Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is organizing the first official football tournament in the region, which is witnessing competition between 140 players from more than 20 different nationalities compete for the title and total prize of USD $40,000. Footgolf is a hybrid sport that combines the rules and principles of golf with the skill and athleticism of soccer. It is played on a golf course, but instead of using clubs and balls, players kick a soccer ball towards a hole in the ground or a barrel. The objective is to complete each hole in the fewest number of kicks possible, and is a fun and exciting sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. Commenting on the upcoming event, HE. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the SCTDA said, “In the Emirate of Sharjah, the government is committed to organizing and hosting events that align with the overall development goals of the region, address the needs of the community, and promote healthy and enjoyable lifestyles through sports. This is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who emphasizes the importance of improving individuals’ health and quality of life. The SCTDA is dedicated to implementing this vision in all of its initiatives, programs, and projects. One example of this is the recent Sharjah International Footgolf Tournament and Padel Tennis tournament, which were held in partnership with Air Arabia and the Sharjah Sports Council.” He added: “Through the tournament, the Emirate of Sharjah will host ex-football stars with their fan base and supporters, and bring together local …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) announces its highest ever annual visitor numbers, with the Emirate welcoming over 1.13M overnight arrivals in 2022, a total increase of 15.6% vs 2021. The results exceed pre-pandemic levels indicating recovery and resilience in a volatile year. Despite geopolitical and economic challenges, Ras Al Khaimah has become one of the fastest destinations to bounceback. In addition to its record visitor numbers, key 2022 achievements include: Launched Balanced Tourism – its roadmap to becoming the regional leader in sustainable tourism by 2025 Announced the largest foreign direct tourism investment project in partnership with Wynn Resorts, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), Mövenpick and Radisson brands entered the destination for the first time, marking a 17% annual growth in hotel supply to over 8,000 keys 5,867 keys scheduled to be added over the next few years, a 70% increase on current inventory – among the highest growth rates in the UAE 40% increase in international visitors driven by 90+ roadshows, trade fairs, workshops and media events across 24 markets Recognition in Time magazine as one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2022 and CNN Travel’s best destinations to visit in 2023 Opened new attractions, including Jais Sledder, which has seen more than 100,000 visitors since its February opening, and the longest developed hiking trails in the Emirate Achieved a visitor satisfaction score (NPS) of over 80% – far above the industry average of 51 Hosted over 50 events including the prestigious Global Citizen Forum, 15th edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, Arab Aviation Summit, DP World Tour and secured the 2023 Minifootball (WMF) World Cup for the first time in …

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced today the Diriyah Project as PIF’s fifth giga-project, reflecting Diriyah’s status as a unique destination with distinctive cultural, historical, and tourism landmarks. The announcement reflects HRH the Crown Prince’s efforts in enabling the Saudi cultural  identity, which includes the Diriyah Project due to its historic, cultural, and political value proudly showcasing to the world Saudi Arabia’s 300 years of history. Diriyah Project is a globally significant destination that includes the Turaif District UNESCO World Heritage Site. These cultural and historical aspects position Diriyah as an unrivaled destination of global significance where the authenticity of Saudi heritage can be celebrated, revealing the historic origins of modern Saudi Arabia. Tourists will have the opportunity to explore and get to know Saudi’s history, and its culture at the city’s museums and purpose-built pavilions. The Diriyah giga-project is expected to enable many strategic domestic sectors, create partnerships with the local private sector, and unlock many new investment opportunities throughout its development and production phases in sectors such as construction, operation and management of hotels, retail, entertainment, and cultural facilities, creating thousands of new job opportunities and providing a series of initiatives designed to contribute to enriching the quality of life for residents and visitors. Giga-projects form a key part of PIF’s strategy due to their ability to create new economic ecosystems that drive economic growth and diversification in Saudi Arabia. Diriyah becomes the fifth PIF giga-project after NEOM, Red Sea, Qiddiya, and Roshn projects. The Diriyah Project aligns with PIF’s strategy to focus on unlocking the capabilities of promising sectors, including tourism and …

