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Gulf Finance House signed a US $1.8 billion (Dh6.61 bn) agreement with Abu Dhabi Investment House to build a health resort in the tourist destination of Essaouira, in Morocco. The partners signed letters of intent on with the Moroccan government in Davos, Switzerland last week, as the World Economic Forum there was in process. The alliance between the two partners is named Vision3 and it will develop a…
A Deluxe coach service between Dubai and Abu Dhabi was inaugurated by the Public Transport Agency (PTA) of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). CEO of the PTA said that initially 10 deluxe coaches will transport passengers along this route to the capital and Al Ain. The one-way fare is Dh20. Later 55 buses will be added and the service will be extended to more areas. The 10 buses were bought for a…
The volatile world economy caused the international demand for tourism to slow significantly in 2008. International tourist arrivals in 2008 were 924 million, a 16 million increase, or 2% increase compared to 2007. However, during the second half of 2008 growth stopped and the trend for international arrivals declined slightly. This trend is expected to continue into 2009.
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) opened new tourism offices in Rome and Milan and this is expected to increase Italian tourist arrivals. The ADTA chairman said “The opening of these offices sends a clear signal to the international tourism industry that Abu Dhabi is maintaining its long term vision of attracting 2.7 million hotel guests to the emirate by 2012. On Wednesday 50 member Italian delegation led…
{mosimafe}The Tiger Woods Dubai announced today that grassing work has begun on the18 hole, 7,800 yard, par 72 championship Al Ruwaya Golf Course. Tiger Woods Dubai is a 55 million square foot golf community development and an exclusive member of Tatweer Dubai. IMG Golf Course Management has the mandate to operate and manage the Al Ruwaya Golf Club and they are supervising the grassing. Tiger Woods, the…
Popular business incentives such as overseas trips for high octane salesman are currently falling dramatically due to the global financial crisis. UAE travel agents are reporting a severe dip in 2009 bookings for incentive packages to and from the UAE. The bookings for these trips are falling due to a spending freeze on non-essential trips being implemented by banks and property companies.
Morocco and two Gulf firms signed an agreement to build a huge 1.8 bn dollar tourism project in the town of Essaouira on the Atlantic coast. The project will include a health tourism complex covering 270 hectares. Map reported that on Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Rabat signed a letter of intent with Abu Dhabi’s Ithmaar Development Company and Gulf Finance House
A group of tourists stranded on the Ras Al Khamai Mountain overnight were rescued by the Air Wing police. Three tourists spent an entire night on the mountain after a rescue mission failed because of extreme darkness. The three people rescued were a 32 year old tourist from New Zealand and a 29 year old man from South Africa.
The Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau opened an office in Dubai bringing to six the number of offices in its international network. The others are Britain, India, Germany, France, and Russia. The Middle East has been identified as by the Sri Lankan government as one of the key source markets and so they are reviewing strategies to attract more Arab tourists. The Deputy Prime Minister of Tourism for Sri…
Dubai Retail will add two floors consisting of 177,000 feet of retail space at Business Bay, the Dh 110 billion master development of Dubai properties. Dubai retail, which is a subsidiary of Dubai properties currently has 777,000 square feet of retail space. The new Bay Avenue edition will come online for the next edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) according to a top company official
Explorer Publishing announced that it has released the latest edition of Dubai Explorer (Live Work Explore – The complete residents guide). Dubai is written by residents, for residents and is a practical guide to daily life, work, exploring and an inspirational travel specific guide. For more information log on to www.liveworkexplore.com
Bloomsburg has reported that Dubai plans to announce a strategy in the coming two weeks to attract tourists in the background of the ongoing financial crisis. Khalid Ahmed bin Sulayem, the director general of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commercial Marketing, said that the emirate is gathering information and looking at trends in travel in tourism around the world, and may revise its target of attracting 15…
Dubai-based developer Nakheel says it will not operate the Queen Elizabeth 2 when the former luxury liner is transformed into a hotel in three years, a newspaper has reported. Nakheel is in talks with major hotel operators to see which will run the hotel, and it will ‘most likely’ be one that Nakheel has already worked with, said Manfred Ursprunger, CEO of Nakheel Hotels, QE2 Enterprises. Source: www. ameinfo.com
Gammon and Billimoria has been awarded the construction contract for the first phase of Forbidden City, Nakheel's new project in International City, a Dubai based newspaper has reported. A top official has mentioned that the 4,000 low-rise studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments will be world class but 'affordable'. Source: www.gulfnews.com
Omagine SOAC announced on over the weekend that they are all set to sign an agreement with the Omani government for a $1.5 billion mega tourism project dubbed ‘OMAGINE’. The project will be spread out over 245 acres of prime beach front land, a stone’s throw distance from the Muscat International Airport. Omagine promises to be an elegant and sophisticated combine of entertainment, hospitality, cultural, retail…
The very first meeting for the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2009 was held on November 20, at Terminal 3 of the Dubai International Airport. Government dignitaries and officials of the DSF Committee attended the meeting. The 14th edition of the festival will begin on January 15 and continue until February 15. Three new government departments have joined the committee this year -Community Development…
Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has announced an ambitious plan for the promotion of medical tourism in Abu Dhabi. "We have just finished the second phase of the Abu Dhabi Exhibition Centre, which measures 30-50,000 square metres and can receive up to 50 exhibitions annually and the number is multiplying," he said at a press conference. Shaikh Tahnoun added…
The Tourism Ministry and Global Distribution System of Lobanon, on Tuesday, November 18, launched a new online trade and directory services portal, Bab-ilu, and announced plans to introduce an online virtual tourism and trade centre. A statement issues by the ministry said "The centre will help promote various Lebanese cities, villages, and communities within the country and abroad promoting Lebanon to millions…
