Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

In a special interview with TravelTVMiddlee East, HE Khaled Jassim Al Midfa –  Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority shared that the United Arab Emirates 2031 vision is doubling the number of hotel guests by the year 2031 from 20 million to 40 million. And relatively the contribution to the economy from 200 billion dirhams to 450 billion dirhams by 2031. HE Midfa reiterated, “today we launched the 11th edition of the Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum. And this forum every year as we see, we have a big group of international speakers as well as local entities from both the government and the private sector. We discuss the main topics that are very important to the sustainability of the tourism sector. This is a vital sector that contributes to more than 10% of the international GDP. And it’s really important that we see how our country, the United Arab Emirates, is focusing on developing the infrastructure and developing all the other aspects that are within the ecosystem of tourism such as hospitality, adventure tourism, attractions, infrastructure, airport development, airline expansion programs and plans. This is really important for us and we launched also the United Arab Emirates 2031 vision which is doubling the number of hotel guests by the year 2031 from 20 million to 40 million. And relatively we have the contribution to the economy from 200 billion dirhams to 450 billion dirhams by 2031. So we see how this is a main and vital sector and how the government of the United Arab Emirates has given it a lot of importance and has a lot of scope for development. In Sharjah as well, under the …

Under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairman of Sharjah Executive Council, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has announced the 11th edition of the Sharjah International Travel & Tourism Forum (SITTF) scheduled to take place on 25th November at the Expo Centre Sharjah. Held under the theme “The Future of Tourism: Digitisation, Health, and Safety”, the forum will gather experts from the travel and tourism industry, sharing insights on how digital technologies are fundamentally reshaping the tourism industry, through a series of panel discussions and engaging workshops to further delve into the challenges and opportunities that exist within the travel and tourism sector. The anticipated forum is set to feature notable keynote speakers, welcoming the likes of Abdalla bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE’s Minister of Economy, Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, SCTDA Chairman, Ahmed Al Qaseer, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), HE Basmah Al Mayman, Regional Director for the Middle East, United Nations Tourism, and other industry representatives. The forum will address the transformation of consumer behaviour driven by digital platforms and the importance of data-driven decision-making for understanding market trends and elevating travel health and safety protocols and governance. Additionally, the event will cover trends and innovations in the use of artificial intelligence machine learning to personalise travel experiences while ensuring compliance with health measures. It will emphasise collaboration among various stakeholders to integrate new travel protocols goals and share success stories from the sector, including how travel and tourism entities can be better prepared to mitigate health and safety challenges in a sustainable way. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of …

The Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) is all set to host the emirate’s first-ever e-Games Championship from November 21 to 24 2024 at the Ajman Police Sports and Shooting Club. The move comes as part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to embrace technological advancements and ensure the engagement of younger generations – a vital demographic within the community. The championship will bring together leading professional gamers and enthusiasts aged eight or above for three days of gaming competitions, interactive networking, and knowledge-sharing activities, showcasing Ajman as a growing hub for e-sports and digital innovation. The event reflects the ATDD’s dedication to promoting innovative initiatives aimed at ensuring youth participation across diverse age groups. It offers a creative platform for participants to exhibit their skills and talents, and drive youth participation in programs that are in line with their passion and the latest digital advancements. H.E. Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi, Director General of Ajman Tourism Development Department, said: “At ATDD, we are delighted to organise the debutant e-Games Championship in Ajman. This move reflects our goal to offer a dynamic platform that boosts youth engagement, who are key drivers of our mission to shape a prosperous and innovative future for the emirate. We aim to provide young people of all age groups with novel and innovative opportunities that cater to their interests and help them achieve their long-term goals by creating an atmosphere that fosters creativity and development. This championship also demonstrates our steadfast dedication to enhance Ajman’s standing as a vibrant hub for entertainment and technology events and support its tourism sector.” The championship will feature a wide range of competitions appropriate for all age groups, including FIFA25, Tekken, Street Fighter, Assetto …

In 2023, GCC travellers contributed €2.6 billion to Germany’s economy, marking a 24% increase over the previous year—a testament to Germany’s appeal and deepening ties with the region. Germany has reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as one of its leading tourism markets following a high-profile media and trade event co-hosted by the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) and visitBerlin. The event showcased exciting developments in Germany’s travel sector, including new flight routes, digital innovations, and a personalised approach to GCC tourists, who comprise Germany’s third-largest overseas tourism market. Germany has recently expanded its direct flight options from the GCC region to accommodate the growing number of tourists, reinforcing its commitment to accessible and convenient travel for GCC visitors. Condor introduced direct flights between Berlin and Dubai, while Eurowings, Germany’s prominent low-cost carrier, launched flights from Berlin to Dubai and Jeddah, alongside new routes from Cologne-Bonn airport and Stuttgart. This enhanced connectivity aims to streamline the travel experience for visitors from the Gulf, fostering seamless access to Germany’s diverse regions, historic sites, and cultural landmarks. Burkhard Kieker, CEO of VisitBerlin, said: “Berlin is more accessible than ever for GCC travellers, thanks to enhanced flight connectivity to the region. These connections allow visitors from the GCC to explore Berlin’s rich cultural heritage, diverse neighbourhoods, and renowned medical facilities. Our goal is to offer seamless, enriching travel experiences tailored to the unique preferences of GCC tourists, strengthening our bond with the region.” In 2025, Berlin will celebrate key anniversaries, including the 200th anniversary of its renowned Museum Island and the reopening of historic sites such as Peacock Island’s Lustschloss. With its blend of modern attractions and heritage …