The latest development project in the emirate of Fujairah is to develop the “Qidfa ” area aiming to attract 100,000 tourists annually by developing the tourism potential and introducing the distinctive capabilities that the region enjoys through the media to enhance its location as a tourist destination. The plan also works to launch 50 development projects for the region’s youth, in addition to training 200 youth and young women in various fields and sectors, in cooperation with a large group of strategic partners from the public and private sectors. In the government of Fujairah website, it further states that according to Emirates news the development paths of the “Qidfa” development plan attach great importance to youth by providing them with all means of support and enabling them to unleash their energies and raise their participation in various development paths. This path includes the establishment of commercial spaces and a local market for farmers and the development of innovative ways to market agricultural products to the people of the region in all emirates of the country. and its cities. The path of developing development projects is based on the construction of new pedestrian roads and bicycle paths between farms and linking them with the waterfront, in addition to developing the streets leading to the waterfront, and constructing car parks. In the course of village coordination, a tourist entrance will be built and guiding boards will be placed in all areas, in addition to renovating and unifying the side walls to create an attractive appearance and a tourist identity that reflects the unique natural capabilities of the region and highlights it as a tourist center. The path includes the development of the …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) successfully concluded the ‘Experience Abu Dhabi GCC Roadshow 2022’ in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Kuwait recently. The roadshow drew the participation of 17 DCT Abu Dhabi partners, including Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE; and Miral Destinations, the one-stop trade and promotional partner for Yas Island and Saadiyat Island. The partners jointly showcased how GCC families, couples and youth can enjoy Abu Dhabi’s diverse range of exciting, inspiring and restoring experiences in the winter season. The roadshow kicked off in Saudi Arabia, a top five source market for Abu Dhabi,  with the final leg concluding in Kuwait. Through one-on-one meetings, presentations and group discussions, DCT Abu Dhabi and its delegation met with nearly 600 travel trade professionals where they presented the new destination campaign, ‘Experience Abu Dhabi. Find Your Pace’ as well as highlighted the action-packed Abu Dhabi Calendar that continue to feature a vibrant line-up of sports, family fun, culture, music and nightlife events. Abdulla Yousuf, Director of Travel Trade and Market Development at DCT Abu Dhabi said: “It was an absolute pleasure to meet our valued travel trade partners in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and to share everything that Abu Dhabi has to offer in the new year and beyond. The GCC region continues to be one of our biggest source markets for leisure travel in Abu Dhabi. Through this roadshow, we were able to reaffirm our support for our valued stakeholders, showcase our destination highlights, and introduce our new destination campaign, which is inspiring more and more travellers to consider Abu Dhabi for an unrivalled holiday experience.” The roadshow also spotlighted the many …

Emirates has sealed an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas to promote tourism to the Caribbean archipelago. The airline and The Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism will embark on joint initiatives to boost visitor traffic into the islands from key markets across Emirates’ network. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and Chief Executive and HE Tony Joudi, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the UAE and the State of Qatar at the Emirates Group Headquarters. Also present at the signing ceremony was Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer and Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for the Americas. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and Chief Executive said: “We are pleased to collaborate with The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas in supporting its goals to boost the nation’s tourism economy. Through our partnerships with United and Air Canada, we look forward to playing a key role in promoting The Bahamas as a key leisure destination. Our global customers from across our network can enjoy Emirates’ services to our points in North America and benefit from enhanced connectivity and access to the islands.” His Excellency Tony Joudi, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the UAE and the State of Qatar said: “I would like to thank Emirates for playing a role in strengthening the connection between the two countries. Tourism is the lifeblood of our nation’s economy and, by growing visitor arrivals to our tropical island paradise, we hope to achieve our goals of stimulating the tourism economy and providing impetus to the business climate. “Emirates is a …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has created a list of seven authentic Emirati cultural experiences visitors are recommended to try on a visit to the emirate. The experiences, created in collaboration with Emirati tour guides, will be featured on Airbnb, the global holiday rental website, offering residents and visitors the opportunity to delve deeper into the UAE’s history and heritage. Abdulrahman Al Zaabi, one of the city’s dedicated Emirati tour guides, was inspired to share his city with tourists after travelling the world and learning about different cultures and traditions through the destination’s local citizens. “In Abu Dhabi, Emirati representation is vital when it comes to guiding guests through the city,” he said. “So, seeing the need for more, I decided to take it upon myself and pursue that. Being a tour guide gives me a lot of insight into my own culture, something people expect us to know by nature, but we often don’t realize how much we don’t know. As much as I am helping our visitors learn about our valued Emirati culture, discovering the hidden gems of the city and its people, I’m also learning a lot myself.” Local guide Nasser Sabaan became a tour guide after volunteering around Abu Dhabi and realising that many expat residents have only scratched the city’s surface. Talking about his motivations, he said: “Residents, even after living in Abu Dhabi for a long time, still don’t know a lot about the history and culture of their adopted home. By becoming a tour guide, I am proudly representing my city, educating and informing those interested all about the unique identity of the UAE, its authentic …

