Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) announces its comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Destination Strategy that will see the nature-based Emirate become the regional leader in environmentally conscious tourism by 2025. The strategy maps out key steps for the Emirate to secure long-term sustainability that will drive overall tourism growth objectives and contribute directly to national and international climate change and environmental policy commitments. The guiding principles for Sustainable Tourism in Ras Al Khaimah include: delivering authentic tourism experiences through preservation and conservation, taking an industry wide focus that provides both economic productivity and sustainable development, improving the quality of life and well-being of citizens and residents with a community based approach and setting environmental goals based minimizing the industry’s carbon footprint and contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Commenting on the launch of the new strategy, Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “the far-reaching effects of the pandemic brought into razor focus the need more so than ever to accelerate our environmental tourism agenda.  However, instead of focusing only on one area – the environment – we broadened our approach to address all areas of sustainability ranging from cultural preservation, employee mental well-being to industry wide protocols and carbon emission goals.” He further added: “With the theme ‘Rise Together’ at this year’s Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), the time is right to signal to industry investors that sustainable considerations need to be top of mind for long term investment and hospitality development in a destination.” The Sustainable Tourism Destination Strategy follows the Authority’s earlier announcement of over 20 new sustainable tourism initiatives across the Emirate marking an investment of half a billion dirhams in …

flydubai announced the new dates for the launch of flights to Cluj-Napoca in Romania. The airline will operate twice-weekly flights between Dubai International (DXB) and Avram Iancu International Airport Cluj (CLJ) starting from 03 November 2021. flydubai operates a daily service between Dubai International (DXB) and Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP), the service will increase to a double daily operation from November. With the start of flights to Cluj-Napoca in November, the carrier will serve the Romanian market with a total of 16 weekly flights. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “we first started operating to Bucharest with four flights a week in 2012. Since then, flydubai has more than tripled its operations to the market as demand has grown for commercial and cargo traffic between Romania and the UAE. We are excited to offer more options for convenient direct airlinks to the market with the start of our flights to Cluj-Napoca and we look forward to further stimulating travel and trade flows in both directions.” Cluj-Napoca is the second largest city in Romania with one of the most dynamic economies in the country and is the largest centre for innovation and business opportunities in Transylvania. Avram Iancu International Airport Cluj (CLJ) is considered an important gateway to the north-western region of Romania. Located 10 kilometres east from Cluj-Napoca’s city centre, the airport is close to the most important attractions of the city; also known as “The heart of Transylvania.” Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, added: “flydubai’s new service will offer more than 3.5 million people, living within few hours drive from the airport, the convenience of direct airlinks to Dubai. There …

Qatar Airways is pleased to announce its participation on the Global Coalition for Sustainable Aviation of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), becoming the first airline in the Middle East to join the global coalition, reaffirming its commitment to work together with the relevant industry stakeholders, such as manufacturers, academia, governments and non-government organisations towards aviation decarbonisation and promoting sustainable air transport. The ICAO Global Coalition promotes sustainable international aviation, acting as a forum through which stakeholders can develop new ideas and accelerate innovative solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the source. It also aims to provide input into the development and implementation of a basket of measures and the exploration of a long-term environmental objective related to international aviation. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “It is innovation that will drive the industry forward for a sustainable future. I strongly believe that the ICAO Global Coalition for Sustainable Aviation will allow industry-leading partners to pursue collaborative creation and drive innovation together. Qatar Airways is looking forward to being a strategic collaborator in the coalition. We expect to work together with other members in developing ideas and strategies to facilitate a further acceleration of innovative green technologies, taking us a step closer towards net zero emissions.” The coalition includes stakeholders working on a broad array of topics related to sustainable aviation, including sustainable aviation fuels, infrastructure, operations, and technology, and it looks for trendsetters when identifying new potential members. Its focus areas include, raising awareness of the continuing progress made towards in-sector CO2 emissions reduction from international aviation, building on existing leaderships and champions, as well as strengthening current partnerships and innovations. Qatar Airways will to be …

