The Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) celebrated a successful return to Arabian Travel Market (ATM) with the exclusive announcement of two high profile strategic partnerships on the second day of the region’s leading travel trade fair. The announcements were officially presented at a press conference on the GNTO stand hosted by His Excellency, The General Secretary of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, Dimitrios Fragakis, and comes as the national tourism body steps up its efforts to promote Greek tourism across the region ahead of the summer travel period by showcasing the exceptional weather and diverse experiences on offer to visitors throughout the year under the Greek sun. The GNTO is partnering with Qatar Airways to promote new direct routes to Greece as part of its ongoing commitment to offering seamless connectivity for passengers looking to enjoy as many one-stop connections as possible. The popular Greek island of Santorini, with one of the most famous views in the world, will join high-demand flights to Athens and Mykonos to become the third destination to be served in Greece by Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways and the GNTO will run a dedicated media campaign to raise awareness among audiences in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with a focus on the unique, money can’t buy experiences that only Greece has to offer. The campaign will also target potential travelers from as far afield as Australia. The first flight to Santorini is scheduled to depart from Doha’s Hamad International Airport, voted the world’s best airport in 2021, on 7th June 2022. The new flights will further increase the already strong connectivity that Greece enjoys with the EMEA region, with existing routes including regular and seasonal …

Tourism Malaysia, the promotion board under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia, is participating once again in the Arabian Travel Market with the country’s tourism trade partners, to promote Malaysia to the Middle Eastern market. Showcasing the latest attractions and destinations for shopping, family fun, eco-adventure, honeymoons, luxury holidays, Malaysia will also underscore its reputation as a safe travel destination. The prestigious annual event is once again being held at Dubai World Trade Centre, from 9th to 12th May. This year, the Malaysian delegation is led by The Honourable Minister Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. The Malaysia Pavilion consists of 64 delegates representing 32 organisations, eager to meet key industry buyers from the Middle East. Malaysia reopened its borders to international tourists on 1st April 2022. Commenting, Dato’ Sri Nancy said, “It was indeed a significant milestone for our tourism industry as we welcome more international visitors, first time and returning visitors alike, to further boost our economy. Now that our borders are fully open again, we are confident that we will witness a strong rebound in tourism numbers, to bolster the recovery of our economy. We estimate two million international tourist arrivals this year generating more than RM8.6 billion (AED7.5 billion) in tourism receipts.” Pre-pandemic, in 2019, Malaysia received 397,726 tourists from MENA region. Saudi Arabia was Malaysia’s top market, accounting for 121,444 tourists, more than 30% of arrivals, from the West Asia and North African regions, an 8.2% increase over the previous year. The Malaysian delegation is comprised of hotels and resorts, travel agents, tourism product owners, and representatives from state tourism boards. During the four-day event, they will …

The Indian Traveller: Writing the global recovery sequel organised byTravTalk India will take place at ATM Global Stage on Thursday, 12th May from 10:30 – 11:15 moderated by San Jeet, CEO DDP Group. Pent-up demand and eagerness to travel are terms that are very often used for Indian outbound travel. Yes, the Indian traveller is raging to go and wants to travel the world. This segment is quick to rebound, remains strong, and has the spending capacity. Luxury has become the new mantra for Indian traveller. Research shows that the frequency to travel has increased and the spending is going up. Will the Indian outbound traveller replace the Chinese traveller from the pre-pandemic world? What does the Indian traveller now expect and what can international brands do to welcome them with open arms? Let’s discuss this further with stalwarts from the Indian outbound sector who can highlight these new trends and redefine the new and evolved Indian traveller.