Visitors to the Visa Application Centre submitting their applications can now learn more about the tourism offerings and highlights of India, guided by trained professionals from VFS Global, by visiting the kiosk at the time of their appointment. Mr. N. Ram Prasad, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of India in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia formally inaugurated the new India Tourism kiosk at the VFS Global Visa Application Centre in Riyadh recently. Mr. N. Ram Prasad, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of India in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia said, “I am pleased to launch the first India Tourism kiosk in association with VFS Global, who have been our partners in KSA for the last 14 years. In addition to best-in-class visa services, applicants will now also be able to learn about all the wondrous tourism offerings of India when they visit this centre.” Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer, VFS Global said, “We are excited to further strengthen our relationship with the Government of India with the launch of our India Tourism kiosk. I thank the Ministry of External Affairs for their constant and unwavering support and faith in our organisation and its services. As the service providers of visa and passport solutions here in Saudi Arabia, it is only fitting that we also provide informational services on all there is to offer in this bountiful country.” VFS Global caters to over 7 million Indians across 9 countries – Saudi Arabia, UK, US, Thailand, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, France, and Australia, offering passport and consular services on behalf of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The organisation has a long-standing association with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, offering visa application …

As the world’s longest running festival of its kind, Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is nothing short of iconic. The 28th edition of the festival, organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), showcases the very best that the city has to offer. In its third week, (29 December to 5 January) DSF delivers another spectacular line-up of events, experiences, offers and deals designed to surprise and delight. Take your pick from one of the many concerts from international artists including Kylie Minogue, Martin Garrix, and Rahat Fatah Ali Khan. Or, watch the stunning fireworks and drone shows to celebrate DSF as well as welcome in the New Year. Participate in a Murder Mystery at Al Seef Heritage Hotel and bring out your inner detective, shop for must-have items at Al Seef Market, visit The Spark Within and Sky Castle, part of Dubai LIghts at City Walk and Dubai Design District (d3), or walk down memory lane at Dubai 80’s, Last Exit Al Khawaneej. Dubai is the place to be when it comes to New Year’s Eve celebrations. From enchanting fireworks, drone shows, to hotel offers, curated food and beverage menus  and more, the city pulls out all the stops to ring in the new year. In the lead up to NYE celebrations, legendary performer Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan brings a never–before-seen show to the Coca-Cola Arena on 29 December. And on 30 December, at the same venue, don’t miss Martin Garrix and his spectacular performance live in Dubai. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Dubai skyline as fireworks light up the city skies to bid farewell to this year, and welcome in the next. Iconic Dubai spots such as Atlantis …

Qatar Tourism (QT) data reveals that a suite of events, new launches and impending football fever drove visitor numbers during the month to nearly 180,000 – a six year high. Throughout 2022, visitors have steadily increased month on month, and the latest October figures exceeded pre-pandemic numbers by nearly a third (32% more than October 2017).Qatar continues to offer attractions and family-friendly entertainment for visitors from the region, making visitors from the GCC the leading source of all international visitors (over a third at 33%) to the country in October. At the same time, October saw a 10% increase from the prior month on the number of non-GCC tourists, at 66% of the total, an increase of 10%. Non-GCC arrivals hailed mainly from India (13%), the UK (4%) and the USA (3%). This month, 70% of visitors chose to arrive by air, followed by land (29%), and sea (1%).  A packed schedule of launches and openings greeted Qatar’s visitors in October, including the reopening of the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), luxury malls (Printemps), and a spate of world-leading luxury hotels. Towards the end of the month, the Darb Lusail Festival officially inaugurated the pedestrian friendly Lusail Boulevard, the country’s latest open-air shopping and dining destination. The three-day celebration of Lusail City and the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region featured concerts and DJ performances, roaming shows and a spectacular nightly drone show. Commenting on the latest arrival figures, Haya Al-Noaimi, Head of Promotion Sector at Qatar Tourism, said: “As we welcome the world’s football fans, we are delighted to see so many people from around the globe keen to experience all that Qatar has to offer. …