As the countdown begins for the third edition of the Gulf Travel Show, Malaysia pledges partnership as the platinum sponsors for the event. The Malaysia pavilion will include eleven partners, Langkawi development authority (LADA), Adya hotel Langkawi, Westin Langkawi resort and Spa, Dayang Bay Resort Langkawi, Panorama Langkawi Sdn Bhd, Rebak Island Resort, Tropical Charters Sdn Bhd, Berjaya Langkawi Resort, Naam Sdn Bhd, Mega Water Sports and Aloft Langkawi Pantai Tengah. The success of the first two editions in November 2020 and March 2021 subsequently, led to its third edition of the region’s most popular virtual event, the coveted Gulf Travel Show 2021. Recording over 50 exhibitors, 2,100 one-on-one meetings, 1,500 visitors which included travel agents, tour operators, tourism boards, airlines, hotels, travel management companies, international agencies and media, the event has kept the momentum of the industry on a proactive level. Special sessions with industry experts The third edition promises an exciting line up of experts from the fields of travel, aviation, and hospitality as they share their insightful views with engaging panel discussions. Space tourism has caught on the Middle East market with the first astronaut from the UAE and then the recent expedition by Jeff Bezos has created a new emerging trend. YouGov will be sharing the research and data of this new venture at one of the sessions at the Gulf Travel Show. Buyer programme  The programme for hosted buyers is one of enthusiasm as each buyer has the opportunity to take one step further and secure their position to derive all pertinent information. Motivating engagement between the buyers and exhibitors, the leaderboard play a vital role in ensuring that the information is not just disseminated but …

With ease of travel restrictions, Oman Air Holidays has partnered with National Bank of Oman (NBO) to offer cardholders an exclusive 10% discount on packages and services. Valid across an extensive network of domestic and international destinations, and including accommodation, flight tickets, car rental, tours, and airport transfers, the discount can be attained simply by using any NBO card when booking and paying through the Oman Air Holidays call centre. Mundher Al Shaikhani​, Senior Manager Oman Air Holidays, said, “As Oman’s leading ‘Fly & Stay’ travel gateway, we offer a wide variety of holiday tours and packages that combine the best in hospitality, leisure and tourism and offer exceptional value-for-money. NBO shares our customer-centric vision and we are looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership that provides our customers with even more rewarding travel experiences.” Maha Al Raisi, Head of Products at NBO, added, “At NBO, we strive to provide our customers with unique lifestyle benefits, simply for banking with us. We’re excited to have partnered with Oman Air Holidays, as a brand that our customers know and love. With people starting to travel again, the options and discounts provided is one way of helping them enjoy their holiday a little bit more.” Oman Air Holidays offers unique Oman experiences and other exciting Oman Air destinations, and is committed to providing the best holiday experience for guests through a range of diverse, fully customizable packages. Services include accommodation, air tickets, car rentals, FITs (foreign independent tours) adventures and sports activities, tour guide, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), special event tickets and services, tours and sightseeing, airport transfers, and many more. Oman Air Holidays Stopover Packages offer transit passengers a taste …

From 16 to 23 September, Etihad Airways will host a pop-up stand at Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates, showcasing the award-winning Etihad experience, and offering incredible discounts. Located in the lower ground floor of Mall of the Emirates, Etihad’s stand is giving customers an exclusive taste of what to expect when flying with Etihad. The stand is open daily from 10am to 10pm on weekdays and until midnight on weekends offering activities to entertain children too. Those itching to travel again can get an incredible 50% discount on their next flight by booking at the stand. Amina Taher, Vice President Brand, Marketing and Sponsorship at Etihad Airways, said: “Etihad introduced this unique initiative to give customers of all ages the opportunity to learn more about Etihad’s award-winning inflight experience. Following the government’s announcement to remove the quarantine requirement for all vaccinated travellers arriving in Abu Dhabi from abroad, we are taking the opportunity to inspire guests to travel again. Our guests are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re excited to give an incredible 50% discount on all tickets booked at the stand to make this as rewarding as possible.” Visitors to the Etihad stand can also receive unique discount codes of up to 25% for future bookings. Discounts are available for bookings in Economy, Business and First class for travel until 8 December 2021. To celebrate this initiative, between 16 and 30 September, all members of the SHARE prorgamme can transfer SHARE points to Etihad Guest Miles and earn 50% bonus miles. Customers who are not yet members of the airline’s loyalty programme can scan the QR code to become an Etihad Guest Member and earn 1,000 welcome bonus miles. …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), in collaboration with globally renowned creative experience company Semi Permanent, has unveiled the full line-up for a first-in-region creativity festival, which is set to host an array of global talent from the design, retail, branding, fashion and technology industries.  Tickets are now available for Semi Permanent Middle East, which will run from 14 – 16 October 2021 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and feature world-renowned performers including Mark Ronson, the Oscar and Grammy-winning songwriter, record producer and DJ, who will perform an exclusive DJ set. The event will also house an array of inspiring, immersive and multi-sensory experiences, including the first international pop-up by famed New York restaurant and bar The Flower Shop; La Rosa Social Club, an exhibition of works by leading contemporary, US-based artists, including Kahlil Joseph, Ryan McGinley and Johanna Jackson; and Refik Anadol, the Turkish-American new media artist, will debut a mesmeric, data-driven digital artwork in a stunning, all-encompassing LED format. Accompanying the stellar international line-up will be many of the Middle East’s standout creative talents, including musician Dana Hourani, artist Jason Seife, Les Benjamins founder and creative director Bunyamin Aydin, and photographer Hussain AlMoosawi, adding a local flavour to the event. “Our strategic partnership with Semi Permanent will unite a who’s who of international talent and cutting-edge powerhouses from across the world’s creative landscape, right here in Abu Dhabi,” said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi. “This exciting new addition to Abu Dhabi’s increasingly diverse events calendar underlines the emirate’s role as both an enabler and a beacon of innovation for the regional design, business and …

