MIDDLE-EAST - Saudi women traveling solo can now stay in hotels

eTN, Jan 22, 2008

Women in Saudi Arabia can now stay in a hotel or a furnished apartment without a male guardian, Al Watan newspaper reported. This, following a government decision that comes as the country faces increasing criticism for its severe restrictions on women. The daily paper, deemed close to the Saudi government, reported Monday that a circular from the Saudi government authorizing hotels to accept lone women as long as their information is sent to a local police station.
The decision was adopted after a study conducted by the Saudi Ministry of Interior, the Supreme Commission of Tourism and the religious police authority known as the Commission for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, reported the Al Watan.

>>Full article

MIDDLE-EAST - meet Jordan’s Aqaba

eTN,Jan 11, 2008

Jordan is continuing to cultivate its new tourism oasis Aqaba to full bloom. It has indeed become, in recent years, a buzzword for business meetings in the Hashemite kingdom. The Gulf can cater to hundreds of delegates expecting high standards in hotels and services, as well as, adequate conference facilities.
Jordan’s tourism calendar is visibly dynamic with ASEZA or the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority’s statused as an autonomous financial and administrative institution responsible for the management, regulation and development of Aqaba.
The peace treaty between Egypt and Jordan has prompted talks of joint ventures and created a promising investment climate. All developments show Jordan becoming the destination of choice at the same time, a country that avails itself suitable investment environment for foreign companies because of ASEZA. Tourism has reached 12 percent of GDP, at one time, before the Middle East peace standoff slowed down tourist traffic.

>>Full article

MIDDLE-EAST - Sultanate Oman among 2008 hottest destinations

arabianbusiness.com, 29 December 2007

Widely known as Arabia's best kept secrete, Oman is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination, also has lastly emerged into the travel world enlightening a land of friendly people and spectacular landscapes. The Sultanate of Oman is a conservative country that is concerned in developing tourism in a way that sits at ease with these principles. He affirmed that as Oman encourages more tourism, it is trying to preserve its ethnicities, like its environment, national dress, markets, the turtles, and dolphins, while using them as its major draw.

>>Full article

UAE - Trillions ploughed into Middle East tourism

TVLW, Dec 19, 2007

The success of the tourism market in the Middle East has been illustrated by a new study, which reveals that 13.33 trillion dirhams (£1.8 trillion) has been invested in the industry to date.
According to research by Fast Future and Global Futures Foresight, the funds have been focused on building new hotels and leisure projects, developing aviation, supporting infrastructure and promoting tourism.
Investment in the travel markets of Syria, Oman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and others shows no signs of stopping, with plans in place to enable the construction of 900 new hotels in the Middle East with £288bn of financing.

>>Full article

UAE -Dubai expects over 200,000 cruise tourists for 2007-2008 season

ameinfo.com, 10.12.2007

Dubai welcomed six cruise ships at its state-of-the-art cruise terminal since the start of cruise season in October.
Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Executive Director for Heritage and Cruise at the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) said the cruise tourism season had a good start and several cruise ships from various parts of the world are expected to visit the emirate until the end of the season in April.
The ship-shaped cruise terminal, opened in 2001, measures 3300 square metres and is able to accommodate two ships simultaneously on a 335-metre quay The Dubai Cruise Terminal is the world's first to receive ISO-9002 certification and also the world's only cruise facility run by the government tourism body, DTCM. The Dubai cruise terminal is able to accommodate two ships simultaneously.

>>Full article

DUBAI - Tourism Vital for Dubai

koreatimes.co.kr, 3-12-2007

Tourism is already a crucial part of Dubai's economy, and is becoming of increasing importance of all of the other emirates, and is projected to rise over the next decade at well above the global growth rate.
The industry already provides nearly 12 percent of total employment in the country, or nearly 300,000 people, and jobs in this sector are expected to increase to over 375,000 by 2016.
This, in turn, has fuelled growth in the country's aviation industry, with particular success stories being the two main national airlines, Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi's Etihad, as well as the low-cost carrier Air Arabia, each of whom have added numerous new destinations to their networks during the course of 2007.

