by consistent waves. But the secret is out, and new spots are popping up on the island, including the beachfront Inara Siargao Resort, an intimate five-suite property that can be booked on Instagram. Just before COVID-19 shutdowns, Siargao got additional cell towers to improve data connectivity, which will be a boon to tourism when it reopens to vaccinated international travellers,” wrote Time Magazine writer Duncan Forgan. According to the publication, the list is a tribute to individuals and businesses who were able to “adapt, build, and innovate” amid the challenges of the pandemic. It also highlights “ingenuity, creativity, revitalization and re-openings in destinations across the world.” The list was compiled through nominations from the magazine’s international network of correspondents and contributors, focusing on those that provide unique and interesting experiences. “I am pleased that the country’s innate beauty continues to draw attention from travellers all over the world despite the pandemic. We are doubling our efforts to create a future of Philippine travel that is safe, more fun, and provides travellers with an authentic and meaningful experience throughout their journey,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. Siargao is presently open to domestic tourists coming from GCQ and MGCQ …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has successfully concluded its ‘Sharjah Summer 2021 Campaign’ with a huge turnout of visitors who availed the wide range of promotions, amazing experiences, and exclusive offers in Sharjah’s luxury hotels to spend their summer vacation. The campaign, which ran from July 15 to August 28, has achieved its aim of promoting the emirate’s unique attractions and competitive features. It further strengthened Sharjah’s leading position as a family-friendly destination, which provides exceptional, integrated, and high-quality experiences supported by a wide array of world-class hospitality facilities. The ‘Sharjah Summer 2021’ was organized in line with SCTDA’s commitment to introduce leading initiatives and innovative tourism marketing and promotions that exceed the expectations of visitors and tourists alike and boost local tourism development.  The latest campaign featured exclusive offers, including various hotel packages ideal for families. These special offers were designed to increase local tourism activities and highlight the key attraction and latest tourism projects in the emirate.   His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) commented: “We are delighted to witness the positive results of the ‘Sharjah Summer 2021’ campaign which provided visitors and tourists with many different experiences, activities, and a wide range of options on where to stay during their vacation in Sharjah, amidst the current challenges in international travel and tourism. In cooperation with our strategic partners, we are proud that we have maintained our key strengths and provide local tourism products and services that continue to attract visitors and tourists to the emirate. This achievement strongly reflects Sharjah’s appeal as a preferred destination in both the local and global tourism map.   This …

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group. The memorandum establishes the framework for a collaborative arrangement that will create a seamless visitor experience for Chinese tourists travelling to Saudi. The agreement is part of STA’s strategy to employ the latest technology to deliver seamless traveler experiences. Alibaba Cloud will also provide technical support to STA and help STA promote Saudi as a tourist destination to travelers in the Chinese market. “As Saudi continues to develop its leisure tourism offering for local, regional and international audiences, STA is building a digital infrastructure which can provide the destination with a competitive edge and visitors with the best possible experience,” said Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of STA. “The recovery of the global tourism sector demands fresh thinking to overcome challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. By collaborating with Alibaba Cloud, we will break new ground in the regional tourism sector and position Saudi at the forefront of efforts to modernise the wider global tourism eco-system.” Through the collaboration, Alibaba Cloud will deploy advanced, secure and reliable cloud services and technologies to create an improved digital experience for Chinese tourists traveling to Saudi and allow for the automation of services in content delivery, digital storage, and digital processing. Selina Yuan, General Manager of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence and Vice President of Alibaba Group said “This collaboration brings together two key actors in the tourism sector who can set a new standard for providing a travel experience like no other. With Alibaba Cloud leading the digital transformation of tourism, and Saudi’s unique destinations, this is a combination which will …

With the successful vaccination rollout, travel protocols for vaccinated travellers from GCC and other regions are being further relaxed. As from 1st September, vaccinated guests would spend only 7 days in a special ‘resort bubble’ hotel before going out to discover more of the Indian Ocean paradise. The approved Covid-19 safe resorts are available at: www.mauritiusnow.com The percentage of vaccinated people are as follows: first dose/total population: 63% and fully vaccinated/total population: 56% Arvind Bundhun, Director of MTPA, said: “This is a major leap towards the full reopening of its borders on 1st October, when vaccinated international travellers will be welcomed in without restrictions. Visitors who present a negative PCR test taken in the 72 hours prior to embarkation will be able to explore the island freely from the moment they arrive”. The Mauritian government took the decision in January to prioritise tourism workers and hotel staff in the vaccine rollout to ensure visitors will be welcomed into a safe and secure environment in Mauritius. Airline capacity from Europe and the Middle East is currently provided by Air Mauritius, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Air France, Kenya Airways and British Airways. International visitors can currently book their ‘resort bubble’ holidays either via tour operators or directly with the hotels. Unvaccinated travellers are required to complete a 14-day quarantine period in a designated quarantine hotel. For full details of entry requirements and safety protocols, visit www.mauritiusnow.com which is currently being updated following this major decision.

Launched a year ago as part of COVID-19 response, more than 13,000 travel agents have registered and 7,000 have completed the online course. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) is marking the first anniversary of its Abu Dhabi Specialists E-learning Programme by introducing new modules and markets for the innovative training scheme. The programme, which was launched just over a year ago as part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, saw all forms of physical promotional offers, workshops and training courses shifted onto virtual platforms. It was designed to educate travel industry professionals, including front-liners, product managers, tour operators, travel agencies and home-based agents, about ways to promote Abu Dhabi effectively. Launched in May 2020, the e-learning has been successfully rolled out across the markets in 17 different countries and in seven different languages. So far, 13,670 applicants have registered for the course and more than 7,000 have graduated as ‘Abu Dhabi Specialists’. “We are really heartened by the strong support from the global travel trade for this programme and, as such, we will be launching additional learning modules and expanding into new markets in Switzerland and Israel,” said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Marketing and Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi. “Despite the last year being an extremely challenging period for the tourism sector, through this innovative programme we have still been able to connect with travel professionals around the world and help them understand why Abu Dhabi is such an extraordinary destination. As we open up to travellers from across the world once again, we are confident the Programme has increased awareness of Abu Dhabi’s amazing offerings, which in turn will lead to increased sales activity …