Tourism Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund in talks to buy stake in Flynas Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is in talks to buy a stake in Flynas, a Riyadh-headquartered low-cost carrier, Bloomberg reported, citing informed sources. Goldman Sachs Group is advising shareholders on the potential sale to the sovereign fund. The airline is partly owned by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Kingdom Holding Co., in which PIF purchased […] April 28, 2023
Tourism Turkey’s tourism sector slow to recover after huge quake After months of hosting displaced survivors of Turkey’s massive earthquake in his Antalya hotels, Hakan Saatcioglu hopes his rooms will soon be filled with tourists again after the temporary guests were transferred elsewhere by the government. Saatcioglu, the coordinator of Limak International Hotels & Resorts, is one of many in hospitality expecting to see Turkey’s […] April 25, 2023
Food & Drink Abu Dhabi sets up $100m fund to elevate restaurant scene Abu Dhabi has set up a $100 million investment fund to help attract more global restaurant brands to the city. The Abu Dhabi Culinary Investment Fund, announced by the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi, will also support building and establishing a culinary school. The school will offer an established core curriculum and […] April 19, 2023
Tourism Europe’s strikes may spell more flights havoc Strikes across Europe have led to a spike in flight cancellations and delays, and driven down bookings to cities such as Paris, despite airlines’ efforts to avoid a repeat of last year’s disruption. During the Easter holiday weekend from April 5 to 11, flight cancellations and delays of more than three hours were higher than […] April 19, 2023
Tourism Dubai’s Sunset Hospitality Group rises in Morocco Sunset Hospitality Group has announced a partnership to enter Morocco as part of its ongoing global expansion plans. Sunset, which operates over 25 hospitality brands around the world, ranging from resorts and beach clubs to restaurants and nightlife venues, has teamed up with African Hospitality Group (AHG) to develop new lifestyle experiences in Morocco. Having recently […] April 18, 2023
Tourism Qatar relaunches World Cup visa platform for tourism Qatar has relaunched the visa platform it used to welcome 1.4 million football fans during last year’s Fifa World Cup with a broader tourism remit, as it seeks to attract over six million visitors a year by 2030. The new-look Hayya platform will become the single portal for all tourist and business visas to the […] April 17, 2023
Tourism Oman expects tourism sector investments at $7.9bn by 2025 Oman expects to add OMR700 million ($1.84 billion) worth of new hospitality projects, taking the total investment in the tourism sector to OMR3 billion by 2025, said the ministry of heritage and tourism. The ministry has approved 363 projects across the country with a total value of OMR2.29 billion between 2021 and 2025, state-owned Oman […] April 17, 2023
Tourism China’s Haichang to develop first ocean park in Saudi Hong Kong-listed Haichang Ocean Park has announced plans to develop the first large-scale ocean park in Saudi Arabia. The company, Asia’s largest ocean park owner and operator, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Investment in Saudi Arabia. Haichang’s entertainment venues in Saudi cities will comprise family entertainment centres, water parks, zoos and […] April 16, 2023
Tourism Ramadan travel still falling short of pre-pandemic highs Ramadan travel from the GCC is up on 2022 levels in many member states, but is still lagging behind the heights enjoyed by the industry in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a sector professional. Olivier Ponti, vice president of insights at London-based global travel data and analytics firm ForwardKeys, revealed outbound flight bookings […] April 14, 2023
Tourism Airlines warn blocked funds could hamper Africa growth Global carriers have warned that concerns over blocked airline funds in Africa and elsewhere could lead to interruptions in air services if there is no progress in talks to unfreeze money owed. About $1.6 billion of funds are being withheld in various African countries because of currency shortages or other problems, the International Air Transport […] April 4, 2023
Food & Drink Dubai F&B sector will coast through uncertainty, says CEO The food and beverage industry in Dubai can withstand economic uncertainty, according to the CEO of Merex Investment, developer of La Mer, a beachfront attraction with more than 100 restaurants, cafes and shops. It had been feared that further hikes in interest rates by the US Federal Reserve may lead to residents of countries with […] April 3, 2023