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Next stop: Halal tourism

Traveldailyasia.com, 11/19/2007

"Halal tourism has the potential to develop into one of the most resilient forms of tourism," said Parita Chitakasem, Asia Pacific and Australasia Travel and Tourism Manager for Euromonitor International.
She said tourism revenue in the Middle East is expected to double to almost US$51 billion and domestic tourism by over 80 percent to reach US$24 billion in 2011.
"Most of this growth stems from Middle Eastern travellers, underlining the need for tailored Halal tourism products and services that are developed within the region and cater to this dynamic local market," she said.

>>Full article

UAE - Dubai targets 1.4 Million British Tourists by 2010

Asiatraveltips.com, 14 November 2007

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is targeting to attract 1.4 million visitors from the highly-promising UK and Ireland markets by the year 2010, up from the present nearly 700,000 tourists, according to Mr. Ian Scott, who took over as the new Director of DTCM's Representation Office for the UK and Ireland last month.
Last year, nearly 700,000 British guests stayed with Dubai's rapidly-expanding hotels and hotel apartments, making the UK and Ireland the top source market for the emirate's booming tourism industry. Presently, about 200 tour operators are featuring Dubai in the holiday packages in this prime European market.

>>Full article

UAE - Dubai to host Global Travel & Tourism Summit in April 2008

Asiatraveltips.com, 12 November 2007

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has confirmed that Dubai will be the host state of the Global Travel & Tourism Summit taking place on April 20-22, 2008.
At the official launch last week, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group and Geoffrey Kent, Chairman of WTTC and Chairman & CEO of Abercrombie & Kent signed an accord establishing a public-private partnership.

>>Full article

DUBAI - Maritime City enters Final Phase of Development

Asiatraveltips.com, 12 October 2007

Dubai Maritime City, a purpose-built maritime centre and member of the Dubai World Group of companies, recently commenced work on the third and final phase of the project, which includes infrastructure development.
The new phase consists of the expansion of service networks such as fire, telecommunications, water, district cooling, electricity, wastewater pipelines, access roads, supporting civil infrastructure needs and landscaping works. The final phase of the development is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

>>Full article

UAE - More arrivals despite high rates

TTGasia.com, Jun 8-14, 2007

VANCOUVER-based Universal Travel president, Mr Rafiq Chinoy, started selling Dubai 20 years ago, when it was “a fishing village” and a very hard sell indeed. Nowadays, he has a different problem. Rates had “gone through the roof”, the traffic jams were horrible and even the shopping was becoming expensive, he said.“But people are still willing to pay to see Dubai,” Mr Chinoy said.Just what people want to “see” about Dubai is, ironically, the very thing, critics are lamenting about the city – progress, or too much of it, which they said had stripped Dubai of its culture, heritage and tradition.

>>Full article

UAE - 136bn in Abu Dhabi projects may overtake Dubai, Doha

AME Info, 25-1-2007

By the end of this decade Abu Dhabi is likely to overtake its neighbors Dubai and Doha as the biggest construction market in the Gulf. Between this year and the end of the decade the UAE capital will invest $22 billion in oil and gas projects designed to keep the emirate among the leading global energy producers.United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, January 24 - 2007 at 14:39 Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development & Investment Company is overseeing the development of Saadiyat Island. According to new figures from the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry GDP for the emirate will reach $159 billion by 2010 with the share of non-oil activities rising from $44 billion to $72 billion. Investment totals are huge with $136 billion targeted for construction and building, $55 billion for tourism, $9.5 billion for water and electricity and $33 billion for industry.

>>Full article

AVIATION - 2007: The markets to watch

eTN, 3-1-2007

Vietnam and Saudi Arabia are the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation’s ‘markets to watch’ in 2007, as both are expected to undergo rapid development and change. "Flag carriers of both countries are on the runway to privatisation, while low cost entry will stimulate strong rates of traffic growth over the next 12 months," according to the Centre's Executive Chairman, Peter Harbison. Vietnam’s Pacific Airlines is restructuring and relaunching as an LCC in Feb-07 offering both domestic and international services. "It is a response to rising competition from Southeast Asian LCCs, including Tiger Airways and AirAsia, which are targeting Vietnam as a major growth market," stated Mr Harbison. Vietnam's aviation sector is expanding rapidly, handling 4.9 million domestic and international passengers and 80,400 tonnes of freight in the first eight months of 2006, up 13.1% and 14.4% year-on-year, respectively.Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's aviation market is poised for significant change in 2007 as the Kingdom's first LCCs launch services. It follows a decision 18 months ago by the Supreme Economic Council to end the 60-year monopoly on domestic air services held by Saudi Arabian Airlines.

