Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

Doha has 41 projects and 11,722 rooms in its hotel construction pipeline, according to a new report. The Doha Hotel Construction Overview report by TOPHOTELPROJECTS prepared exclusively for The Hotel Show Dubai 2016, reveals that Doha is the 3rd busiest city in the Middle East and Africa for hotel construction, behind only Dubai (133 projects) and Riyadh (47 projects). Doha’s busiest year for hotel openings is forecast to be 2017 with 14 new properties entering the market, including: Pullman Doha West Bay (468 rooms), JW Marriott West Bay (297 rooms), Hilton Garden Inn Doha Al Sadd (225 rooms), and Millennium Plaza Doha (232 rooms). The five-star Millennium Plaza Doha will open as part of the new Barwa Al Sadd development located in the heart of Doha. Comprised of four high rise towers offering commercial, residential and office space, the major project, currently under construction, will also offer a range of restaurants, shops and recreational facilities. Kassab added: “Barwa Al Sadd is set to be an exciting new addition to the city for both visitors and residents. Millennium Plaza Doha will be the only hotel within the development, offering an ideal base for business and leisure trips as well as for residents looking for a central location for business meetings, dining or celebrations.” TOPHOTELPROJECTS will present on development hotspots in the Middle East and Africa including Doha at the 4th edition of The Hotel Show Dubai’s annual Vision Conference, part of the “Update on market and consumer patterns and trends: get the inside track” panel discussion on 18th September 2016, 11:00-11:50am.

Visits of GCC nationals to Qatar continued to increase in August, with year-to-date arrivals growing by 7 per cent compared to the same period in 2015, a Qatar Tourism Authority report has shown. Overall, total visitor arrivals in the month of August increased by 2 per cent compared to August 2015. The growth in year-to-date (January to end of August) visitor arrivals from the GCC was dominated by visits from nationals of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which increased by 9 per cent and 11 per cent respectively, compared to 2015. Visits from Bahrain nationals were up as well by 2 per cent; while visits from nationals of Oman and Kuwait were down by -6 per cent and -1 per cent respectively. Meanwhile, visitors entering the country on the Qatar-Oman tourist visa increased by 2 per cent year-to-date in comparison to the same period in 2015. Visitors who are nationals of the Americas also increased by 6 per cent between January and August 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. August is typically an off-peak month with declines in visitor arrivals compared to the rest of the year. The increase in arrivals this August, compared to August of last year, comes after efforts to incentivize travel to Qatar through Qatar Summer Festival promotions and entertainment activities. These included special packages from 56 hotel establishments, shopping promotions in malls across Qatar, and entertainment events throughout the month, including the Doha Comedy Festival. QTA projections point to further modest increases in visitor arrivals in the coming months, supported by September’s Eid Celebrations in Qatar and the docking of the first cruise ship of the season in October.  

As the government of the UAE has announced  that both the public and private sector will enjoy Eid Al Adha holidays from September 9-18 and 9-13, 2016 respectively, it is advised to plan your client’s travel ahead to avoid any inconvenience. According to sources, the UAE immigration will be closed from 9th till Sept 13, 2016 on the account of Eid Al Adha holidays.

In keeping with Dubai’s retail tourism strategy; India’s leading design house Ritu Kumar will be opening her second store at the Dubai festival city mall. The outlet will cater to a mix of luxury and high-street fashion clientele with the latest collections of LABEL Ritu Kumar. It is the brand’s second outlet in the emirate having begun operations in the UAE with a flagship store at BurJuman Centre in January, 2014. Spread over 1600 sq ft in Dubai Festival City mall with a spectacular triple height shop-front the new store will showcase the SS’16 and the AW’16 collection from the brands’ pret line – LABEL Ritu Kumar. Ritu Kumar is credited for introducing haute couture in India as well as the revival of the country’s traditional fabrics and crafts over the last 45 years. The celebrated fashion designer will be in Dubai for the official inauguration of the store at Dubai Festival City mall on September 20, 2016.  

Travellers from Jordan can apply for visas to Cyprus at the new Cyprus Visa Application Centre launched in the city of Amman. With Cyprus emerging as a preferred outbound destination, applicants will find this centre, located in the heart of the city, an easily accessible and convenient option. The newly launched centre is located at Galleria Mall, 4th Floor, Sweifieh Street, Amman, and joins 9 other client governments also served from the same premise. Services at the new Cyprus Visa Application Centre commenced from 04 September 2016. VFS Global has partnered with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to handle visa processing services since 2010. The company now serves the client government through 18 Visa Application Centres globally in 5 countries. Commenting on the launch of the new centre, H.E. Ms Nafsika Krousti, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Amman, said, “It is indeed important that the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Amman is launching this visa application centre, in collaboration with VFS Global. I need to emphasize that the Cyprus Government highly cherishes its bilateral relations with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and wishes to provide the best possible facilities to Jordanian citizens applying for visas to travel to Cyprus, either for business, or pleasure. In this framework, I hope and trust that VFS Global in its visa processing procedures will rise to the challenge of providing the highest level of quality of service to the visa applicants, for the benefit of all”. The key features of the new centre are convenient and centrally-accessed location, longer operating hours allowing applicants to visit at a time of their convenience, professional staff with local language capability to …