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) unveiled the latest developments taking place in the Emirate of Sharjah’s tourism projects and future plans at a press conference it held on day two of Arab Travel Market (ATM) 2022, taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 9 to 12. ATM aims to shed light on the future of the global travel and tourism industry, in addition to exploring ways to address existing challenges and capitalise on available opportunities. Held at the Sharjah Pavilion at ATM 2022, the press conference brought together His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA; Her Excellency Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah (EPAA); H.E. Ali Salem Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah International Airport Authority, and Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), along with officials from various government entities and representatives of local and international media outlets. Speaking at the conference, H.E. Al Midfa said: “In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to advance the emirate’s position as a prominent family tourism destination on the global tourism map, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority works closely and continuously with its strategic partners in the government and private sectors to implement projects and initiatives that allow the emirate to offer innovative, one-of-a-kind and diverse tourism experiences to visitors from around the world.” “Our leadership’s constant support paved the way for Sharjah to make immense progress in recent years in terms of major tourism projects across cities and villages …

Seera Group and Amadeus together launched new technology in Saudi Arabia to improve the post-booking experience for customers. Seera Group recently introduced Amadeus’ advanced post-booking technology solutions to the Kingdom which provide numerous optimisation benefits including drastically reducing the time needed to re-issue tickets across all Seera’s omni-channel touch points by automating the process. Requests for ticket changes, whether made via Seera’s travel verticals on booking platforms, call centres, in-branch, or WhatsApp channels, can now be processed in less than five minutes. The new technology solutions, which include ticket changing technology and robotics auto ticketing module, address a longstanding issue in the travel industry which has previously had to grapple with time-consuming and convoluted processes to provide tickets to customers. With the number of manual steps and time required for bookings and passenger name record now reduced, Seera agents are able to refocus their time on serving their customers. Amadeus’ technology solutions ensure booking accuracy and also provide round-the-clock support. Jamel Chandoul, Senior Vice President, Amadeus Travel Sellers, Middle East and Africa, said, “Automation plays a key role in freeing Seera agents from time consuming manual tasks and allowing them to stay focused on their customers. Our long-lasting partnership with Seera is grounded in bringing them the technology they need to continue strengthening their position as leaders in the Kingdom.” In addition to being the first to use Amadeus’ post-booking technologies for reissuing tickets in the Kingdom, Seera Group is also the first to use these technologies to issue and reissue tickets for Saudi government entities, reflecting Seera’s leading digital capabilities. The advanced post-booking technology solutions were specially developed by Amadeus to meet the needs of Seera Group and its …

GCC travellers are looking to make up for lost time when it comes to travel, with the anticipation of new experiences dominating conversations, according to research revealed yesterday at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 by leading consumer intelligence company D/A. The research is based on the analysis of over four million social media posts and comments from more than two million Arabic-speaking unique users in the GCC. The number of travel conversations and posts about travel increased by 110% and 151%, respectively, between 2019 and 2021. Speaking on the ATM Global Stage on Tuesday, 10 May, Paul Kelly, Managing Partner, D/A, said: “Travel conversations increased to over 1.3 million in 2021, underscoring the willingness by Arabic speakers in the GCC to travel, regardless of age or nationality. We are ultimately witnessing the pent-up demand from the last two years coming to the fore as borders reopen, flights are back on track and restrictions are lifted.” GCC travellers have a vital role in tourism recovery, a direct result of their spending power. According to the UNWTO, GCC travellers spend 6.5 times more than the global average, with 40% of GCC travellers spending more than AED36,700 on their last trip to Europe. Travellers from Saudi Arabia are reportedly the highest travel spenders globally. “Overall, when it comes to the GCC traveller, the conversations indicate that something new is the order of the moment. Even in the familiar, a new experience is at the top of the wish list for those intent on travelling soon – a huge change from what we have seen in the past year or two,” Kelly added. In terms of holiday preference, the consensus is on escaping …

29th edition of the Arabian Travel Market concluded day two with great success. According to some of the exhibitors this year’s ATM is one of the best in terms of business meetings. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group and Chairman of Dubai World shared that Dubai continues to strengthen its position at the forefront of global travel and tourism recovery by hosting global events that bring together decision-makers in the sector from across the region and the globe, contributing to worldwide efforts to open new growth horizons for the industry. Dubai’s ability to provide a safe environment for both tourism and prominent global events over the past two years and its success in overcoming the repercussions of the recent worldwide health crisis have enabled it to welcome large numbers of visitors from all over the world. “Dubai provides a unique model for sustainable development that not only promotes economic progress within the nation but also stimulates growth in the region and broader global markets. The Arabian Travel Market provides a vital platform for tourism and travel industry leaders in the Middle East and across the world to connect and network with each other and discover new opportunities for growth, collaboration and success,” he said. Taking place from Monday 9 to Thursday 12 May, this year’s event is more than 85% larger than ATM 2021 in terms of floorspace, with growth in every single region. ATM 2022 features 1,500 exhibitors, representatives from 158 global destinations, and an anticipated 20,000 attendees. The live show will be followed by ATM Virtual, which will …

