Tag Archives: 2023

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism proudly announced that Saudi tourism has reached a historic milestone in inbound visitor spending, as indicated by the Travel Account Data in SAMA’s Balance of Payments. Exceeding SAR 100 billion during the first quarters of 2023, this achievement resulted in a surplus in the Travel Account Data in the Balance of Payments, estimated at SAR 37.8 billion, reflecting a remarkable growth rate of 72% compared to the same period in 2022. These accomplishments coincide with the complete recovery of Saudi tourism, with the tourism sector’s rebound reaching an impressive recovery rate of 150% compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. Numerous Saudi tourist destinations have experienced a surge in both inbound and domestic visitors. This historic achievement is in line with reports from the UNWTO, confirming that Saudi Arabia led the G20 countries in the growth rate of inbound tourists during the first three quarters of 2023. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia secured the second position among the world’s fastest-growing tourist destinations

Hamad International Airport (DOH) stands poised to welcome visitors from around the globe, as Qatar hosts the prestigious 18th edition of AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023TM. Set to take place from January 12 to February 10, 2024, the tournament will see twenty-four of the continent’s top teams competing in 51 matches across Qatar’s state-of-the-art stadiums. Drawing from the lessons and expertise gained during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 TM, the airport has meticulously planned its operations to ensure a seamless arrival experience for visitors entering the vibrant city of Doha. The comprehensive preparation includes seamless coordination and communication among all stakeholders ensuring optimal service delivery. Extensive collaboration with transport providers guarantees efficient connectivity to and from the airport, the city, and the stadiums, with multiple public transport options, including taxis, bus services, and the metro, available for visitors. Arriving passengers can access necessary amenities like foreign exchange services, food and beverage options, convenient stores, ATMs and purchase local sim cards, which are all conveniently located at the arrival hall. Passengers who have a transit time of more than 8 hours have the option of booking a Doha city tour through Discover Qatar, the destination management company of Qatar Airways, to experience the city during the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 TM. Qatar Airways, the country’s national carrier, has partnered with the Asian Football Confederation to transform the fan experience at Asian football competitions in the coming years, including the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023TM. The home and hub of Qatar Airways, Hamad International Airport is set to bring the tournament experience to the terminal with a dedicated fan zone and exciting activations that will provide an immersive experience to …

Ezytrip, Qatar wins ‘Fastest growing B2B online travel portal’ at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023.  Rehan Ali Syed – CEO – Tawfeeq Travel shared, “The event was very well planned and organised. The overall setup was very lively and gave a good opportunity to network and connect with industry leaders across the region. These awards encourage business to continuously improvise and innovate. Travel awards can help acknowledge and promote businesses and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the travel and tourism sector. This recognition can lead to increased visibility and credibility within the industry and among travellers. Winning an Arabian Travel Award is a thrilling achievement, signifying recognition for excellence in the travel industry and a sense of pride and accomplishment. This award works as a powerful motivator to excel in 2024 and maintain or surpass the award categories. This will help us to drive and provide better travel experiences to our travellers.”    

Edge Creekside Hotel wins Best 4 Star Contemporary Hotel at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023. Jawad Saade – General Manager – Edge Creekside Hotel shared, “It was a great event, and well-organized by the Arabian Travel Awards team. We enjoyed the lovely entertainment and set up. It is an honour to be awarded by Arabian Travel Awards. I and the whole Edge team are grateful to be recognized as one of the industry’s bests. This recognition is a vital motif to not settle for less ever. And to always keep going and stick to our objectives for the next year.”

Saudi tourism statistics achieved positive results during this year, with total number of tourists (overnight visitors for all purposes) reaching (53.6 million), including (39.0 million) domestic tourists and (14.6 million) inbound tourists. The Ministry of Tourism is delighted to announce the preliminary data for the first half of 2023 tourism statistics, which demonstrates the continuous achievements following 2022’s remarkable growth within the tourism sector, in addition to informing local and international investors on the sector’s latest updates, this confirms the effectiveness of the Ministry of Tourism and its partners efforts in attracting visitors by enhancing the tourism products and quality of services, in addition to improving visa structures. Saudi tourism statistics achieved positive results during this year, with total number of tourists (overnight visitors for all purposes) reaching (53.6 million), including (39.0 million) domestic tourists and (14.6 million) inbound tourists. The total tourism spending reached (SAR150 billion), of which (SAR 63.1 billion) came from domestic tourism and (SAR 86.9 billion) from Inbound tourism, that indicates a new historical record for Saudi tourism. Inbound tourism achieved historical record numbers in the first half of 2023, recording an increase of (142%) in number of tourists and (132%) in total tourism spending vs. the first half of 2022. With the continuous development of the tourism sector, there has been an increase in the number of tourists for all purposes with leisure tourists showing the highest growth (347%) vs. the first half of 2022. Domestic tourism in the first half of 2023 recorded a growth of (16%) in tourism spending, due to the average length of stay increasing from (4.6) nights in the first half of 2022 to (6.3) nights in the first half of …