Tourism Egypt’s five-year tourist visa meets an uncertain reaction Egyptian tourism will get a boost from a five-year tourist visa available for $700, the country’s government hopes. The visa has been announced as part of a national strategy to more than double tourist numbers over the next five years. Announcing the new visa at a press conference on Monday, Egyptian minister of tourism and […] March 29, 2023
Tourism Penthouse suites sell out at world’s next tallest hotel tower in Dubai Top-floor suites have sold out at Ciel, a hotel tower under construction in Dubai Marina, AGBI understands. The 365-metre tower will be the world’s tallest hotel when complete, and is being developed by The First Group. The penthouse suites were offered to investors for more than $755,000, although investment opportunities in the Ciel tower are […] March 29, 2023
Tourism Seera’s return to operating profit reflects Saudi tourism push Saudi travel giant Seera Group has announced its first operating profit since the coronavirus pandemic as the kingdom continues to emerge as a global tourism destination. Driven by the resurgence in demand for travel, Seera Group generated a gross booking value of SR9.3 billion ($2.5 billion) last year, nearly double the figure recorded in 2021. […] March 29, 2023
Tourism Gulf expects China rebound as tourists return from isolation The Middle East is likely to experience a surge in Chinese tourism this year, reminiscent of the earlier rebound witnessed from Europe and India. China lifted its Covid-related travel restrictions in January, allowing Chinese tourists to travel abroad, without having to quarantine upon their return. Bookings for overseas travel during Chinese New Year soared […] March 28, 2023
Tourism Qatar tourists surge 347% in first two months of 2023 Qatar received nearly 730,000 visitors in January and February this year, a year-on-year increase of 347 percent. January saw 340,000 international visitors, up 295 percent year-on-year, while February reported 389,000 visitors, a 406 percent year-on-year rise, Qatar Tourism said in a statement. Except for the months of the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022, February marked […] March 27, 2023
Tourism Tourists beginning to catch on to more than the wonder of Petra Given the Hashemite kingdom’s surfeit of historical sites – from the Nabataean city Petra through the natural beauty of Wadi Rum to the Roman towns of Jerash and Gadariyya – Jordan could be forgiven for being blasé about the need to market its tourism attractions more aggressively. But the authorities in capital Amman are determined […] March 23, 2023
Tourism UAE embraces travel again as Ramadan airfares spike Airfares from the UAE to key expat locations have increased over the Ramadan period as a new report shows that residents in the Emirates have the biggest appetite for travel. A global survey of 18 countries by research firm YouGov, carried out in November last year, found that 58 percent of UAE respondents said travel […] March 21, 2023
Tourism India resists allowing Gulf carriers to increase air traffic to its cities India is resisting calls from both Dubai and Kuwait to increase their national airlines’ flights to the subcontinent’s fast-growing aviation market. The country wants its own domestic airlines to offer non-stop long haul flights rather than increasing air traffic from Emirates and Jazeera Airways, its civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told Reuters on Tuesday. “The minute […] March 21, 2023
Transport Italian travel company to invest $75m in Saudi luxury train An Italian hospitality company is investing around €70 million ($75 million) to develop the first luxury train for “rail cruising” across Saudi Arabia. Arsenale Group has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia Railways to introduce the train on a 770-mile route from Riyadh to the northern city of Al Qurayat, close to the border with […] March 20, 2023
Tourism Marriott signs deal with Saudi firm for eight Madinah hotels American hotelier Marriott International has signed a deal with Rua Al Madinah Holding Company to open eight hotels in the Saudi Arabian city of Madinah. Located close to the Prophet’s Mosque, Al Masjid An Nabawi, the openings will add 4,400 rooms across the eight Marriott brands. The expansion forms part of the Rua Al Madinah […] March 20, 2023
Tourism New UK tourist visa set to boost GCC trade corridor Visitors from Qatar will be the first to benefit from the new UK tourist visa scheme, ahead of a worldwide expansion of the scheme throughout 2024. Qatari visitors will be the first to be able to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) in October. The rest of the GCC and Jordan can apply for […] March 16, 2023
