In a special interview with TravTalkME, Nuwal Fadhilah Ku Azmi, Director International Promotion Division, North and East Asia, Tourism Malaysia shared that efforts are being made to intensify priority markets such as the GCC to drive more opportunities and that they are planning a special event to connect Malaysian sellers with international buyers and media in September this year on world tourism day to further promote about ‘Visit Malaysia 2026’. She added that Malaysia is ramping up its preparations for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, with major initiatives already underway this year. A national priority, the campaign brings together strategic partners from across the hospitality and tourism industry—including hotels, airlines, and media platforms—to amplify Malaysia’s brand on the global stage. “Among the key highlights is Global Meet, a business-to-business (B2B) platform taking place later this year. The event will connect Malaysian tourism sellers with international buyers and media, aiming to boost global awareness and drive business opportunities ahead of 2026. Additionally, Malaysia will host World Tourism Day in Melaka this September, further showcasing its readiness and commitment. Efforts are being intensified in priority markets. While neighboring countries remain strong contributors to tourist arrivals, Malaysia is expanding its focus to China, India, and notably the Middle East—aligning with the Prime Minister’s regional engagement efforts. Long-haul markets like Europe are also a renewed priority.” To drive this agenda, Malaysia has launched a series of sales missions and workshops. These include recent promotional tours in India, China, and the Middle East, such as the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) and missions to Jeddah and Riyadh. Post-COVID, the push is clear: re-establish Malaysia’s presence in under-engaged regions and aggressively market the country as a top tourism destination. …

Majid Al Futtaim announced a new strategic partnership with Ennismore to launch Egypt’s first 25hours Hotel at Junction, Majid Al Futtaim’s upcoming business and lifestyle destination in West Cairo. The new addition marks the debut of the 25hours brand in the Egyptian market, reinforcing Junction’s position as a dynamic hub for hospitality, business, and culture. Bringing a playful, design-led approach to hospitality, 25hours will inject fresh creative energy into West Cairo. Known for its eclectic interiors, strong sense of place, and immersive storytelling, the brand’s arrival signals a bold reimagining of how hotels contribute to urban culture. Gaurav Bhushan, Chief Executive Officer for Ennismore, said, “Ennismore is honoured to be partnering with Majid Al Futtaim to bring 25hours to Egypt for the first time, especially within a lifestyle destination like Junction. Each 25hours Hotel is inspired by the rich culture and history of its location, and we look forward to creating a strong sense of storytelling through design and community spaces through our restaurants and bars for our guests.” “At Majid Al Futtaim, we believe in creating destinations that truly reflect the needs and aspirations of today’s customers. The arrival of 25hours at Junction marks an exciting moment in our refounding journey and continues our longstanding legacy of introducing bold, innovative concepts to the communities we serve.” said Ahmed El Shamy, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Properties. “This partnership also marks a significant step in our vision to create destinations that are both commercially vibrant and culturally meaningful, while further reinforcing our long-term commitment to building integrated, future-ready environments that drive economic growth and foster innovation.” Situated in the heart of Junction, the hotel will feature approximately 250 keys, …

Dragonpass International (Dragonpass) is redefining the travel experience in the GCC. Andrew Harrison-Chinn CMO at Dragonpass shared, “With over 2.7 million customers in the region, we’ve seen a 100% year-on-year increase in customers transitioning from analog to digital. This growth aligns with the broader development visions shaping the future of the GCC. Regional strategies, including Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Urban Plan 2040, emphasize smart infrastructure, elevated quality of life, and seamless urban mobility—all priorities that mirror Dragonpass’s commitment to frictionless, tech-enabled travel. Across the GCC, international tourism is surging, with Saudi Arabia welcoming 30 million visitors and the UAE’s major airports seeing over 48 million international arrivals in the past year. The demand for seamless, value-rich travel experiences has never been higher.” Dragonpass’s growth has been powered by its flexible and collaborative approach to market entry and expansion. Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model, the company partners closely with local organizations to co-create solutions that reflect the unique cultural and consumer dynamics of each GCC market. This localized agility has enabled Dragonpass to rapidly scale its operations and emerge as a preferred platform for both travelers and regional businesses seeking to enhance the travel experience. A key differentiator is Dragonpass’s advanced technology platform, which aggregates travel services and loyalty benefits into one unified and personalized user experience. Strategic partnerships with leading blue-chip organizations based in the Middle East allow the company to deliver high-value offerings that combine exclusivity, convenience, and relevance. Dragonpass has also expanded well beyond traditional airport benefits. The platform now offers access to over 2,150 curated travel experiences, including Fast Track and a wide array of dining options. Dragonpass has recently launched a …