>>Full article

DUBAI - IFA Hotels & Resorts to launch US$ 1 billion Luxury Resort on The Palm Jumeirah’s Crescent

ASIATravelTips .com, 5 December 2006

IFA Hotels & Resorts, international leaders in the development of premier mixed-use hotel and tourism resort projects, is launching one of the largest projects on The Palm Jumeirah’s Crescent - Kingdom of Sheba. The resort covers 141,500 sq. metres in a prime location on The Crescent of The Palm Jumeirah, adjacent to the renowned Atlantis development.

Talal Jassim Al-Bahar, Chairman and Managing Director of IFA HR, said “This is by far our most ambitious resort development to date. Following in the footsteps of our successful projects in Dubai with over 1,800 units sold in the past three years, the Kingdom of Sheba is certain to become a significant landmark in our international portfolio.”

Al-Bahar added “The Fairmont Palm Residence, the last development we announced on The Palm Jumeirah, is already 90% sold out. The Kingdom of Sheba will be the final opportunity for investors to buy into IFA Hotels & Resorts’ developments on The Palm Jumeirah.”

>>Full article

DUBAI - Nakheel explains How The World Works

ASIATravelTips .com, 6 December 2006

Nakheel, a leading property developer in the UAE, has explained how it foresees The World will function as a project, revealing plans for infrastructure, transportation and the different types of islands that are available to developers.

Land reclamation of The World, a series of more than 300 man-made islands shaped to form the map of the world, is currently 90% complete with developers currently working to complete their plans for estate islands, residential and resort communities.

Hamza Mustafa, General Manager, The World, said, “This is a big step forward in the evolution of The World. The project has played an enormous role in raising awareness of Dubai on a global scale; many people know about Dubai because of this incredible project, but I think few people understand how The World will actually work in reality.

“With reclamation at such an advanced stage, The World is truly turning from an incredible vision into a reality and is quickly evolving into a one-of-a-kind destination and investment opportunity. Engineered to be flexible and designed to be unforgettable – The World is a blank canvas in the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf with endless possibilities.”

>>Full article

DUBAI - City gets even livelier

TTGasia, Nov 17 - 23, 2006 / No.1502

DUBAI is keeping itself in the news by announcing more mega projects, while those just completed or are nearing completion create additional buzz for the city.

Take the opening of Ski Dubai last year – no media could resist reporting on the uncanny idea of skiing in the desert. Or last May’s announcement of Bawadi by Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Amktoum, just before the opening of Arabian Travel Market where hundreds of travel buyers were present.

If you have not read about Bawadi, it is the world’s largest hospitality and tourism development. Located in Dubailand, it will have 31 hotels offering 29,200 rooms – the longest strip of hotels in the world spread over 10km. If your clients fancy staying in a 6,500-room hotel, Bawadi will have it in the Asia-Asia, which Dubai bills as the world’s largest hotel.

When completed in 10 years, Bawadi will double the number of available rooms in Dubai, which last year stood at 28,610, and is expected to absorb a forecast 15 million visitors by then, compared with just above six million last year. It will be developed and managed by Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holding.

All the publicity Dubai gets – orchestrated or otherwise – has one effect: people perceive Dubai as exciting. But is it as exciting as it is perceived to be?

Do buy

To the oft-asked question “What does one do in Dubai?”, shopping is the answer, according to a recent survey of 850 tourists and residents conducted by Dr Heiko Schmid, University of Heidelberg. But as Dubai evolves and new projects open, the breadth and depth of the tourism product is set to improve. This is followed by beach recreation, nightlife, organised desert safaris and visits to historical sights.

More than 50 per cent of all visitors are repeats.

>>Full article

SINGAPORE - Medical pulse races

TTGasia, Nov 17 - 23, 2006 / No.1502

SINGAPORE – With more countries having their scalpels ready to slice the lucrative medical travel pie, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore travel agents are being forced to sharpen theirs, to protect a market that has been growing well since 2002.

