Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

Israel is preparing to welcome tourists from the UAE and will be adhering to the advice of health experts to ensure it remains a safe destination in terms of COVID-19 exposure, Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Israel’s Tourism Minister said. The key aim of the forum was to build the foundation for a long-term tourism relationship between Israel and the UAE. The online event highlighted Israel’s position as an important historical and cultural destination. It focussed on the two urban gems of Israel – Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, featured its sandy beaches, a sprawling metropolis and breathtaking natural beauty. Jerusalem’s unique sites, holy to Christianity, Judaism and Islam, are also on the list of the country’s must-see locations. With great weather virtually all year round, tourists can enjoy the great outdoors, take in colourful markets, cutting-edge culture and entertainment and an exciting culinary scene. The forum witnessed an attendance of over 300 trade partners from the UAE and 100 partners from Israel. Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Israel’s Tourism Minister said, “Tourism is key to building a lasting peace between countries, and Israel looks forward to welcoming travelers from the UAE. I am certain visitors from the Emirates and other countries will enjoy the unique blend of this new, and near, destination. Israel is where thousands of years of history meet modern day life. It is the home of Tel Aviv and the StartUp Nation and of ancient Caesarea and the magnificent Dead Sea. Israel’s unique religious sites are holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims, with Jerusalem at their center. Alongside the sites, visitors will enjoy the people, culture, art, music and culinary delights.”  

Unspoilt nature and carefree enjoyment, sustainable offers and good entertainment are the cornerstones of the ‘German Summer Cities 2021′ campaign, with which the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is promoting vacations in the urban regions in summer 2021. With #GreenSummerStories, the GNTB draws the attention of potential guests to alternative offers beyond the familiar tourist hotspots, such as green spaces, parks, local recreation areas and leisure activities in the vicinity of urban destinations. “The Corona pandemic has disproportionately affected city breaks as a particularly successful segment of German incoming tourism. In line with the growing need for security and care on the part of foreign guests, the focus in the coming year will be on new sustainable city experiences – German Summer Cities,” explains Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the GNTB. “We are setting new trends for international travellers with attractive offers in the areas surrounding the cities. Our marketing activities are focused on raising brand awareness for the Destination Germany brand and inspiring our customers’ travel plans for next year.” The ‘German Summer Cities 2021’ will focus on five thematic clusters: ‘Nature and the City’ focuses on the broad spectrum of nature and activity offers in the city and directly at the gates of the cities. ‘Sights’ also highlights lesser-known highlights in metropolises and smaller cities. ‘Romanticism’ gives suggestions for dream routes to indulge and linger. ‘Art and Culture’ spans the arc from classical culture, tradition and customs to contemporary art experiences. ‘Entertainment’ inspires trips to Germany on the occasion of small and large events that will take place in 2021. Petra Hedorfer continues, “With great commitment, many partners in Germany’s tourism industry have adapted to the needs of customers …

Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Israeli Minister of Tourism welcomed the first Gulf Air flight from Bahrain to Israel, along with a delegation of key stakeholders in the tourism industry led by Minister of Economy and Tourism Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani. Following the reception, Minister Farkash-Hacohen said, “The opening of direct flights, and the travel of people between the countries, is an essential step towards building peace between our nations. I look forward to hosting the Minister and his delegation, showing them a taste of Israel’s scenes and heritage, and introducing them to Israel’s private tourism sector.” The Bahraini delegation includes, in addition to the Minister, the Director of the Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority, the CEO and CCO of Gulf Air, and the Chairman of the Association of Bahrain Travel & Tour Agents. During the visit, which will last until Thursday, Israel’s Ministry of Education will hold a series of working meetings between the visitors and key players in the local tourism industry, including President of the Israel Hotel Association, Amir Hayak, CEO of The Israel Association of Travel Agencies & Consultants, Tali Laufer, and CEO of the Incoming Tour Operators Association, Yossi Fatael. Additionally, the Bahraini delegation will tour Jerusalem and visit Tel Aviv. “For the past two months we have worked hard to turn peace from an idea to a reality, and the tourism MOU between the countries is an important step in that direction,” Farkash-Hacohen said. “The tens of thousands of tourists who will arrive from Bahrain and the UAE when the skies reopen will experience Israel in the best way possible. Such visits contribute not only to building peace between the countries and people, but also towards …

Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) launches a Standardised Hygiene Protocol in partnership with Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) to assure visitors of a safe and healthy stay. The protocol aims to provide a unified set of guidelines on hygiene and anti-epidemic measures for tourism-related industries that bolster visitors’ confidence in traveling to Hong Kong; The protocol will cover shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, retail stores, coach companies, tourism attractions, travel agencies and more. More than 1,800 businesses and outlets have expressed interest in adopting the protocol in their business; and The businesses and outlets can display a designated logo for recognition to show their commitment to the protocol. The HKQAA will conduct random visits for continued inspections. Further relaxation of Social Distancing Measures – The latest social distancing measures to be effective from October 30: Relaxations for catering businesses (e.g. restaurants, bars and pubs, nightclubs) – Maximum number of people per table will increase to 6 people for restaurants (currently 4 people); and 4 people (currently 2 people) for bars and clubs; Maximum number of people will increase to 75% of seating capacity (currently 50%); Maximum number of people in public entertainment venues (such as theme parks, museums, performance venue) will increase to 75% of total capacity (currently 50%); Restriction on the number of people in group gatherings (currently 4 people) and mandatory mask-wearing in public venues will be maintained. Local tours exempted from social distancing restrictions – Starting October 23, local group tours of maximum 30 people by licensed travel agents will be exempted from group gathering restrictions, as long as they comply with a range of epidemic prevention measures. HKTB launches ‘Free Tour’ programme – Riding on this …

Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) received a ‘safeguard’ certificate issued by Bureau Veritas (BV) making it the first tourism government department in the Middle East to have scored this certificate.Upon receiving the certificate, His Highness Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Humaid Al Nuaimi Chairman of Ajman Tourism Development Department said, “We are honoured to have attained this certification that reflects our commitment and dedication in providing a safe environment for all across the Emirate in line with the directives of the UAE’s leadership. This milestone is a testimony to Ajman Tourism efforts for the safety of everyone residing or visiting the Emirate. It further contributes in enhancing confidence and satisfaction with our strategic partners, and also elevates our reputation for providing a safe workplace.” Marwan Al Aridi, Head of the Certification Department of Bureau Veritas said, “We are proud to grant this certificate, affirming the department’s endeavor in adopting best practices and ensuring the continuity of businesses under the circumstances caused by the pandemic.” Ajman Tourism has effectively adopted all precautionary measures in line with international best practices to ensure the continuity of its work and protect its residents & visitors.

Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE Youth Hostel Association and the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, with the aim of enhancing the guidelines, standards and mechanisms in managing youth hostels and improving the quality of services provided to the youth tourism sector while preserving the traditional houses of the emirate. The new initiative comes in line with Sharjah’s continuing efforts to strengthen its leading position on the global tourism map. The SCTDA has been tasked to take charge in the management, supervision and development of services of youth hostels located in the emirate, while the Sharjah Archaeology Authority oversees the maintenance and preservation of the facilities. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA stated, “This will ultimately benefit the local tourism sector and cement Sharjah’s position within the ranks of the most prestigious and distinguished tourist destinations in the world. We look forward to working closely with both entities, especially in the move to improve the quality of youth hostel services and the preservation of traditional houses. Our collaboration will help reinforce Sharjah’s reputation as a distinct destination that combines the past traditions with the present age in an urban setting. We are confident that this agreement, which will further enrich the tourism experience of Sharjah, will help strengthen our initial efforts to promote youth tourism. There is no doubt that improving youth hostels will have a positive impact on the tourism community, as they provide distinguished services that will help establish the emirate as an ideal destination for those looking to experience luxurious but cost-efficient holidays. The youth hostels offer multiple options to meet the different tastes and requirements …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) announced its collaboration with the Frontline Heroes Office to offer curated dedicated packages and benefits for frontline professionals as a sign of recognition for the key role they play in protecting the nation.As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, RAKTDA took quick action and launched several support initiatives aimed at its hospitality, leisure and development partners to lay the strong foundations for the sectors’ recovery. The Authority has now made strong strides towards achieving its recovery goals and aims to pay it forward to the nation’s heroes, who made these achievements possible by putting themselves on the frontline in service to the country and ensuring the population’s wellbeing and safety. “We would like to take this opportunity to honour their commitment to this responsibility and show our gratitude through a series of dedicated offers and benefits that they can avail when they visit Ras Al Khaimah,” said Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. He goes on to add, “It is with great pleasure that we welcome the nation’s heroes for a well-deserved break to enjoy the Emirate’s diverse entertainment and hospitality offering.” Her Excellency Professor Maha Barakat, Director General of the Frontline Heroes Office commented, “The Frontline Heroes Office strives to acknowledge the dedicated efforts of the country’s heroes, working with partners on exclusive offerings to express the nation’s gratitude. With the help of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and its array of partners we are able to continue to reward and recognise the heroic efforts of the country’s frontline professionals and their immeasurable actions to protect the UAE and its community.”

