Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

New figures from the German National Tourism Board has revealed the number of travellers from the Gulf between January and August 2022 more than doubled* when compared to the same period last year, suggesting the country’s ongoing campaigns focusing on nature and sustainability are hitting the mark and driving post-pandemic recovery. The first eight months of 2022 saw an increase in overall foreign visitors to Germany rise 175 per cent compared to 2021, while the Gulf region led the charge for Asia with an increase of 263 per cent*. While the reopening of international borders and relaxing of stringent travel restrictions clearly plays a part in the rise, the fact travellers are choosing Germany over a range of other countries is testament to targeted campaigning by GNTB, who specifically created its Embrace German Nature and Feel Good campaigns following in depth research into what tourists want. “With the GCC being the second top overseas source market, it’s important for us to ensure that the campaigns we invest in align with market wants” said Yamina Sofo, director at the German National Tourist Office (GNTO), the regional office of GNTB. “We’re also looking at what’s coming up in the next two months, with the ever-popular winter and festive seasons to begin soon, and continuing to drive our ongoing campaigns, Feel Good and Embrace German Nature.” Both campaigns will continue into 2023 as Germany looks ahead to its winter season, with popular resorts including Zugspitze, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Black Forest, Harz Region, Taunus, Ore Mountains, all set to attract visitors to the incredible skiing and snow sports for all ability levels on offer. Festive markets are also set to start from the beginning from November, …

Experience Abu Dhabi, Find Your Pace will feature at World Travel Market (WTM), welcoming visitors and bringing the destination to life alongside 36 stakeholders and partners, from 7–9 November. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) will sign a number of strategic partnerships during WTM, and delegates will have the opportunity to maximise their business potential by meeting partnering hotels and attractions. Visitors can unwind and enjoy Abu Dhabi’s living culture, with a celebration of Emirati craftsmanship at the House of Artisans zone, including a perfumery experience that introduces visitors to the fragrances of the emirate. There is also traditional Arabic coffee in the Bait Al Gahwa zone and the Abu Dhabi Senses Journey at the stand’s Cultural zone. Abu Dhabi will enable WTM visitors to experience the top sites and attractions throughout Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Al Ain, Al Dhafra region and beyond. Attendees will experience how Abu Dhabi offers something for every visitor, available 365 days a year, at your own pace – with rich cultural history, natural beaches, unrivalled family fun and world-class sports offerings. Enriching destination experiences that excite, inspire and restore are showcased within an immersive stand experience that will host Q&As with global sports partners, including Manchester City and the UFC – with a special guest appearance from Batman, courtesy of Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi. Also on display, Abu Dhabi Calendar has partnered with the world’s best artists, entertainers and sports franchises for a 2022/2023 winter season to remember. Events range from live concerts with international stars Sting and Andrea Bocelli, as well as urban music festival Wireless, making its Abu Dhabi debut in March 2023. Other exciting …

Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel, managed by Hospitality Management Holding (HMH), reopened officially on Wednesday 2nd November 2022 following a four-month transformation program. Speaking with Travel TV at the inauguration,  H.E. Mahmoud Khalil Ahmed Al Sayed Al Hashemi, Director-General of the Ajman Tourism Development Department added, “we are very happy that the iconic Bahi Ajman palace is open once again, we are now able to show the visitors the five star luxury experiences we can offer them. We look forward to further enhancing experiences for our visitors.’ ‘We are delighted to announce the reopening of one of our leading hotels in the region,’ said Patrick Antaki, Chief Operating Officer at HMH. ‘I would like to congratulate the team on a great upgrade to guest experience, with the fantastic, improved efficiency of the hotel’s cooling systems demonstrating our commitment to responsible, sustainable tourism.’ Sustainable tourism pioneer and champion Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager – Northern Emirates. ‘We look forward to welcoming guests once again after four months with a new cooling system among other facilities to ensure that we generate more revenue with sustainable practices. As we open to guests, we are happy to reveal that we are starting on a very positive note with full occupancy as our travel agent partners have shared many clients who were eager to return to this hotel. We have the biggest ballroom and with Ajman tourism development department we will be promoting as a destination wedding hotel with one of the biggest venues in the emirate and also will be taking part in various trade shows and road shows conducted by the ATDD.” Set on a private beach, Bahi Ajman Palace hotel provides its guests …

