Saudi Arabia will grant visitor e-visas to travellers from eight newly-eligible countries: Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, South Africa, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan for leisure, business and religious (Umrah only) travel. Nationals of these countries can apply for a Saudi visitor visa ahead of their journey via the official e-visa portal at visitsaudi.com/en/travel-regulations Saudi is reimaging the tourism experience, with the famously warm and generous Saudi welcome – known as Hafawah – at the heart of its plans. The visitor e-visa is valid for an entire year, grants multiple entries and permits a stay of up to 90 days. And Visit Saudi offers an online trip planner for visitors to create custom itineraries with ease. From visiting Saudi’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, snorkeling and diving in Saudi’s Red Sea – one of the world’s most spectacular undiscovered diving spots, wandering Taif’s world-famous Rose Gardens, shopping like a local in Riyadh’s Deira Souq, chartering the unknown on land in the lush, green Asir region and tasting Saudi’s diverse and delicious culinary scene from fragrant Arabic dishes to internationally-renowned fine dining restaurants, there is something for everyone. Since launching the e-visa program in 2019, Saudi welcomed 93.5 million visits in 2022, a 93% increase compared to 2021, resulting in a tourism spend of SAR185 billion (USD49 billion). This rapid tourism growth is due to expanding visa initiatives, which now include 57 nations and two special administrative regions, compared to the initial 49 countries at the program’s launch. In 2022, Saudi extended regulations to provide a visitor e-visa to holders of valid Schengen, United Kingdom and United States of America visas that have been used to enter those countries before arriving in Saudi …

Abu Dhabi Airports announced that daily non-stop flights operated by Air France-KLM connecting Abu Dhabi and Paris will be resumed starting October 2023. The return of this route will create additional avenues for business, trade and tourism between Abu Dhabi and France. Abu Dhabi International Airport’s expanding network currently encompasses 114 passenger destinations in 61 countries with 23 airlines operating flights. Elena Sorlini, Abu Dhabi Airports’ Acting Chief Executive Officer, commented: “This renewed partnership between Abu Dhabi Airports and Air France contributes to bolstering the existing business relations between Paris and Abu Dhabi, while affirming our commitment to enhancing connectivity from and to the UAE’s capital. The highly anticipated resumption of flights reinforces Abu Dhabi International Airport’s standing as a gateway to the United Arab Emirates and the region. We look forward to catering to the diverse needs of travellers from France and facilitating commerce and cultural exchange between the two countries.” Angus Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Air France-KLM, added: “Air France is poised to reinstate daily non-stop service between Abu Dhabi and Paris, further connecting the United Arab Emirates to Europe and beyond. Abu Dhabi has emerged as a major and rapidly growing destination in the Middle East, and we are proud to join hands with such a reputable airport owner and operator to elevate the city’s global presence and attract travelers seeking unique and enriching experiences.”

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oman Investment Authority (OIA). The MoU is intended to expand cooperation and investment between the two entities, enabling new and promising investments in the Sultanate of Oman’s (Oman) rapidly growing economy. The MoU provides benefits and incentives for PIF and its portfolio companies, which intend to unlock investment opportunities in Oman. The MoU also represents a significant milestone in PIF’s and OIA’s strategic partnership as it aims to expand PIF’s portfolio in Oman, building on the recent establishment of the Saudi Omani Investment Company (SOIC), a PIF-wholly owned company, which intends to invest up to USD5 billion in promising sectors in Oman. SOIC recently closed its first investment in Oman as a 20% anchor investor in Abraj Energy Services’ IPO and continues to seek other investment opportunities with OIA and its companies. Through this MoU, PIF aims to streamline its investment activities in Oman across a wide range of asset classes and target industries. The OIA is expected to explore attractive investment opportunities for cooperation and partnership with PIF, in addition to providing all aspects of support required in the Omani market.

Fairmont Ramla serviced residences Riyadh, Fairmont’s first serviced residences in KSA, is now open to the public. With 249 exquisite residences, Fairmont Ramla seamlessly blends authentic Saudi heritage with modern luxury apartments, which range in size from spacious one-bedroom suites to four-bedroom penthouses. More than just a place to stay, Fairmont Ramla promises an unforgettable journey immersed in rich cultural details. Standing tall with its magnificent 35 floors, the property graces Riyadh’s skyline as a symbol of opulent living, offering an unparalleled experience and lifestyle. Jointly unveiled by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in partnership with Naif AL Rajhi Investment, this architectural masterpiece proudly resides in the vibrant heart of Riyadh, poised to become the epitome of sophistication and comfort for discerning travelers and families seeking a sense of home during extended stays. The hotel’s leisure facilities embody uncompromising luxury. Two stunning rooftop infinity pools reflect the azure skies, while two state-of-the-art gyms provide a haven for wellness for men and women. Atop these lavish amenities, guests are greeted with breathtaking vistas of Riyadh’s cityscape. Fairmont Ramla also caters to families, weaving a captivating tale of leisure. At the heart of this narrative lies the Falcon Kids Club, a sanctuary for our young guests aged 4-12. Within this enchanting world, children can enjoy educational and sporting adventures, allowing parents to steal away moments of relaxation.

SalamAir introduced non-stop flights between Fujairah and Salalah from last week. This new route brings the total number of destinations offered by SalamAir from Salalah to six, giving travellers convenient options to explore and enjoy the Khareef Season and beyond. Captain Mohamed Ahmed, the CEO of SalamAir, expressed excitement about the addition of this route, emphasizing the airline’s dedication to providing accessible and flexible travel choices for customers. With Salalah expecting a surge in tourism during the upcoming Khareef Season, SalamAir takes pride in offering flights to Salalah from their recently established Fujairah route. Now SalamAir connects Salalah to Muscat, Suhar, Madinah, Fujairah, Bahrain, and Calicut.