Perhaps the most serious competition Singapore – and Thailand, which has also made inroads into the market – faces is from Dubai, whose Dubai Healthcare City (DHC) entered its second phase of development in June.

DHC aims to become “a regional centre for medical excellence...enriched by international healthcare providers” such as the renowned Harvard Medical School. Launched in 2002, DHC is about 1.8 million square metres and is targeted to be fully operational in 2010. The infrastructure cost is around US$1.8 billion. It will have medical facilities, a wellness centre, hotels and shopping centres. With medical travellers from the Middle East to Singapore growing at double-digit rates, there are concerns DHC will siphon off this traffic.

Singapore saw a 17 per cent increase to 374,000 medical travellers in 2005. According to STB Singapore Medicine director, Dr Jason Yap, the majority of visitors were from Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. “We are seeing rapid, in some cases, double digit or better, growth from the Middle East, Greater China (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia), Indochina, South Asia and even from North America and Europe,” he said.

Besides aiming for high-end clients requiring specialised care, STB is actively pursuing new markets through activities such as attending medical conferences and exhibitions.

>>Full article

ABU DHABI - the next Gulf property boom?

Ameinfo.com, October 30 - 2006

Dubai and Doha have the tower cranes today but with $100 billion worth of new development projects now in hand, Abu Dhabi is the boom of tomorrow. Indeed, the boom of its neighbors has distracted attention from the start of a property boom in the UAE's capital city which also has the highest per capita income in the world. But the stage is set for explosive growth and major investment opportunities.

>>Full article

DUBAI - focuses on clearing misconceptions about Islam through mosque tourism

eTN, 27-10-2006

Dubai has taken an initiative to quash qualms about Islam through a religious tourism initiative.Dubai is news for an uncommon tourism initiative, related to eradicating misconceptions about Islam, especially that the religion condones violence.
Dubai’s leader, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is funding mosque tours for Western visitors.

According to AP, the ultimate goal is defusing strains between Muslims and Christians that rose after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, and the war in Iraq. Through the initiative, it is being hoped that tourists can spread understanding of Muslims in their home countries.

As per the information available, the tours of Jumeirah Mosque have grown over a decade from irregular gatherings of a dozen people to five-times-weekly tours of a hundred or more. Now, the government-linked center wants to expand inside the United Arab Emirates and beyond with an eye on the more than one million Westerners, mostly Europeans, who visit every year, added AP report. The center is also expanding tours to seven more mosques in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, capital of the Emirates.

>>Full article

UAE - ABU DHABI TOURISM AUTHORITY CONDUCTS EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP ON ‘BUSINESS TOURISM’ (MICE) FOR THE EMIRATES’ TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS 2006

eTN, 1-10-2006

ABU DHABI, – Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority conducted a half day workshop under the title “MICE – What’s it all about?” on September 19th at the Le Royal Meriden Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

The workshop, organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, was open to key personnel of Abu Dhabi’s tourism stakeholders including, other governmental organisations, tour operators, travel agents, hotels, venues and tourist attractions, conference and exhibition suppliers – over 100 people attended. On the objectives of the workshop, Director of ADTA’s Licensing and Classification Division, Mr. Nasser Al Reyami said “Business Tourism is one of the key areas for development and opportunity in Abu Dhabi and one of our key goals at ADTA is to increase the professionalism, service standards and creativity of our destination through industry education such as this, establishment of standard ethical practices and promotion of the value of the industry.” Key note speaker Mr. Jon Hutchinson, Chairman of the International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, provided a useful insight into the world of Meeting, Incentive, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE tourism) and how it will potentially impact Abu Dhabi. John has over 30 years experience in the tourism industry and is currently Managing Director of the Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are honoured to host Mr. Jon Hutchison in our country for this worthwhile event”, said Mr Ahmed Hussein, Director of Product Development at Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority “By facilitating industry forms such as this we are putting the building blocks and infrastructure in place so that Abu Dhabi is ready to handle Business Tourism (MICE) in the future and benefit from an industry that is globally valued at US$ 672.5 billion annually.

>>Full article