Tourism strategy

Sheikh Mohammed launches national tourism strategy to boost competitiveness

The strategy aims to attract new investments worth Dhs100bn to the country’s tourism sector

Almosafer

Saudi’s Almosafer partners with Visit Oman to boost sultanate’s inbound tourism

Almosafer’s consumer business will run a 360 marketing campaign throughout 2023 to promote Oman to its customer base in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE

DCT Abu Dhbai Hotelbeds tie up

DCT Abu Dhabi, Hotelbeds partner to promote Abu Dhabi in key markets

The strategic partnership will increase awareness of the emirate among Hotelbeds’ network of travel agents and partners

Japan

Emiratis can travel to Japan without a visa from November 1

The decision coincides with the launch of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the UAE and Japan

Ennismore to build hotels at the Ski Village in TROJENA, NEOM

NEOM Hotel Development names Ennismore as inaugural hotel partner for Trojena

Morgans Originals and 25hours Hotels will be the first two Ennismore brands to be unveiled at Trojena by NEOM

Saudi’s Seera Group to operate inbound charter flights to the kingdom

Flights will operate from November 2022 through to March 2023

Dubai Safari Park_pic courtesy Dubai Media Office

Dubai Safari Park opens for 2022-2023 season on Sept 27

The park will be open every day, from 9am to 5pm, during the new season

Digital Vat-refund scheme launched in UAE_ Photo courtesy WAM

UAE’s Federal Tax Authority, Planet Tax Free launch digital VAT-refund scheme for tourists

The 100 per cent paperless process is expected to save more than 16,800 trees per year and more than 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions

Saudi wealth fund to build $412m stake in local tourism firm

The Public Investment Fund signed a pact to acquire a 30 per cent stake in Almosafer Travel & Tourism

NBA Abu Dhabi Games- DCT Abu Dhabi

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games are set to dazzle UAE’s basketball fans on Oct 6 and 8

Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, DG for Tourism, DCT – Abu Dhabi, tells Gulf Business about the upcoming NBA matches in the emirate, the tourism authority’s partnership with NBA and Abu Dhabi’s role as a global sporting hub

UAE cabinet

UAE cabinet approves new law regulating public-private sector partnerships

The cabinet also approved the temporary licensing of the first electric cargo aircraft

Israel

Calev’s Newsroom: Bridging ties between UAE and Israel through tourism

Israel must develop effective marketing campaigns for Emirati travellers

AMAALA

Amaala project pushes forward, over 300 contracts signed worth more than $1.7bn: Red Sea Development Company

Work is underway on-site to develop the destination, with more than 2,400 staff already on site and 9.9 million manhours logged to date

Saudi Arabia offers electronic tourist visa to GCC residents

The new regulation bolsters the kingdom’s aim to welcome 100 million visitors a year by 2030

Qatar Tourism opens rep office in Tehran

Qatar Tourism opens first representative office in Tehran

Qatar aims to welcome over six million international visitors a year by 2030

FIFA World Cup

UAE to offer multiple-entry tourist visa to visitors attending FIFA World Cup 2022

The visa, which costs Dhs100, can be extended for an additional 90 days

QatarTourism campaign_David Beckham

Qatar Tourism launches new holiday campaign featuring David Beckham

The campaign reveals Beckham’s adventures around the country over the course of 48 hours

Seera Group announces Q2 2022 results

Saudi travel services provider Seera Group reports strong growth in Q2 2022

Seera Group’s gross booking value increased by 108 per cent to SAR2.5bn in Q2 2022, up from SAR1.2bn in Q2 2021

Saudi Arabia introduces new tourism law

Saudi Arabia’s new tourism law aims to boost business, investment and innovation

Saudi Arabia recently issued the Regional Tourism Development Councils Regulation to boost tourism in areas like NEOM, the Red Sea and Diriyah Gate

Tourist project

In pics: UAE President, regional leaders inspect tourism project in Egypt

The leaders were briefed about the five-star hotel which features several tourist facilities

Travel demand returns GettyImages-1297964713

UAE, Saudi Arabia travellers prefer premium travel experiences, reveals study

According to Collinson, the most popular travel benefits among respondents were loyalty rewards, airport lounge access and frequent flyer rewards

Dubai Airport

Dubai Airport expects full recovery next year amid travel surge

Dubai attracted 86.4 million travellers in 2019

Qatar-Tourism-launches-specialist-programme-pic-courtesy-Qatar-Tourism-

Qatar Tourism launches ‘Specialist Programme’ to upskill global travel trade partners 

The Specialist Programme aims to enhance participants’ skills and knowledge of Qatar’s tourism offerings

Dubai welcomes 71.12 million overnight tourists Pic courtesy WAM

Dubai attracts 7.12 million international visitors between January and June: DET

Dubai tourist numbers closed in on pre-pandemic levels with a growth of more than 183 per cent year-on-year in H1 2022, according to data from DET

Hamad International Airport Doha

Qatar’s Hamad International Airport records 164% rise in passenger footfall in H1 2022

According to Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, HIA recorded 15.6 million passengers in the first half of this year

Airbnb readies $2bn buyback on surge in travel demand

Airbnb readies $2bn buyback on surge in travel demand

The San Francisco-based home-rental company said that nights and experiences booked in the second quarter rose 25 per cent to 103.7m

Sharjah Tourism launches holiday homes project

Sharjah tourism authority launches ‘Holiday Homes Project’

The first year of the project will see the registration and licensing of 150 holiday homes

Etihad Airways records $296m first-half profit

Etihad Airways reports core operating profit of $296m in H1 2022, as travel demand recovers

Eithad Airways carried 4.02 million passengers in H1 2022, over 3 million more than last year, with an average seat load factor of 75 per cent

Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund, Ennismore, Al Rajhi Capital establish hospitality investment fund

The tripartite agreement aims to establish a hospitality investment fund, with a capital of SAR1.5bn, to support the growth of the hospitality and tourism sectors in Saudi Arabia

Emirates statement on operations at London Heathrow

UK-UAE travel: Emirates to start third flight to London Gatwick to meet demand

The third daily flight will help serve high demand from customers travelling to and from London this summer