Category Archives: Agents

Akbar Travels announced its collaboration with Saudi Tourism Authority recently, which will unlock many new experiences in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Speaking with tourism breaking news, Ashiya Nazar Director GCC Akbar Travels shared, “Akbar Travels is delighted to announce a game-changing marketing collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority. Together, we are set to unlock extraordinary travel experiences, showcasing the wonders of Saudi Arabia to the world. Get ready to embark on a journey like no other and discover the captivating charm of Saudi Arabia!”  

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has signed another partnership agreement with Almosafer, Saudi Arabia’s leading travel company (part of Seera Group) to boost inbound tourism to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its multiple business operating under the Almosafer umbrella. Under the agreement, Almosafer will promote inbound tourism to the Kingdom from the GCC through its consumer segment. Almosafer will also promote inbound tourism to its B2B customers in the Middle East and North Africa region through Mawasim, its Hajj and Umrah tour operator, and through Discover Saudi, its destination management company. The agreement was signed by Fahad Alobailan, Chief Tourism Officer at Almosafer, and Munirah Abanomy, Head of Marketing Partnerships for Middle East & Africa at the Saudi Tourism Authority, at the Saudi Pavilion at the Arabian Travel Market. Fahad Alobailan, Chief Tourism Officer at Almosafer, said: “We continue to build on our longstanding relationship with the STA, working together to achieve the goals of Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia has a plethora of incredible cultural, natural, historical and religious attractions that are drawing in an increasing number of international tourists. We have seen a significant increase in demand for inbound tourism to the Kingdom and we will continue our role in enabling this continued growth.” Commenting on this agreement, Abdulkarim Aldarwish, President of the Middle East & Africa Markets at the Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “The Saudi Tourism Authority is keen to conclude fruitful agreements and strategic partnerships with major travel companies in the Kingdom. We look forward to achieving our common strategic goals and working to empower and advance business growth for our partners in the private tourism sector in the Kingdom. Through the agreement with Almosafer, we …

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) has signed a partnership agreement with Bondai, a one-stop travel app that empowers friends and groups alike to plan unique experiences and adventures around the Kingdom. The travel app provides a trustworthy and safe digital ecosystem to help users to plan their next trip including access to flights, transportation, accommodation, and activities. From mountain hikes and camping around a campfire, to snorkelling in marine-life rich waters, Bondai enables travellers to explore popular spots and hidden gems all around the country. As part of the MoU, which was signed by Mrs. Manal Alshehri, VP Passenger Sales at SAUDIA and Mrs. Saria Elderhali, CEO of Bondai during the 2023 Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, SAUDIA will collaborate with the technology travel company to provide best-in-class tours and experiences. The partnership forms an important part of SAUDIA’s commitment to supporting inbound tourism within the Kingdom as the ‘wings of Vision 2030’. Mrs. Manal Alshehri, said: “At SAUDIA we are deeply committed to collaborating with innovative partners that share our mission to transform Saudi Arabia into a world-class tourism hub. As part of Vision 2030 there are plans to raise the contribution of the tourism sector to more than ten percent of GDP in addition to providing one million job opportunities within the Kingdom. We are dedicated to further bolstering this promising sector by contributing to unique experiences and trips that bring the very best of Saudi Arabia to travellers everywhere.” From Bondai, Founder & CEO Ms. Saria Alderhali commented “I am thrilled to be partnering with Saudia Holidays. This partnership marks a major milestone for Bondai, as it allows us to expand our reach and provide even more travelers with …

Cozmo Travel signed a co-op agreement with the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB).  The partnership aims to promote Jordan as a top summer destination for GCC tourists through a targeted marketing campaign. The Co-op Agreement signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from both Cozmo Travel and the JTB, and marks a significant milestone in the two entities’ collaboration. As part of the agreement, Cozmo Travel will spearhead a summer marketing campaign across the GCC to promote Jordan’s rich history, culture, and scenic beauty to potential tourists in the region. The campaign will utilize a range of marketing channels, including social media, influencer partnerships, and targeted advertising, to showcase the best of Jordan’s tourism offerings to audiences across the GCC. It is expected to attract a significant number of tourists to Jordan during the summer season and contribute to the growth of the country’s tourism industry. Speaking on the occasion, Jamal Abdulnazar, CEO of Cozmo Travel, said, “We are delighted to sign this Co-op Agreement with the Jordan Tourism Board, which will allow us to showcase the beauty and diversity of Jordan to a wider audience across the GCC. We believe that this partnership will open new avenues of growth and opportunity for both our companies and contribute to the continued development of the tourism industry in Jordan.” On his part, Dr. Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director of the Jordan Tourism Board, said, “We are excited to collaborate with Cozmo Travel on this summer marketing campaign, which will enable us to reach out to more potential tourists in the GCC and encourage them to explore the unique experiences that Jordan has to offer. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and …