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) with OQ to explore potential opportunities in the areas of research, training, exchange of expertise and knowledge, human resource development and to discover various initiatives aimed at encouraging sustainable practices, as well as promoting activities related to In-Country Value and empowering SMEs in the tourism sector. The agreement was signed by Hashil bin Obaid al Mahrouqi, CEO of OMRAN Group, and Ashraf bin Hamad Al Mamari, Chief Executive People, Technology & Culture in OQ, in the presence of several officials from both parties at OCEC. The MoC covers exploring collaboration opportunities in training and capacity building through knowledge and experience transfer between parties. It aims to boost sustainability through social, economic, environmental, and cultural initiatives‏. The MoC also covers cooperation in research development and the exchange of expertise in projects. Furthermore, the MoC focuses on social investment projects, local community development activities, boosting ICV and sponsoring SME development programs. Commenting on the MoC, Hashil Al-Mahrouqi said, “The OMRAN Group seeks to implement the principles of sustainability and enhance ICV through strategic initiatives and partnerships as well as empower national competencies and SMEs. We believe that a collaborative approach such as this plays an effective role in achieving national development; therefore, we are keen to leverage it to achieve our goals in line with the National Tourism Strategy and Oman Vision 2040.” Ashraf Al Mamari, Chief Exec. People, Technology & Culture in OQ, said, “The OQ Group seeks to cooperate with the OMRAN Group in key research and development areas within the OQ Group to establish initiatives that boost economic diversification and sustainable practices.” He added, “We strongly believe …

The Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) 2023 is set to take place at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island from 25-27 September 2023, bringing together the investment communities of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) and the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF). This is the first time the region’s leading hospitality investment forum will take place in Abu Dhabi. Organised by The Bench, FHS brings together the Middle East and Africa’s industry leaders for discussions, deals and insight on the continued growth of the region’s hospitality and tourism sectors. “We are thrilled to take FHS to the UAE’s capital in 2023 with the support of our host sponsors, the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau and Miral, for what promises to be another record-breaking event for our industry. FHS in Dubai welcomed 1,072 attendees, 200 speakers, 63 sponsors and partners and over 70 members of the press last month and we can’t wait to see what next year brings,” said Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench. Mubarak al Shamsi, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB), said: “The Abu Dhabi debut of the Future Hospitality Summit, the region’s flagship hospitality investment platform, marks a significant milestone in our fast-growing business events calendar. Since the beginning of 2022, we have successfully brought over multiple new business events to Abu Dhabi. This is a direct result of our Joint Business Event Fund with Miral, a partner who continues to play a crucial role in elevating Abu Dhabi’s attractiveness as a destination of choice for highly productive meetings and conferences. We look forward to welcoming the delegates to Abu Dhabi next year and we invite all to …

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the not-for-profit travel trade association serving government, tourism offices, hotels, airlines and other travel-related companies within the Asia Pacific region, opened its annual summit in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE graced by His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) opened the summit officially as the host destination, welcoming all the delegates to Ras Al Khaimah, “We are delighted to host the Pacific Asia Travel Association for the first time in the Middle East. As a dynamic and forward-looking Emirate, we are placing all aspects of sustainability (environment, culture, conservation and livability) at the centre of our investment and development strategy. We look forward to driving the sustainability agenda with key opinion leaders from around the world to build a stronger and resilient tourism economy for the future.” Exploring the theme ‘Reconnecting the World Sustainably’, the programme covers critical industry topics such as destination resilience, sustainable travel recovery strategies, supporting women in micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), global hotel industry trends, sustainable gastronomic tourism, the voice of the next generation, and the decarbonization of transport. This is the first time PATA’s Annual Summit takes places in the Middle East. Hosted by Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) at the Al Hamra International Conference Center, the three-day event brings together international thought leaders, industry shapers and senior decision-makers who are invested in driving tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific. The PATA association network consists of both public and private entities representing every facet of the travel ecosystem – government, tourism …

Saudi Tourism Authority welcomes the extension of Saudi’s multi-entry visa, available to visitors holding the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Hayya Card. For the first time ever, visitors will be able to enter and secure a visa for Saudi free of charge. To make it easier than ever for Hayya Card holders to enter Saudi, the visas will now allow for ‘Hayya with me’ (1+3) – meaning that Hayya Card holders can invite and bring three additional travel companions with them. The three companions must also hold a valid Hayya Card to enjoy free-of-charge entry to the unique, incomparable authentic home of Arabia. Visas will allow a 60-day stay in Saudi beginning 10 days before the tournament, without fees to issue the visa. Holders of the Hayya Card will be able to apply for their visas online and book a trip to the authentic home of Arabia with confidence, before, during, and after the World Cup, without having to enter Doha first. All Hayya Card holders are eligible for the Saudi visa, providing an opportunity to bring friends and family to visit Saudi with Hayya 1+3. The announcement encourages first-time and returning visitors alike to explore destinations in close proximity to the World Cup. Saudi is a short hop away making it a practical and convenient destination for World Cup attendees to visit or make a home base during the games. Saudi is expecting to welcome football fans from around the world. The Hayya Card is required for all World Cup attendees and provides entry into Qatar and the stadiums. Beyond proximity, travelers can enjoy Saudi’sauthentic Arabian culture, and adventure and round out their experience while in the region. Saudi will be hosting a dynamic program of …