Emirates Skywards has enhanced its partnership with Marriott Bonvoy to offer members the opportunity to convert Miles to Points, and Points to Miles. The strategic partnership will unlock even more rewards for 35 million members worldwide, who can now enjoy seamless conversions. The new benefit further enhances the already strong collaboration between both loyalty programmes, which currently offers Members the chance to earn twice the rewards on both flights and hotel stays. Members can earn Skywards Miles in addition to Marriott Bonvoy points for stays at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, and Marriott Bonvoy points in addition to Skywards Miles when flying with Emirates. Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Skywards, said: “Marriott Bonvoy offers one of the most fantastic hotel portfolios in the industry, and as one of the most valued and recognised loyalty programmes in the world – we’re thrilled to take our partnership to the next level. Our 35 million members have benefitted from this strategic partnership for more than 10 years – earning twice the rewards on flights and hotel stays. And we’ve now opened a world of new rewards with the option to convert Miles to Points. This means members can redeem Points towards stays at more than 30 hotel brands and over 10,000 destinations across 144 countries and territories. At the same time, Marriott Bonvoy members can still enjoy converting Points to Miles to ‘fly better’ with Emirates to more than 140 destinations across the airline’s extensive network. We’re proud of our long-standing partnership and as two global brand leaders – we look forward to delivering more benefits, value, and the very best travel experiences for our members worldwide.” Philip Andreopoulos, Chief Commercial …

Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel solidified a strategic partnership with Alleem Group designating Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel as the official hospitality partner for Alleem Group’s upcoming initiatives, marking a milestone in cross-sector collaboration. The strategic alliance aims to enhance brand visibility, unlock mutual growth and create synergies through joint promotional efforts and high-profile event hosting. As part of the agreement, Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel will be the preferred venue for Alleem Group’s corporate events, conferences, product launches, and CSR-driven gatherings including their Annual Sustainability Summit, while the company will promote the hotel’s services and offers across its network. The collaboration amplifies joint marketing efforts across digital platforms, print media, and social channels, highlighting curated hospitality packages for Alleem Group’s clients and Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel’s guests. The collaboration aligned with UAE’s Vision 2030, such as heritage preservation workshops and eco-friendly event practices, reinforcing both entities’ commitment to sustainability. Leveraging Alleem Group’s regional and international showcase Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel’s premium offerings to a global audience. Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager of Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel, emphasized the partnership’s strategic value – “This collaboration is a catalyst for elevating Ajman’s hospitality sector. By hosting Alleem Group’s events, we anticipate a 10% increase in corporate bookings while delivering immersive experiences that reflect our Emirati heritage. Partnerships like this are pivotal to positioning Ajman as a hub for cultural and business tourism.” Dr. Rashid Alleem, Founder & Chairman at Alleem Group, added: “Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel’s iconic waterfront location and dedication to excellence align perfectly with our ethos. This partnership enables us to offer stakeholders a unique blend of innovation and tradition, whether through international conferences or community initiatives we will launching later this …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has officially selected the China Visitors Summit (CVS) to be held in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain on 28–29 August 2025. This landmark event will bring together 150 elite Chinese travel industry buyers, making it the largest B2B gathering of Chinese outbound travel professionals ever hosted outside of China. The CVS Abu Dhabi is a highly curated, by-invitation-only event. The attending Chinese buyers are carefully vetted and confirmed to be actively doing business with the UAE—specifically with travel products and services in the Abu Dhabi Emirate. Delegates include senior executives from: • Travel agencies and tour operators • Luxury agents, wholesalers and bespoke travel designers • MICE managers and corporate travel planners • OTAs and niche specialists in adventure, culture, culinary, wellness, and more Over the course of the two-day, face-to-face workshop, participating Abu Dhabi travel suppliers—including hotels, DMCs, attractions, museums, shopping malls, and transportation companies—will engage in pre-scheduled B2B appointments. Each supplier will have the ability to personally select the Chinese buyers most relevant to their product, whether focused on leisure groups, luxury FITs, or MICE and corporate segments. In addition to the business meetings, the CVS program includes local experience days in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, designed to give the Chinese delegates firsthand exposure to the products they may sell. These include hotel site inspections, cultural experiences, F&B showcases, and interactive destination briefings, allowing buyers to become more effective ambassadors for Abu Dhabi upon returning to China. This 2025 edition of CVS Abu Dhabi marks a return to the summit’s roots. Originally launched in Abu Dhabi in 2013, CVS has since expanded globally. With its initial …

flyadeal and Cebu Pacific signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore joint strategic commercial initiatives. The historic agreement covers a wide range of opportunities in commercial cooperation and support in aircraft maintenance and engineering. The first phase of the MoU will see flyadeal take delivery of two Cebu Pacific Airbus A320 aircraft on a wet-lease arrangement for the upcoming summer peak flying season in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Reciprocally, Cebu Pacific is examining wet- leasing flyadeal A320s during the busy winter period in southeast Asia at the end of the year. The agreement was signed at a joint Press Conference held in Manila today at which flyadeal Chief Executive Officer Steven Greenway and Cebu Pacific CEO Mike Szucs outlined plans for a phased cooperation beginning with the wet-lease arrangement. Talks between the two airlines began earlier this year following a visit by Greenway and a flyadeal delegation to Manila to learn more about Cebu Pacific’s A330-900neo operations. flyadeal, the Middle East’s fastest growing airline, recently announced plans to venture into the long-haul market with an order for 10 A330 widebodies to be deployed between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, and across southeast Asia from 2027. Greenway said: “Today’s agreement is momentous as it marks flyadeal’s first ever strategic airline partnership. It was clear and obvious that flyadeal could learn a lot from Cebu Pacific’s experience of low-cost long-haul operations given we will be inducting the same A330-900neos into our fleet in just two years’ time. There are great benefits in sharing technical knowledge, training and best practice in preparation for our A330 induction and, of course, we are both A320 operators. “This was the starting point for wide-ranging commercial …