SAUDIA launched its first direct flight to Beijing, China, in collaboration with the Air Connectivity Program (ACP). This milestone falls in line with Saudi Aviation Strategy, which recognizes the importance of air connectivity in targeting key markets, such as China, and accommodating increasing demand from international tourists seeking to discover the treasures of Saudi Arabia. His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of SAUDIA Group said: “We are proud to expand our operations and offer new destinations to our guests. China is a very important route for SAUDIA, and the introduction of the new direct flights to and from Beijing not only boosts tourism but also strengthens the overall economic and cultural ties between the two nations. It facilitates increased travel, trade, and people-to-people exchanges, fostering stronger bilateral relations. Tourism is a pillar of Saudi Vision 2030, and China is ranked among the top global sources of tourists. This new route will be another large step forward towards Saudi Arabia’s ambitious economic diversification agenda and it can achieve much growth with more Chinese vacationers coming to the Kingdom.”

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority announces a record-breaking first six months, with the Emirate reporting its highest ever half-year arrival numbers, welcoming 600K visitors between January and June 2023, a total increase of 14.8%versus H1 2022 and the highest ever tourism-related revenue achieved for a half-year period.  Reinforcing its position as a destination of the future, the results follow a series of strategic investments, partnerships and initiatives to boost tourism, setting a path for continued growth in 2023 and beyond.

Hilton has announced plans to open over 50 new hotels across 10 of its brands, making the country the company’s largest pipeline market in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Commenting on Hilton’s growth in Saudi Arabia, Carlos Khneisser, Vice President, Development, Middle East & Africa, said: “Saudi Arabia’s rapid evolution continues to provide exciting growth opportunities for Hilton, and we’re working closely with our owners to introduce more award-winning hospitality brands in existing and new locations throughout the country. These latest signings are strong examples of our diversified growth in up-and-coming, large-scale developments such as Laysen Valley in Riyadh and our commitment to unlock tourism potential in the secondary cities.” Hilton has accelerated its growth strategy in Saudi Arabia in recent years, announcing multiple signings as the company works towards its plans to increase its portfolio to more than 75 trading properties across the country. The latest of these signings include Conrad Hotels & Resorts entry into the heart of the Saudi capital with Conrad Riyadh Laysen Valley, which is set to open in 2025. Hilton’s growth continues in secondary cities, with the recent signings in Abha, Hilton The Point Residences and Canopy by Hilton The Point, both due to open in 2026. With plans to more than quadruple its presence in Saudi Arabia over the next few years, Hilton is working closely with leading owners and developers to enhance business and leisure travel destinations throughout the country.

Efficient air connectivity between the UAE and China witnessed over one million travellers from China in 2019. Post pandemic as the region awaits the return of Chinese travellers, “many Chinese now look for new destinations, they can include Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia etc.” shared Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt, CEO China Outbound Tourism Research Institute and CEO Meaningful Tourism Center  with TBN at a recent interview. He further reiterated, “after three long years, China’s borders opened up again in early 2023. Business travellers and students started to go abroad immediately, leisure tourists had to renew their passports and in many cases are currently waiting for the processing of their visa application. Not more than half of the air routes from and to China have been re-established and air ticket prices are only slowly falling. As a result, in the first half of 2023, China’s outbound travel restarted slower than expected: Less than 25 million Chinese crossed the border, compared to 90 million in the first half of 2019.  Fortunately, all surveys and forward booking numbers show that the 100 million Chinese citizens affluent enough to travel long distance and the 200 million Chinese who can afford a trip within the region are eager and willing to spend their travel budgets as soon as it becomes possible again. In 2024 China will be again the No. 1 international tourism source market in the world. However, the needs and expectations as well as travel motivations and behaviour changed profoundly during the pandemic, with shopping, package tours and sightseeing losing out to activities, authentic experiences, local culture and gastronomy, special interest tours and the discovery of new destinations.”

Travelport announced that New Distribution Capability (NDC) content from British Airways is now live on the Travelport+ platform. With Travelport, British Airways is delivering simplified access to NDC content to agents, so that travel retailers can easily book and service NDC offers for their customers. The content is available as of today in the UK and Ireland and will be followed by a global rollout for Travelport+ users around the world. “We’re delighted that, together with Travelport, we’re now providing agents with a view of all our products and dynamic fares. With everything all in one place, we are empowering agents to take control of a wide range of content available to them for a more efficient and seamless booking experience,” said Ian Romanis, British Airways’ Director of Retail and Customer Relationship Management. The Content Curation Layer (CCL) within Travelport+ is driven by powerful artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning capabilities in order to provide more accurate, relevant results for a faster, more streamlined booking experience for travel retailers. Agents using Travelport+ will be able to easily search, compare, book and service British Airways’ content all in one place, with access to a wide range of rich content, fares, and unique offerings with just a few simple keystrokes. “Now that we have more content from different sources live in Travelport+, like British Airways NDC, agents can easily manage all aspects of their clients’ travel within a single view of product features, dynamic offers and ancillaries,” said Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Partners at Travelport.  “Travelport+ was designed to revolutionize the way airlines distribute their products by connecting suppliers directly with travel agents around the world through one unified platform. Following …