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The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) will increase its promotion of Abu Dhabi as an international destination in 2010. ADTA will showcase Abu Dhabi at destination pavilions at 20 overseas fairs next year including the emerging markets of Malaysia, Spain, and India. This is three more fairs than ADTA participated in last year. The authority is discounting participation fees for emerging markets by between 11%…
Speedboat tours by “The Yellow Boats” are the newest tourism product to launch in Abu Dhabi, giving tourists a different way to explore the city’s amazing coastline and new developments. The speedboat tours provide guided tours of popular attractions like the iconic Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi Corniche, ‘Natural Wildlife Tour’, and ‘Ultimate Thrill Ride’ for those looking for adventure. Managing Director of “The…
Passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport recorded double digit year-on-year increases for the sixth consecutive month during November, according to data released by IATA, the International Air Traffic Association. Passenger traffic increased 12.6 percent to 3,520,287 passengers in November 2009, up from 3,125,351 for the same month last year. This brings total year to date passenger traffic to…
Flight services to and from the UAE were disrupted for the third consecutive day because of heavy snow and bad weather in many parts of United States and Europe. Thousands of passengers have been left stranded at their airport gates. An American passenger explained in an email – “The weather is bad in NY. The flight is delayed. We will see what happens.” The passenger was scheduled to depart on an…
Kenya’s Minister of Tourism is looking to the UAE for investment needed to further develop the country’s infrastructure to boost long term travel gains. Najib Balala said that by 2011, Kenya will be ready to attract key players from the hospitality industry in the Middle East, including Rotana and the Jumeirah Group. Kenya will offer tax breaks and facilitate the companies with land acquisition to build…
Investors enjoyed one of the most successful years for the world’s stocks in the last twenty years, but now persistent concerns about sovereign and related debt from the Middle East and Latin America will keep them busy into 2010. Going into the holiday season, investors must be aware of credit rating downgrades and their effect on asset prices, as thin liquidity aggravates market movement. Two credit…
The Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA) plans to introduce 900 kilometers of cycling tracks in the city, to be laid in stages over the next ten years. Abdul Mohsen, Chief Executive Officer with RTA ‘s Strategy and Corporate Governance, said the aim is to encourage more people to use cycling for short distances by providing safe cycling facilities in the city. The 14 kilometer long Jumeirah Road already…
A seven day Arabian Gulf Cruise will launch on January 18th in Dubai. Dubailand, a member of Dubai Properties Group, and Royal Caribbean International announced the new holiday package. Cruise stops will include Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Muscat, Fujairah, and some of Dubailand’s tourism developments, such as Dubai Autodrome and The Global Village. CEO of Dubai Properties Group, Khalid Al Malik, said “Two strong…
A new museum dedicated to the development of date palms and their use in tourism opened in Tozeur, Tunisia’s oasis city and capital of the Jerid region. Tozeur is well known for its palm groves and date production, and visitors will learn more about the world’s palm trees at the museum. The museum has four exhibition rooms with paintings showing the history of the palm, its cultural, religious and nutritional…
Gourmet Abu Dhabi, one of the capital’s youngest festivals, runs from February 5th to February 19th. The food festival is now in its second year. Abu Dhabi Deputy Director General of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) said “The cast this year reads like a Who’s Who of the international gastronomic arena, being garnered from 13 countries across Australasia, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the sub-continent, and…
Yemin is trying hard to improve the economy and tourism despite security problems as the country is at war with rebels in the north. The Yemeni Ministry of Tourism held its fourth consultative meeting on Saturday with tourist leaders from around the country. Deputy Prime Minister for Interior Affairs said Yemin shows great potential for as a vital and promising sector. Sadiq Abu Ras said “The country has…
The Baghdad mayor said the cornerstone will be laid at Baghdad’s biggest tourist resort, the “al-Rafidayen” in the next few days. The new hotel includes two hotels with 26 stories. The mayor said “Baghdad has received more than 130 investors who expressed a desire to implement construction, services, industrial, transport, and energy projects.” Three investment licenses, valued at $58 million were granted.
Investment Chief for Aabar Investments, which is controlled by the government of Abu Dhabi, said it will be possible for passengers on the Virgin Galactic to travel to Abu Dhabi in two to three hours. Earlier this year Aabar bought a 32 percent stake in Sir Richard Branson’s commercial space project for $289 million. Aabar chairman Al Qusaibi explained “The point here is to use Abu Dhabi and LA as a hub, or…
The Jabal Omar Development Company has begun work on a forty meter wide pedestrian path linking the new King Abdul Aziz Road with the western courtyard of the Grand Mosque. The new road will be called the King Abdul Pedestrian Road. Other construction projects have resumed following a lull during Haj season including the Jabal Omar project, which will include a circular road to ease traffic and a vehicle…
Indications of the downturn can still be seen amid the glamorous Emirates Boat Show, which opened in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night. A sign hanging over the Duretti 85, a 25 meter super yacht parked at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center marina reads “Special Offer: Dh 6 Million”. Shaju Sreedhar, Purchasing Manager at Dubai Marina, which makes the Duretti, attributes the ‘special offer’ to the recession,…
Abu Dhabi has again made it to the list of top ten travel destinations in 2010 in the US travel guide, Frommer’s. The top ten listing is based on suggestions made by travel writers, editors, and Frommer's survey of reader’s favorite destinations. Frommer’s editors said the 2010 recommended destinations represents “a mix of emerging hot spots, under appreciated cities, and placed to visit before they are overrun…
Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammad Al Owais, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and Chairman of the National Council on Tourism and Antiquities (NCTA) presided over the first NCTA board of directors meeting in Dubai recently. Al Owais said this first meeting of the new federal tourism body is a historic one, laying the foundation for its future role as an umbrella organization covering all…