Musafir.com has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Royal Commission of AlUla (RCU). The agreement, which aims to promote the destination to tourists from the UAE to AlUla between Melanie De Souza, Executive Director, Destination Marketing at RCU and Sachin Gadoya, CEO and Co-Founder of musafir.com. Speaking about AlUla and the partnership with RCU, Gadoya said, “AlUla, the World’s Masterpiece, is one of the oldest cities in the Arabian Peninsula with massive tourism potential. The fact that it received close to 185,000 visitors in 2022 speaks volumes about the level of interest among tourists to explore this unique destination and its UNESCO World Heritage site. With Musafir.com’s expertise in travel planning and the Royal Commission for AlUla’s commitment to preserving the region’s heritage, this partnership promises to offer visitors a truly authentic experience of Saudi Arabia’s fascinating history and culture.” Sachin added, “AlUla is ready to receive up to 250,000 visitors in 2023, the majority of which will come from neighbouring nations. As part of the agreement, musafir.com will promote holiday packages to AlUla with the objective of growing the profile of AlUla as a destination. Musafir.com will collaborate on various promotional and marketing initiatives to increase tourist arrivals.” Melanie De Souza, Executive Director, Destination Marketing at RCU, said, “AlUla is a truly unique destination, representing over 200,000 years of largely unexplored human history and 7000 years of continuous human civilisation. From Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site to the ancient oasis and AlUla Old Town, recently recognised by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as one of the World’s Best Tourism Villages, to a vibrant arts and culture scene, world-class culinary experiences and a …

The Qatar Tourism China Roadshow 2023 was successfully held across four major cities in China including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing. During the travel-trade roadshow, Qatar Tourism introduced Qatar’s rich cultural heritage, modern infrastructures, as well as the country’s tourism and hospitality offerings to over 200 industry professionals including online travel agencies (OTAs), local tour operators and trade media. In partnership with Qatar Airways, Qatar Tourism led a strong delegation at the roadshow that included WeChat Pay, Alipay, five Doha hotels, three destination management companies (DMCs) and three official associations in Qatar. The strong delegation helped to position Qatar as an appealing destination for the contemporary Chinese consumer and showcased both diversified and high-quality tourism products. China represents an important source market with many of its travellers looking for a destination that caters to a luxury city break. Last year, Qatar Tourism’s China Representative Office hosted 31 seminars and trainings for travel trade stakeholders, supporting 524 participants to obtain their Qatar specialist certificate, and made hundreds of sales calls across the mainland. Moreover, 400 million Chinese television viewers were reached after exciting collaborations with CCTV and Migu led to the production of “Meet Qatar” and “Boiling Qatar” during the FIFA World Cup 2022™.

Cozmo Travel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Moroccan National Tourism Office. This partnership marks a significant milestone for Cozmo Travel as it expands its reach into promoting destinations in the African continent. The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from both organizations, including Mr. Jamal Abdulnazar, CEO of Cozmo Travel, and Mr. Adel El Fakir, CEO of the Morocco Tourism Board. The MoU outlines the collaboration between the two entities in promoting and facilitating tourism to Morocco from GCC & India. This partnership will help to create new business opportunities, enhance customer experiences, and boost economic growth in all countries involved. Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Jamal Abdulnazar, CEO of Cozmo Travel, said, “We are thrilled to sign this MoU with the Morocco Tourism Board, which demonstrates our commitment to expanding our footprint in the African market. Morocco is a unique destination that offers a rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and a diverse range of experiences for travelers. We are excited to work with the Morocco Tourism Board to promote the country’s tourism offerings and showcase the best of what it has to offer to our customers.” With this partnership, Cozmo Travel and the Morocco Tourism Board aim to leverage their respective strengths to drive tourism growth and provide unique travel experiences to their customers. Cozmo Travel’s extensive network, expertise in travel management, and digital capabilities, coupled with the Morocco Tourism Board’s wealth of knowledge and resources, make for a powerful alliance that will benefit both organizations and their customers. As the travel industry continues to recover from the impact of the pandemic, partnerships like this one are vital to support the industry’s growth and provide …