To welcome visitors back this winter, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced a fresh redesign of their Thailand Muslim Friendly App.  With a redesigned interface the app has now expanded its offering, adding 110 new restaurants, 70 new mosques, 75 new hotels, 10 healthcare facilities, 19 education centres, 20 shopping locations, 17 travel destinations, and five additional video clips. Pichaya Saisaengchan, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand for Dubai and the Middle East said, “In 2019, Thailand welcomed over 550,000 visitors from the Middle East and we are excited to introduce a modern version of the Thailand Muslim Friendly App. As we prepare to reopen our borders for tourism, we want to ensure that our Muslim visitors from the Middle East are able to enjoy a vibrant stay in Thailand in accordance with their faith as we continue to develop halal tourism in the Kingdom.”

Sharjah Hospitality Forum 2020 (SHF 2020) discussed the best and fastest recovery path for the emirate’s tourism sector with the participants proposing innovative solutions to support the stakeholders of the tourism, hospitality and travel industries and sustain their gradual return to growth and normalcy. HE Khald Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority said, “We see major tourism opportunities, but we need to adopt new mechanisms and innovative methods not only to seize available opportunities but also to efficiently address emerging challenges and sustain the industry’s attractiveness and competitiveness. “The world continues to bounce back from the pandemic’s impact. We are fully ready to implement successful solutions and creative projects to ensure tourism’s steady and fast recovery, with emphasis on several factors such as air traffic, travel regulations and visa procedures, country entry and exit traffic, and applicable safety protocols, among others. For our part, we have adopted a strategy that relies on three themes. The first one revolves around service development and safe domestic tourism promotion to encourage citizens and residents to rediscover Sharjah and the UAE. We have also introduced the Safety Stamp to ensure the compliance of the tourism and hospitality industries with the highest health practices, as well as the Safe Travel certificate for international safety, health and hygiene in travel and tourism. We have put in place other safety and protective measures and standards to provide integrated tourism experiences in a healthy and safe environment. As for the second theme, it focuses on targeting new markets after air traffic returns to normal and when the global markets fully open. The third theme includes the adoption of effective measures under the ‘new normal’ …

The Gulf Travel Show to be held on November 23-24, 2020 will be a key initiative which will provide the industry leaders, stakeholders and partners an opportunity to network and re-connect over two days and re-think, re-strategise their plans for 2021. Tourism Malaysia will be presenting their destination with some of the key partners over the two days and invite all partners to visit their corner to re-learn, re-discover, re-strengthen the ties to ensure a smooth transition when it will be time for international travellers to resume their journeys. Keeping the trade and partners updated Shahrin Mokhtar – Director Tourism Malaysia-Dubai said, “Tourism Malaysia is always keen to present in international travel shows and business platforms to showcase what Malaysia offer for tourists, and also to give opportunity for Malaysian industry players to meet potential travel trade partners. Gulf Travel Show is considered one of the important business platforms especially during the COVID-19 pandemic where quality buyers can meet Malaysia hotels & tour operators for future business cooperation and partnerships.” Leisure holidays and M!CE offerings Fatmawati Mohamed Nor – Managing Director – JF Holidays SDN BHD – Malaysia said, “We believe Gulf Travel Show is an excellent platform to market Malaysia as Holiday & M!CE destination. With huge demand for leisure, business and meetings, Gulf Travel Show would be able to bring Malaysia further into the Gulf market. International trade show event would open up the opportunity and connecting the tourism players.” Efficient networking session Zulkifli Rahman – Director of Sales &Marketing – The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi said, “As a platform to reach out and meet virtually new travel partners as well as maintaining existing fruitful relationship with our existing travel …