According to the latest official statistics, for the first six months of 2024 shared by Visit Britain show there were a record 512,000 visits from the GCC to the UK, up 25% on January-to-June last year. Visitors from the GCC also spent a record £1 billion on their trips in the UK in the first half of 2024, up 6% on 2023. As Britain’s national tourism agency VisitBritain gears up to host top travel buyers from across the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries on its ‘Destination Britain Middle East and Asia’ trade mission, latest official statistics show travellers from the GCC are visiting the UK in record numbers, and spending more on their trips. To harness this growth and compete for visitors, VisitBritain is hosting 20 buyers from the GCC on its upcoming ‘Destination Britain Middle East and Asia’ trade mission, taking place from 20-to- 22 November in Bengaluru, India. The three-day event sees dozens of UK tourism industry suppliers meet with more than 70 top buyers from China, the GCC, Japan, India and South Korea, to drive business to Britain. Speaking ahead of the trade event, VisitBritain’s Deputy Director Middle East and Asia Carol Maddison said, “With the growing airline connectivity through regional gateways alongside the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, travel to the UK is now easier and more accessible for GCC nationals. Working with our trade partners including at our Destination Britain Middle East and Asia trade event, we’re harnessing the strong growth we’re seeing, showcasing Britain’s latest tourism products and experiences to drive bookings. “We want visitors to explore outside of London through our regional gateways, staying longer and discovering exciting destinations across our nations and …

Qatar Tourism has launched its new cruise season 2024/2025, with the arrival of the luxury cruise ship Resorts World One, which is expected to become the largest in the history of the industry, with 95 cruises, including 33 partial turnovers, 11 departure and return flights, and 4 flights arriving in Qatar for the first time. The luxury cruise ship Resorts World One has launched its first voyage to Qatar and is scheduled to make 23 scheduled visits, carrying 72,000 visitors. Qatar is expected to welcome more than 430,000 visitors from November 2024 to April 2025. During the season, renowned cruise ships such as Minechef 4, MSC Euribia, Aida Prima, Costa Esmeralda, Norwegian Sky and Celestial Journey will dock at Doha Port, reinforcing Qatar’s growing position as a leading global cruise tourism destination. Building on the success of theprevious cruise season 2023/2024, during which Qatar welcomed 73 cruise ships and more than 347,000 visitors, the new season is expected to continue the pace of growth in the cruise sector with a new record performance. During the previous season, Doha Port welcomed world-renowned vessels such as MSC Vertusa , Seaborne Encore, Aida Prima, Artania, Minechef 2, Azamara Journey and MS Rivera. and MS Hamburg and Norwegian Down. H.E. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism, said: “Stimulating the growth of Qatar’s cruise sector is a key component of our National Tourism Strategy 2030, and the 2024/2025 cruise season is expected to see a 30% increase in the total number of vessels, as well as a 24.5% increase in the total number of visitors compared to the previous season, reflecting the growing demand for cruises in the region. With new partnerships …

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has successfully concluded its participation in the 43rd World Travel Market (WTM) in London. The three-day event, which attracted thousands of professionals from the global travel and tourism industry, helped SCTDA to reinforce Sharjah’s position as a rapidly growing destination for international tourists. WTM 2024 provided SCTDA with a prime platform to highlight its diverse and rich tourism offerings to a diverse audience of industry professionals, particularly those from Europe, which represents a significant and growing tourism market for Sharjah. His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, highlighted the strategic importance of the EU market to Sharjah’s tourism ambitions. “With almost 350,000 European tourists visiting Sharjah this year, which accounts for 7% increase from last year this shows that the Europe continues to be a vital market for us. We anticipate even stronger growth by the end of 2024, driven by our active engagement in platforms such as WTM.” At a well-attended press conference held at WTM on November 7, SCTDA unveiled significant advancements in the emirate’s tourism infrastructure alongside new hospitality projects that promise to enhance Sharjah’s appeal as a destination of choice for cultural, leisure, and adventure tourism. Key highlights included the Sharjah Safari, the largest safari park outside Africa, and the Moon Retreat, an innovative desert glamping experience, which offers a new concept and style of accommodation experiences amidst nature. “Sharjah Tourism” will also highlight the natural and topographical diversity that characterizes Sharjah’s tourism product, ranging from cultural, leisure, environmental, and beach experiences to adventures, alongside hotel accommodation experiences. These projects underscore the emirate’s commitment to expanding its offerings and products in the fields of eco and adventure …