Tilal Liwa Abu Dhabi wins ‘Best Desert Resort’ title at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023.  Diana Kornilakis, General Manager, Tilal Liwa Hotel shared, “The team of Arabian Travel Awards did an amazing job, the planning and execution of the event was spotless. Winning the Arabian Travel Award is a validation of hard work, dedication and excellence in the travel industry. It is a pride to be recognized and appreciated by peers and industry experts. Winning an award is a motivation to continuously strive for excellence. It inspires to maintain high standards and push boundaries in the hospitality field.”  

Malta Tourism Authority won the title as the ‘Best Market Engagement by a tourism board’ award at the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2023. Faraz Ahmed Khan – General Manager – Aviareps shared, “The Arabian Travel Awards 2023 held special significance, recognizing the achievements of our clients, Mauritius and Malta. The event’s organization and entertainment were of top-notch quality! Congrats to ATA team. Securing an Arabian Travel Award 2023 is a significant emotional milestone. Winning in two categories is genuinely satisfying. Our immeasurable gratitude for this honor fuels the belief that we deserved even more. These awards are more than triumphs; they mirror our deep passion. Fueled by gratitude, we’re determined to surpass expectations in 2024, aiming for success in additional categories. Eagerly anticipating ATA 2024.”

dusitD2 kenz Hotel emerged winner in the category as ‘Best Business Hotel’ at the Arabian Travel Awards 2023. Bassam Zakaria, Cluster General Manager – dusitD2 kenz Hotel & Dusit Princess Residences – Dubai Marina shared, “Our winning streak for 2 consecutive years in Arabian Travel Awards reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence at both our properties. This year’s awards night was exceptional, filled with entertainment and served as a grand celebration of the hard work of all hoteliers and industry partners throughout this year. We are honoured to bring Dusit’s signature Thai-inspired hospitality to Dubai, and we are eager to provide more exceptional services and transformative experiences for our valued guests and patrons in the exciting times ahead. This award not only acknowledges our past achievements but also motivates us for 2024, spurring us on to surpass even greater milestones, setting new standards in hospitality and guest experience.”

Millennium Place Hotel Mirdif emerged winner as the ‘Best 4 Star Lifestyle Hotel’ at Arabian Travel Awards 2023. Shady Dawad – General Manager – Millennium Place Hotel Mirdif shared, “The Arabian Travel Awards is a fascinating assembly of innovators in the hospitality industry. Being consistently named the Best 4-Star Hotel is an incredible experience. This demonstrates our dedication to providing excellent guest service. The award is a powerful inspiration for us to ignite our zeal and strive for even greater heights in the year 2024.”    

Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel was awarded “Best Destination Wedding Hotel” at the Arabian Travel Awards for 2023.  This prestigious recognition is a testament to the hotel’s commitment to offering exceptional wedding experiences, luxurious accommodations, and world-class service. The prestigious travel awards is renowned for recognizing luminaries in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors, marking a significant milestone for these industries. The Arabian Travel Awards 2023 show was held at Sofitel Downtown Dubai, and was graced by H.E. Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil bin Shamsuddin, Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE who also presented the awards to the stars of the evening. Area General Manager, Mr. Iftikhar Hamdani, expressed his delight about this achievement: “Receiving the title of ‘Best Destination Wedding Hotel’ is a great honour. It reflects the unwavering commitment and effort we put into every wedding celebration. We aim to create magical moments for our clients, and this award is a validation of our excellence.”  He also conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to its team.  “In fact, this wouldn’t have been possible without our expert team of event planners and hospitality professionals.” Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel managed by Hospitality Management Holding, takes pride in its versatility and commitment to hosting a wide range of events. They are not only the perfect setting for dream weddings but also an ideal venue for various other occasions, including sports events, beauty pageants, conferences, and more. This achievement comes as a continuation of the hotel’s success, as they were previously recognized as the “Best 5-Star Luxury Hotel in Ajman 2021” by the Arabian Travel Awards.  Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel looks forward to providing its clients with remarkable experiences that create cherished memories.