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arms of the Department of Tourism (DOT), announced the opening of registration for the 20th edition of the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX), known as the biggest government organised travel trade event in the country. For the second year in a row, PHITEX will be held as a hybrid event in light of the pandemic with Subic Bay as the new venue for the online business-to-business (B2B) sessions and networking scheduled to take place on September 19-23. This year’s theme will highlight safe, smart, and sustainable tourism as part of the TPB’s strategic marketing plan for the new normal. “Last year’s PHITEX was about pivoting as we had to face the challenges of going hybrid and leveraging on technology more than ever to conduct our business. Thankfully, it was a resounding success, so we are very much excited to pick up where we left off but with a clearer perspective this time around because we are not longing to adjust. We are about moving forward and making significant decisions that will create a better normal for the industry,” TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones said. PHITEX 2020 was held as a hybrid event for the first time in Panglao, Bohol being one of the first tourism destinations to reopen during the pandemic. Apart from the virtual B2B sessions, the event featured online games, quizzes, and a curated virtual tour of the City of Manila. The event also established 3,946 contacts, generated 1,205 leads, and secured 76 on-site bookings with a projected revenue of over PHP 42 million. This year, PHITEX is targeting more than a hundred buyers and sellers. Philippine …

Emirates has announced it has resumed scheduled passenger services to Manila, Clark and Cebu. With the lifting of the ban on travellers from the UAE by the Philippines authorities, which took effect on September 6, the airline has resumed seven weekly services to and from Manila, while five weekly flights to Clark and twice weekly flights to Cebu are available for Filipinos and foreign nationals to book. Services to all three gateways in the Philippines are operated with the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, in a two-class configuration for Manila and offering seats in Business Class and Economy Class, while for Clark and Cebu flights seats in First Class, Business Class and Economy Class will be available for passengers. As mandated by the authorities, restrictions apply on the number of passengers per flight to points in the Philippines, remaining in effect until further notice. Passengers can book tickets on www.emirates.com/ph, Emirates mobile app, via Emirates sales offices or preferred travel agents. For more details on entry protocols and requirements to destinations in the Philippines, customers are encouraged to check the travel requirements page on emirates.com/ph. In addition to the commercial flights, Emirates has also obtained the approval from the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines to operate Special Commercial flights in September to Manila. The airline will be operating special “Bayanihan” flights on EK332 on September 18 and 25, to provide additional capacity for citizens wishing to fly home from the UAE. For bookings, customers in the UAE can contact +9714 274 9199. Only Filipino citizens currently in the UAE will be eligible to book seats on the special flights, and the following requirements will apply: All passengers …

Radisson Hotel Group, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has set a record in its North African expansion, with the signing of nine hotels, to date this year. This has boosted the Group’s North Africa portfolio, comprising of of the Maghreb countries along with Libya and Egypt, to over 30 hotels in operation and under development, placing them firmly on track to reach over 50 hotels by 2025. Alban Mabille de Poncheville, Director, Development, North Africa at Radisson Hotel Group says, “We are delighted to be leading the market in North African hotel expansion, setting a record for ourselves and the industry. Our flagship brand, Radisson Blu, has been one of the leading brands in the region and as we continue to grow and diversify across North Africa, we look forward to capitalizing on our brand name and introducing new brands in the area such as Radisson, in the upscale segment and Radisson Collection, our entry level luxury brand. The market has shown a great potential in various segments but also in different product types, from resorts to city hotels but also serviced apartments and boutique hotel offerings. We aim to further accelerate our presence across all North African countries and key cities and also expand in new touristic areas as recently announced with the launch of our resort offerings across Morocco.” In response to the need for independent hotel owners to gain further brand exposure and consumer confidence, the group launched a new brand, Radisson Individuals, aimed at individual hotels with strong service scores and existing hotel identities who wish to remain independent or may be considering overtime transitioning to one of the group’s core brands. Mabille de …