Tag Archives: Spain

As Europe enters the peak of its summer season, residents across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are already mapping out their holiday plans—many of which are centred around Eid Al Adha and the long school break. Recognising this annual surge in outbound travel, McArthurGlen Designer Outlets, Europe’s leading owner and operator of designer outlet destinations, continues to position its portfolio as an integrated part of the travel experience for Gulf visitors. For GCC holidaymakers looking for a destination that offers rich culture, seasonal climate, accessibility, and award-winning food, Europe continues to be a leading choice. McArthurGlen brings additional value by delivering exceptional price points on luxury brands up to 70% less, conveniently located in areas already planned as part of the traveller’s trip. GCC tourists drawn by heritage, leisure, or family fun options, McArthurGlen designer outlets are an easily accessible location that will flow naturally in the rhythm of their holiday. Every McArthurGlen Designer Outlet is designed to complement the city’s cultural landscape. This commitment to quality and local relevance has earned McArthurGlen Designer Outlets several spots in the Outlet Centre Performance Report Europe (OCPRE) – a respected consumer survey by Ecostra and French Magdus – with Designer Outlet Serravalle topping the list. Visiting Designer Outlet Salzburg, for example, fits neatly into a personalised itinerary if one is celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Sound of Music, or attending the Salzburg Festival. In Vienna, the museums and historical grandeur create a one-of-a-kind holiday experience, including a cruise on the Danube River. Conveniently located between cultural excursions to Bratislava and nearby wellness retreats, Designer Outlet Parndorf – in the top 10 best outlets in Europe – offers a seamless and …

Etihad Airways and Air Europa celebrated a historic milestone as Air Europa operates its inaugural wet-lease flight from Abu Dhabi to Madrid, marking the Spanish carrier’s first-ever aircraft operation from the Middle East. Etihad now offers twice-daily services to Madrid, with the afternoon EY103 service operated by Air Europa’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft featuring 32 Business class and 307 Economy seats. The wet-lease arrangement, alongside the expanded codeshare, strengthens the growing market between Abu Dhabi and Spain, and supports wider tourism and trade links between the two countries. The landmark Boeing 787-9 service represents a significant evolution of the partnership between the two airlines, building on their expanded codeshare agreement and frequent flyer programme cooperation. This collaboration highlights the value of strategic partnerships in improving global connectivity and offering more seamless travel options for passengers across four continents. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Today marks a new chapter in our partnership with Air Europa. This collaboration demonstrates how Etihad can work with strategic partners to enhance our Madrid route and offer even greater choice for travellers between the UAE and Spain. By partnering with Air Europa, we’re opening exciting possibilities for our passengers seeking to explore new destinations.” Juan José Hidalgo, Air Europa’s President, added: ““Partnering with Etihad Airways to launch our first Middle East service from Abu Dhabi is a major milestone for Air Europa. It allows us to better serve growing demand for travel between Spain and the UAE. Abu Dhabi is a world-class destination and an ideal platform for us to expand into new markets.” The partnership reinforces Etihad’s commitment to supporting Abu Dhabi’s position as an attractive destination for both leisure and business travel, …

According to RateHawk, the top 10 outbound destinations for the entire summer include Turkey, Italy, France, Thailand, Spain, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria, Greece, and the United States. The average transaction value for accommodation bookings is $1551, with an average stay of five nights. Although Indonesia didn’t enter the top 10 most-booked outbound destinations, it has become one of the fastest-growing travel choices, showing a remarkable two-fold increase in bookings year-over-year, according to RateHawk. Traditionally, over half (53%) of these bookings are located in Bali, particularly in popular areas such as Ubud, Kuta, and Munduk. The visa-free policy and strong air connections with the GCC region, including a newly launched Saudia flight from Jeddah to Bali, continue to boost tourism to this tropical island. European destinations, with top choices in cultural capitals such as London, Paris, Milan, Munich, and Barcelona, remain a traditional favorite among GCC travelers seeking to escape the summer heat. The steady growth of tourism to Europe continues, driven by improved connectivity through the launch of new direct routes to popular destinations, including Saudia’s flight to Venice and Flydubai’s flights to various Greek resorts, such as Corfu, Santorini, and Mykonos. Thailand, another favourite Asian destination among GCC travelers, continues to show steady growth of 48% from last year, especially in areas like Bangkok and Phuket. Travelers heading to Asia typically choose longer stays, often up to one week in just one hotel. Serkan Ozbay, Regional Director in the Middle East region, commented: “Summer season in the GCC region traditionally has two spikes in travel demand. The first peak aligns with the Eid Al-Adha holidays, which this year fall between 5 June and 9 June, with Dubai as …