The Ajman Tourism Development Department (ATDD) signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Coral Touristik GmbH, a leading tourism services provider, and Vtours, a renowned tour operator, on the sidelines of the department’s participation in the World Travel Market. The new agreements demonstrate the Department’s commitment to expanding its strategic alliances with foreign travel and tourism firms in order to share best practices and methods in the areas of hotel reservations, tourism services, and exchange of expertise and knowledge. The move is set to elevate the Emirate of Ajman’s position on the global tourism and hospitality map. The MoUs were signed in the presence of His Excellency Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi, Director General of the Ajman Tourism Development Department, and Ms. Sabine Jordan-Glaab, CEO of Vtours, and Mr. Koray Cavdir, Chief Operating Officer – Central Europe at Coral Touristik GmbH. Commenting on the partnerships, His Excellency Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi said: “We at the Ajman Tourism Development Department are pleased to work with Coral Touristik GmbH and Vtours as part of our efforts to deepen strategic alliances with leading tourism businesses, contributing to the Emirate of Ajman’s standing as a popular tourist destination. We are confident that these agreements will play a pivotal role in developing pathways of communication and facilitating exchange of expertise, thus enhancing our capacity to offer exceptional travel experiences and propelling the Ajman’s tourism industry to new heights.” Among the provisions of the agreements are cooperation in developing promotional plans and strategies, exchange of data and insights, as well as the exploration of new techniques and methods that will improve tourism experiences. The partnerships will also enable the provision of advisory services in support of the department’s objectives …

Sustainable and regenerative tourism was in the spotlight on the second day of World Travel Market London, along with other key issues such as diversity and digital marketing. Speakers at WTM London’s first Regenerative Tourism Summit said the travel and tourism sector needs to see a “paradigm shift”. Tina O’Dwyer, WTM London’s Sustainability Advisor, asked delegates: “Are we brave enough to leave behind a paradigm that has worked well for us in the past?” Anna Pollock, Founder of Conscious Travel, highlighted warnings from the World Trade Organisation of a “polycrisis” – a cluster of global risks, including the climate crisis, adding: “Sustainability is not enough.” Other speakers showcased how regenerative tourism is helping revive and support destinations, including peat bogs in Ireland, Loch Ness, Majorca and Flanders. Sustainability was also a major theme for the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO). Andreas Fiorentinos, GNTO Secretary General, said the country is poised for another record setting year in 2024, with projected arrivals reaching approximately 35 million tourists, and total revenue expected to rise by 10% to about €22 billion – “driven by a robust increase in international arrivals and a growing emphasis on sustainability”. He pointed to developments such as an eco-islands initiative in the Aegean and investment in other sectors such as mountain tourism, hiking trails and ski resorts to help spread tourist arrivals across the seasons. Developing accessible tourism facilities and activities “makes business sense”, delegates heard at the WTM diversity, equality, accessibility, inclusion and intersectionality (DEAI) summit. Ryan Smith, the founder of The Access Agency, said investing in the accessible sector can generate $13 for every dollar spent. He said the public and private sectors are developing more facilities …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) will be the official destination partner for the Air Expo 2024, set to take place from 19-21 November at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), underscoring the emirate’s prominence as a key facilitator of diverse, high-level MICE events in the region. Abu Dhabi Air Expo is one of the most successful aviation exhibitions within the region. Alternating with Dubai Airshow, the exhibition is designed for professionals and offers visitors a wide and representative range of the ever-growing aviation industry. Air Expo 2024 will bring together over 20,000 aviation professionals, industry leaders, and enthusiasts from around the globe, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and advancements in the dynamic aviation and aerospace sectors. It will also feature keynote addresses from thought leaders, and a special focus on the future of aviation through the Advanced Air Mobility segment, which explores the latest innovations in urban air transport, drone technologies, and sustainable aviation solutions. Mubarak Al Shamsi, Director of the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau ADCEB, said: “We are proud to partner with Air Expo 2024, offering a premier platform for innovation, knowledge exchange, and development in this exciting sector. As we welcome enthusiasts and experts from around the globe, we aim for the event to further showcase Abu Dhabi’s unmatched destination offering and its vast potential as a world-class host for large-scale MICE events, delivering success and value for all involved.” As the Official Destination Partner, DCT Abu Dhabi will strengthen collaborations with key partners while advancing the emirate’s status as a global destination for business events, tourism, and investment. Through its partnership with Air Expo 2024, DCT Abu Dhabi will showcase …