Elaf Group participated in the ‘Future Hospitality Investment Summit – Saudi Arabia 2023’, which was held from May 7 to 9, 2023, in the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. This year’s summit assembled a huge number of leaders and officials from countries across the globe as well as renowned investors, business owners, developers and operators in the hospitality and hotel services sector, making it the largest edition in the history of this significant event for the region’s hospitality sector. As the event draws industry leaders from around the world, Elaf Group highlighted its most notable hotel services and products as well as the most recent additions to its hotel facilities in Saudi Arabia. The event served as a platform to address challenges and opportunities, promote sustainability and innovation, and enable entrepreneurship in the hospitality sector and shape the future of hospitality in the KSA and the region. During the event, Majed Kaki, Vice President of Elaf Travel and Tourism at Elaf Group participated in the panel discussion titled ‘The Saudi Private Sector and the Saudi Vision 2030’, centred on the private sector’s contribution to the development and growth of tourism sector and execution of developmental projects. In addition, he emphasised the opportunities and possibilities for the expansion of tourism, hospitality and hotel services sectors and reinforced their role as significant private economic contributors in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. He further highlighted Elaf Group’s plans to develop its hotel services and products, modify and expand its hospitality facilities in line with the ambitious national plans for tourism, and ensure readiness to welcome more visitors, tourists, pilgrims and Umrah performers. Kaki said: “Elaf Group …

Cozmo Travel has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) during the Arabian Travel Market 2023 for the second year in a row. The signing of the MoU was a significant achievement for Cozmo Travel and STA, as it signifies their continued collaboration to promote Saudi Arabia as a top travel destination for tourists from around the world. This year’s agreement builds on the successful partnership established between Cozmo Travel and STA in the previous year, which has contributed to the growth of Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry. Cozmo Travel’s CEO, Jamal Abdulnazar, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with STA, stating that “the MoU reflects our shared commitment to promoting Saudi Arabia as a world-class tourist destination. We are excited to continue working with the Saudi Tourism Authority to showcase the unique beauty and rich cultural heritage of this remarkable country.” As part of the MoU, Cozmo Travel will offer exclusive travel packages and tour itineraries to travelers looking to explore the kingdom’s most iconic destinations, including its stunning natural landscapes, historic sites, and vibrant cities. Moreover, the collaboration will also focus on enhancing the tourist experience by facilitating dynamic travel arrangements, including visa processing, transportation, and accommodation to travelers through the expansive Cozmo Travel Network of branches and outlets across 11 countries. The partnership between Cozmo Travel and STA highlights the growing importance of the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia and the region. As the country continues to invest in its tourism infrastructure and diversify its economy, Cozmo Travel is proud to be a key player in promoting this vision. Overall, the signing of the MoU between Cozmo Travel and STA is a testament …

Holiday Factory announced the launch of its new brand, “Holiday Factory Premium”, at the highly anticipated event, Arabian Travel Market 2023 last week. “The UAE market has a unique demographic landscape with an exponentially growing expat population. The region has experienced rapid economic growth, which has resulted in an increase in the disposable income of its residents. Which in turn has created a surge in demand for Premium holidays,” – says Namrata Bhatia, Director of Marketing at Holiday Factory. “Research of the UAE market suggests that 1/3rd of the population is seeking premium holidays and is underserved with all-inclusive packages at the right price”, – says Sandra Daemmrich, General Manager. After successfully serving the UAE middle-class segment with unbeatably priced holiday packages, Holiday Factory is now set to reshape the “Premium” outbound travel industry with its exciting selection of popular & unexplored destinations such as Switzerland, Italy, Maldives, Northern lights of Scandinavia with an Ice Igloo experience and many others. Holiday packages include direct flights with all local airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai and others, as well as reputed international airlines, and premium hotels, transfers, insurance, and curated daily expert-guided tours – to allow UAE residents truly experience the destination the Premium Way! Customers can choose to travel in a small group of like-minded travellers for a more affordable option or travel privately for the ultimate exclusive experience. “73% of Premium holiday seekers residing in the emirates are looking for all-inclusive holiday packages, and 95% of those end up booking by themselves. It’s a long, tedious process of endlessly researching and creating a self-itinerary which ends up being expensive,” said Ekaterina Malikova, Product Manager at Holiday Factory Premium. “As …