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s latest Economic Impact Report (EIR) reveals the Travel & Tourism sector in the Middle East is expected to create nearly 3.6 million new jobs over the next decade. The forecast from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which shows an average of 360,000 new jobs every year, also reveals the sector will lead the region’s economic recovery, with its average annual growth set to outpace the overall economy for the next 10 years. According to the report, Travel & Tourism’s GDP is forecasted to grow at an average rate of 7.7% annually between 2022-2032, three times the 2.5% growth rate for region’s overall economy, to reach nearly US$ 540 billion (10.1% of the total economy). The sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to grow more than 36% to over US$ 256 billion by the end of 2022, amounting to 6.5% of the total economic GDP, while employment in the sector is set to grow by 8.7% this year to reach over six million jobs. The global tourism body’s annual report also shows further optimism for the region’s Travel & Tourism GDP, which could almost reach pre-pandemic levels by 2023 – just 2.5% below 2019 levels. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “After a very difficult couple of years, the future is looking brighter with Travel & Tourism expected to create 3.6 million new jobs across the Middle East over the next decade. “Looking to this year and the next, the outlook is more positive with both GDP and employment set to almost reach pre-pandemic levels. “The recovery of the sector in the Middle East last year was certainly slower than expected, due …

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group and Chairman of Dubai World, today officially inaugurated Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022, marking the start of the 29th edition of the Middle East’s largest travel and tourism exhibition. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed said Dubai continues to strengthen its position at the forefront of global travel and tourism recovery by hosting global events that bring together decision-makers in the sector from across the region and the globe, contributing to worldwide efforts to open new growth horizons for the industry. Dubai’s ability to provide a safe environment for both tourism and prominent global events over the past two years and its success in overcoming the repercussions of the recent worldwide health crisis have enabled it to welcome large numbers of visitors from all over the world. “Dubai provides a unique model for sustainable development that not only promotes economic progress within the nation but also stimulates growth in the region and broader global markets. The Arabian Travel Market provides a vital platform for tourism and travel industry leaders in the Middle East and across the world to connect and network with each other and discover new opportunities for growth, collaboration and success,” he said. HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed was accompanied at the inauguration by His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); Vasyl Zhygalo, Portfolio Director, RX Global; Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director Middle East, ATM; and a host of other VIPs who embarked on a tour of the show floor as the four-day event …

Jumeirah Group has officially launched the Jumeirah Airport Lounge at Dubai International (DXB), located at the heart of Terminal 3 Arrivals. Designed to deliver the Group’s signature hospitality and encourage guests to relax and enjoy their first moments in the city, the Jumeirah Airport Lounge offers travellers a taste of the brand’s renowned hospitality and Dubai’s seven-star luxury. A unique addition to the brand’s list of innovative offerings, the announcement comes as the global travel and tourism industry prepares to gather at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 in Dubai to discuss the future of travel and tourism. Welcoming those with reservations or those looking to book on arrival, the lounge invites guests to start their leisure or business experience from the moment they arrive in its impressive 250sqm salon. Modelled in the style of one of the brand’s luxurious presidential suites, it features an array of services and amenities specially curated to give visitors and guests an unforgettable experience. Exuding warm hospitality, the new airport lounge offers culinary creations inspired by its signature dining destinations as well as lavish surroundings combining contemporary furnishings with striking artworks from Emirati artist, Mattar bin Lahej – the artist behind the Museum of the Future calligraphy, and young up and coming Portuguese artist Ana d’Castro. José Silva, Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group, said: “We are immensely proud that, in partnership with Dubai Airports, we have created an exceptional arrival experience unlike any other, with the Jumeirah Airport Lounge. Beautifully designed in the style of a presidential suite, the lounge caters to indulgent comfort and functional needs of the modern-day traveller. It demonstrates the importance we place on the entire guest journey, ensuring …