The German National Tourist Office GCC (GNTO),  Spanish Tourist Office, Atout France Middle East and Austria Tourism are joining forces for a landmark edition of Discover Europe Travel Summit meets Marhaba 2025, taking place in Dubai on 25 and 26 April 2025. This powerful fusion brings the heart of Europe to the UAE, offering travel professionals from the GCC, Levant, and India a gateway to connect with 130 top-tier suppliers from Austria, France, Germany and Spain. A total of 5,720 pre-scheduled meetings are planned across the two-day event. In an exciting collaboration, two of Europe’s leading tourism networking platforms, the Discover Europe Travel Summit and Marhaba Europe, will unite for the first time. The summit serves as a strategic hub for destination marketing organisations, hospitality providers, DMCs, and transport specialists to exchange insights, showcase new products, and build long-lasting partnerships with 150 qualified buyers from the region. Austria’s breathtaking alpine landscapes, serene lakes, and charming cities have seen growing interest from GCC travellers. The country’s offerings range from winter sports to summer festivals, catering to diverse preferences and providing year-round appeal. Michael Tauschmann, Head of Markets Middle East and India at Austria Tourism, said: “Austria offers a remarkable variety of experiences that align perfectly with the preferences of GCC travellers. From the majestic alpine peaks and serene forest trails to the sparkling lakeside retreats, the country delivers authentic experiences for all. We are seeing growing interest from the region in discovering lesser-known parts of Austria, where hidden gems await. This summit gives us the ideal platform to connect with key travel experts and showcase Austria’s rich and refreshing diversity.” France continues to enchant GCC travellers with its iconic landmarks, luxury …

FITUR Cruises, the space dedicated to the world of cruises at the International Tourism Trade Fair organised by IFEMA MADRID, promises a packed programme of activities and presentations aimed at both professionals and the general public with which to discover the latest news and future trends of the industry. Over the five days of the Fair (22 to 26 January), FITUR Cruises, organised by FITUR in collaboration with Cruceroadicto.com, announces different initiatives aimed at showcasing the essence of cruise tourism. Cruise Campus is an innovative system of mini-courses that, in a practical way and with the help of experts in different areas of marketing, communication and even professional travellers, will be dealing with aspects related to the cruise experience from all perspectives. At the weekend, in addition to the Cruise Campus talks, the popular Cruise Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Intermundial will be taking place, in which teams must solve clues and visit a series of cruise ship stopover destinations throughout the FITUR halls to enter a final draw to win cruises for two, excursion vouchers or travel insurance. Along with this, on Thursday 23 January, FITUR Cruises will hold the third edition of the Cruceroadicto Awards in an event attended by the finalists in each category. These international awards are the only cruise awards voted 100% by the Spanish-speaking travel community. In this regard, to guarantee that it is the traveller who has the last word, these are the first awards in Spain to be certified by the AENOR quality mark ‘commitment to transparency and impartiality’. The awards will be presented in the categories of best ship, cruise line and port of the year 2024. Likewise, this edition has an …

FITUR 2025, taking place from 22 to 26 January, organised by IFEMA MADRID, will be highlighting the strong tourism potential between Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where around ten companies will be exhibiting their tourism offers at the trade fair, mainly tour operators and Dubai’s iconic Atlantis Hotel, among others. The recovery of the Persian Gulf has been faster and stronger than that of other markets, with an economy that is growing above the OECD average and with higher spending and disposable income per consumer. Thus, the tourism sector in both territories has significant potential for developing specialised products. Spain experienced a record year for tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region in 2023 with unprecedented growth in both the number of travellers and tourism expenditure. The total number of GCC residents visiting Spain in 2023 reached 434,000, 33% more than in 2022, with an average stay of 8.6 days. Specifically, visitors from the UAE totalled more than 140,000 and spending grew by 37.8%, with an average spend of 2,668 euros, 26% more than in 2022. According to industry sources, around 200,000 Spanish tourists visit Dubai every year. In 2023, tourists from the Gulf region spent more than 1.138 billion euros in Spain, 64.7% more than in 2022, according to Turespaña estimates based on INE data (Frontur and Egatur). These travellers are considered as “large consumers”, with spending well above their European counterparts. Connectivity with Spain is very good and airlines have increased in all the countries of the Persian Gulf, both in terms of frequency and new routes. In the forecasts for flights from the UAE between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2025, capacity to Spain has …