In an exclusive interview with TravTalk ME, Datuk Manoharan Periasamy – Director General of Tourism Malaysia shared that they expect to close the year with one million visitors from the Middle East region. “Last year, Malaysia welcomed 194,000 visitors from the Middle East. Given our strategic initiatives, increased connectivity, and renewed market engagement, we are setting our sights much higher. Based on current airline capacity planning and market interest, we confidently project welcoming more than one million visitors from the Middle East by the end of 2025.” Speaking on some of the key initiatives that they are currently working on, Periasamy reiterated, “We recognise the growing need to introduce more B2C-focused programs tailored for the Middle Eastern market. We’ve observed that younger travellers from this region are increasingly exploring destinations other than Malaysia—possibly due to a perception that Malaysia lacks activities or products that cater specifically to their interests and lifestyles. In response, we have initiated collaborations with trusted local partners in the Middle East to develop “soft adventure” and lifestyle experiences that appeal to the younger demographic. While families from the region continue to choose Malaysia as a preferred holiday destination, we aim to re-engage younger travellers who are currently exploring alternatives in neighbouring countries. Our industry discussions and trade events with Middle Eastern operators have highlighted a key challenge: accessibility. While Malaysia receives a considerable number of Middle Eastern visitors—many of whom travel for religious purposes—the seat capacity between major cities in Saudi Arabia and Kuala Lumpur remains limited. To address this, we are actively working with key airlines including Riyadh Air and flynas. We are optimistic about launching direct routes from Saudi Arabia to Malaysia—potentially as early …

Jassim AlMahmoud – PR & Communications Director – Visit Qatar in a special interview with TravTalk ME shared that their presence at  ITB China 2025 was most successful and their intention to expand their presence next year with the positive feedback received as they participated for the first time. “ITB China is a very important event for us for two key reasons: first, the exceptional quality and professionalism associated with the ITB brand; and second, the high caliber of exhibitors and potential partners participating in the show. We are here to build meaningful partnerships, but most importantly, to deepen our engagement with the Chinese market—which we consider a Tier 1 source market for Qatar. This is my first visit to China, and already it is clear that the country offers immense opportunities. China’s vast population and its growing appetite for international tourism make it a key focus in our global tourism strategy. But to truly attract Chinese travellers, we must understand their preferences and expectations. We’ve already identified that gastronomy, shopping, cultural experiences, and family-friendly attractions are particularly appealing to Chinese tourists. Fortunately, Qatar can offer all of these. From luxury shopping and world-class cuisine to rich heritage and attractions suited for travelers of all ages, we are confident in our ability to cater to Chinese guests. We are seeing solid growth from this market. For example, in 2023 we welcomed 56,000 Chinese visitors, and in 2024 we’ve recorded a 28% increase—a clear sign of rising interest. To support this momentum, we are actively expanding our partnerships. We brought 10 partners from Doha with us to ITB China this year. And based on what we’ve experienced here, we’re seriously considering …

Sabre Corporation announced the renewal of its long-standing partnership with Fahad Express Travel & Tourism in Muscat, Oman. Under the renewed multi-year agreement, Fahad Express will continue using Sabre’s technology, including Sabre Red 360, Automation Hub, Automated Exchange and Refund, and Sabre APIs with E-ticket Reports to help boost its operational efficiency, unlock new revenue opportunities, and reduce costs. The agency will also retain access to Sabre’s global marketplace of over 400 airlines, 750,000 hotel properties, and hundreds of other travel providers, enabling it to deliver personalized, end-to-end travel experiences. “With the ongoing transformation of the travel landscape across the region, our focus remains firmly on enhancing the customer experience,” said Ramzi Al-Qassab, Managing Director of Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “Fahad Express is a major player in Oman’s travel industry, and we are excited that their renewed commitment reflects the trust they place in Sabre. By extending our partnership, Fahad Express is utilizing Sabre’s technology to elevate and evolve their corporate travel business towards the customer journey. We are proud to continue supporting their vision with innovative technology and consultative services.” A trusted Sabre partner for more than 13 years, Fahad Express relies on Sabre’s technology and expertise to support its day-to-day operations and future growth strategy. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Sabre, which has played a key role in our success and growth over the years,” said Juliet Irwin, General Manager, Fahad Express Travel & Tourism. “With Sabre’s ongoing support and technology, we are well-positioned to deliver even more value to our customers and advance our strategic goals.”