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has launched Jumeirah Central, an urban mixed-use city district expected to become a comprehensive model for future urban planning in Dubai and around the world. The all-season city district will comprise 9 million sq ft of retail space including three malls, 4.5 sqft of outdoor shopping space and supported by more than 44,000 car parking spaces. A unique tourism destination, Jumeriah Central will offer 7,200 hotel rooms; the largest number of hotel rooms centred in one district. The district will be home to 35,000 residents and will host 100,000 people annually. It will be connected by a comprehensive cycling network that spans over 33 parks and open spaces. Commenting on the announcement, H.H. Al Maktoum said: “As our vision for future cities evolves, Dubai will continue to set the benchmark for city development across the globe. Jumeriah Central is a clear milestone in our journey towards building the city of the future and the creation of engaged and happy communities. We will not stop investing in our economy, and these projects are tools to expedite that journey of growth. We are confident in the strength of our economy and are optimistic for the future of our nation. To that end, our vision will continuously evolve and expand.” The Jumeirah Central masterplan is a product of the collaborative work of over 19 government and private agencies, international experts and consultants under the leadership of Dubai Holding over the last two years. Jumeirah Central will have smart world-leading infrastructure that includes a multi-modal transport network, environmentally-friendly transport options and aerial gondolas. The district, …

In order to further enhance Dubai’s position as a year-round tourism destination offering unique leisure, shopping and entertainment experiences, the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) is organising the “Big Clearance Sale” from September 1-3, at Dubai World Trade Centre’s Za’abeel Halls 1, 2 and 3. Bringing together some of the biggest retail groups – Azadea Group, Apparel Group, M. H. Alshaya Co, Al Ghurair Retail and Landmark Group – under one roof, the “Big Clearance Sale” will give residents and visitors the opportunity to buy an array of designer products from their favourite international brands at unmatchable prices. Shoppers can expect over 80 per cent off on a host of merchandise, ranging from fashion apparel and accessories, to cosmetics, perfumes, shoes and much more. The three-day event features over 40 international brands, including  Zara Home, Salsa, Old Navy, Juicy Couture, Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, Debenhams, Topshop, H&M, Springfield and Steve Madden, to name a few. Saeed Mohammed Mesam Alfalasi, Executive Director, Retail and Strategic Alliances, DFRE, said: “Now a permanent fixture in Dubai’s retail calendar, The Big Clearance Sale has helped to further reinforce Dubai’s position as the leading shopping destination in the region.  This popular event provides the perfect environment for shoppers to snap up a bargain or two, while giving retailers an opportunity to hold a one-of-a-kind end-of-season sale prior to introducing their new collections. Following closely on the success of Dubai Summer Surprises, we believe The Big Spring Clearance Sale will help keep up the momentum in the retail sector. The Big Clearance Sale is a reflection of the energy and inspiration …

In a move to step up efforts to attract and welcome more visitors to the destination, Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism Authority have signed an agreement with VFS Global in the presence of Qatar’s Ministry of Interior. The agreement paves the way for an efficient and transparent tourist visa application system. The agreement will enable Qatar to identify and implement the ideal visa solutions for its visitors, while capitalising on VFS Global’s expertise in developing multi-platform visa services, and Qatar Airways’ extensive international footprint. Qatar Airways and QTA will be working with VFS Global and MOI over the next months to establish the new tourist visa application process, after which full details of the new system will be announced. The steps taken are expected to increase Qatar’s openness ranking on the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H.E. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways has been bringing tourists to Qatar for nearly two decades and today’s announcement marks another milestone in our commitment to making Doha a world-class tourist destination. Qatar’s tourism industry is experiencing exponential growth and the visa advancements announced today will further support our country’s vision to invite and welcome visitors from around the world to experience all that Qatar has to offer. We look forward to welcoming more passengers on-board, at Hamad International Airport and into Qatar, as a result of today’s initiative. “I would like to sincerely thank the Ministry of Interior’s General Directorate of Nationality, Borders and Expatriates Affairs, and Qatar Tourism Authority for their partnership in making today’s announcement possible. This initiative is a great example of what we can accomplish by working together, and we have other initiatives …

The tourism board of India, headed by I.R.V Rao, has revealed two important events planned to promote and strengthen ties between the UAE and India. The inaugural ITM or India Travel Mart will take place from February 1-4, 2017 in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi which is set to attract many visitors from different regions. It is a B2B travel trade event organised in conjunction with Confederation of Indian Industry and the Tourism Finance Corporation. Another event of importance is the Incredible India Tourism Investors Summit (IITIS) to be held from September 21-23, 2016, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. IITIS 2016 will create a platform for the global investors to explore investment opportunities available within the ambit of India’s tourism sector as well as the core infrastructure, understand policy framework and investment ecosystem of the country and be informed on incentives offered by government on investments,  explore and understand the nature of the wide array of investible projects from the States that will be showcased, catalyze partnerships through of B2B and B2G linkages, and identifying joint Venture opportunities with Indian Companies. The three-day Summit will include Thematic Sessions, Exhibition and Business-2-Business (B2B) and Business -2- Government (B2G) meetings. More information will be provided on India Travel Mart in due course.

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has unveiled a Digital MICE strategy and online marketing plan highlighting the ‘Biz Thailand’ mobile application — an information gateway for MICE travellers. TCEB’s four key online marketing initiatives in 2016 include the enhancement of the innovative Thai MICE website at www.businesseventsthailand.com by providing comprehensive information on MICE products and services, available in eight languages, and the ‘Biz Thailand’ mobile application to seamlessly leverage the TCEB website user experience catering to target audiences across the globe; online marketing tools and digital sales kits including a blog, digital brochure, photo and video content, as well as infographics and digital sales kits. Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, President, TCEB, said, “This year TCEB continues to promote the readiness of Thailand’s MICE industry through a comprehensive Digital MICE marketing strategy, utilising online channels to support the bureau’s key marketing activities while aligning both traditional and digital activities in the same strategic direction, consistent with the government’s Digital Economy policy – driving growth for the MICE industry, while serving as an effective economic growth driver.”