Emirates has become the airline of choice for thousands of Korean passengers seeking to explore new and exciting destinations. Last summer season Emirates carried over 35,000 passengers between Incheon and Dubai, as well as beyond. The airline provides a seamless travel experience for Koreans between Incheon and top travel destinations in its worldwide network via Dubai. Emirates unveiled the top five summer travel destinations that have been gaining popularity among Korean travellers – Zurich, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, and Prague. With its extensive global network and world-class products and services, Emirates continues to be the airline of choice for thousands of Korean passengers seeking to explore new and exciting destinations, having carried over 35,000 passengers last summer season alone between Incheon and Dubai, as well as beyond. 1. Zurich, Switzerland Zurich is known for its unique mixture of metropolitan charm with the vibrant beauty of nature. Visitors can soak up the sunshine while exploring the scenic Old Town, take a refreshing Lake Zurich cruise, or indulge in shopping along the Bahnhofstrasse, one of the world’s most exclusive shopping streets. For those seeking summer adventures, the city provides easy access to thrilling alpine activities like Mt. Titlis and Jungfraujoch, providing a perfect escape from the heat. Emirates operates double daily flights between Dubai and Zurich, using a mix of A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. 2. Barcelona, Spain Barcelona bursts with energy and charm during the summer. While in the city, people can enjoy the lively Barceloneta Beach with its surf-friendly waves and beachfront restaurants. Visitors can also dive into the city’s buzzing nightlife at Chiringuitos, which is always full of live music and festive atmosphere. Don’t forget to explore Central Barcelona at …

The share of hotels sold via the direct channel in Spain increased by an average of 18% during the summer of 2024 over other channels thanks to the determination of the hoteliers to improve the profitability of the hotels again, according to data from Mirai. Although during the initial weeks of the UEFA Euro Cup 2024 sales growth slowed down, probably also due to the bad weather in Spain, in the last few days the company has observed that growth is picking up again. This rebound suggests a potentially very positive last-minute booking trend in most tourist destinations. At a global level Mirai – which provides hotels with technology and operations support to sell in the direct channel – has experienced an 11% increase of direct hotel roomnights sales worldwide, with Spain surpassing this figure with a 12% rise and ADR increasing by around 7%. Spain’s primary inbound source markets, excluding the domestic market, have shown remarkable growth in nights booked compared to 2023. Specifically, the United Kingdom source market has seen a 12% increase, with source markets such as the United States at 18% and Germany at 14%. “2024 is proving to be a landmark year for Spain’s tourism sector, especially for hotels’ direct bookings and the increase in direct hotel sales share this summer” said Javier Delgado Muerza, CEO EMEA at Mirai. “This remarkable growth in direct hotel bookings is thanks to the hard work of hoteliers and our team’s commitment to boosting their profitability”. “To continue this positive trend, we advise hoteliers to focus on a few key areas. First, maintain a clean and organised distribution strategy to ensure seamless booking experiences for guests by offering the …

At the recently concluded panel discussion celebrating women’s day with TTME, Namratha Rose – Marketing and Partnership Manager at Spain Tourism GCC shared that the travellers today are more open to discover and explore new destinations than before, “there has been significant development in GCC and from 2022 there has been a massive increase of travellers seeking different experiences, people are not restricting themselves and this opens us more opportunities.” She expressed this on the outlook of the region at the special panel session conducted to celebrate International Women’s Day by TTME at the Screening Room at Paramount Hotel Dubai.

It was revealed that Spain recorded 56% increase of GCC travellers in 2023 compared to 2019 with a 33% increase compared to 2022. Saudi Arabia can be presented as the prime example of this growth, with more than 100% increase 19-23 and with a 92% increase in 23-22, the total number of Saudi tourists has surged up to 182 thousand, surpassing UAE as the main GCC market for Spain, and consolidating its status and the country’s vision for 2030. United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait follow after with this trend. The total number of GCC residents visiting Spain in 2023 reached 434 thousand, with an average stay of 8.6 days and a notable increase in expenditure. Factors such as good weather, family-friendly environments, and cultural resonance including the great arab legacy attract GCC travelers to Spain. Looking ahead to 2024, Spain aims to further consolidate its position as a top destination for Middle Eastern travelers through marketing campaigns, strategic alliances and multiple events. In line with this, Spain Tourism recently concluded a successful roadshow across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE, showcasing various regions and offerings of Spain to travel trade partners. The event facilitated networking and collaboration opportunities, emphasizing Spain’s commitment to providing unforgettable experiences for Middle Eastern travelers. Commenting on the success of the roadshow,Daniel Rosado, Director/Tourism Counsellor at Spain Tourism, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We are delighted with the positive response and engagement we received during our roadshow in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE. These regions hold immense potential for Spanish tourism, and our collaboration with travel trade partners has strengthened our commitment to providing unforgettable experiences for Middle Eastern travelers.” The roadshow aligns with Spain Tourism’s broader …