Barceló Mussanah Resort has entered into two long-term agreements with Nowa Itaka and Cedok that will introduce additional flights from Poland and the Czech Republic to Muscat for the first time, commencing in October 2022. The agreement was signed between Barceló Mussanah Resort and Itaka Nowa during Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, UAE. The first flight coming from Prague, the Czech Republic landed in Muscat International Airport 24th October and this week flights from Warsaw, Poland will follow. The visiting guests will stay at Barceló Mussanah Resort, South Al Batinah for seven and 14 nights stay. The visitors will have a specially formulated itinerary that will give them a taste of Oman’s culture and heritage, as well as its famed hospitality. “These agreements with Nowa Itaka and Cedok are a significant milestone for our stakeholders and a valuable contribution to the tourism sector in the region. We look forward to providing an authentic Omani experience to our guests throughout their stay at the resort,” said Dermot Birchall, General Manager, Barceló Mussanah Resort. According to World Economic Forum, Oman is one of the safest countries to travel to and has been consistently voted as a must-visit destination by international media organisations. The number of visitors to Oman during 2022 has seen a substantial increase compared to previous years and is expected to grow even more. The new agreement includes weekly flights from Warsaw and Prague to Muscat till March 2023, welcoming 380 guests per arrival to the region. Speaking on behalf of Nowa Itaka, Piotr Wrześniewski emphasized “Muscat and Al Batinah are relatively unexplored destinations for Poland, we are very excited to open this new destination within our portfolio.”

Vienna records more than 112.231 bed nights in July and August 2022 from Arab countries in Asia, which is around 80% of its pre-Corona volume from 2019. The United Arab Emirates top the list with 41.191 bed nights spent in Vienna only, followed by Saudi Arabia with 30.885. While two thirds of the overnight stays are divided between these two countries, the last third is made up of the remaining neighboring Arab counties. During the summer months of 2022 there were again numerous direct flights from the GCC counties to Vienna. The airlines operated several times a week: the most frequent flights to Vienna were from Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with an average of between 10 and 14 connections/frequencies per country per week. Airlines from Kuwait also landed in Vienna on average 4 times a week. Around half of the overnight stays from the Arab region that are made in Vienna are generated in July and August. In total, there were 2.788.720 overnight stays in Vienna in the months of July and August. The strongest source markets are Germany, Austria, and the USA. “I am very happy about the excellent summer in Vienna, where overnight stays from the GCC region and its neighboring countries have already reached 80% of the 2019 volume again. The city highly values this group of guests who come to Vienna to enjoy its exclusive shopping opportunities, family friendly activities and unique flavours. Vienna offers as a year-round destination many new experiences for our guests from the GCC like the recently opened Mythos Mozart and the sightseeing platform on the Giant Ferris Wheel among others” says Matthias Schwindl Media Relations Manager Middle East, Vienna …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, have announced that the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi has reached 25% completion, with the UAE-based construction group ALEC having been appointed as the main contractor earlier this year. Located in Saadiyat Cultural District, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is anticipated to be the largest of its kind in the region, allowing visitors to travel on a 14-billion-year journey through time and space – from the earliest origins of our universe to a thought-provoking perspective into our Earth’s future. Due to be completed at the end of 2025, it will be a scientific research and teaching institution and an educational resource for learning about the evolving story of our planet, aiming to ignite a life-long passion for the natural world in visitors of all ages. H.E. Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Undersecretary at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will bring a new dimension of educational discovery to the Abu Dhabi community, as an entirely unique cultural attraction that offers visitors and residents endless inspiration. With work now underway on this pioneering institution, the realisation of our vision for the Saadiyat Cultural District moves one step closer. When completed, Saadiyat will offer the highest concentration of cultural experience in the world, cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as an innovative global destination of choice.” Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, CEO of Miral, said: “Through our partnership with DCT Abu Dhabi, we have been able to make strong progress on the development of this iconic cultural landmark. The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will provide visitors with …