Airline, airport, hotel, destination, visa, and Muslim travel updates from Irhal.
The airline marks Philadelphia as its 14th destination in North America NEW YORK, NY, USA – Qatar Airways has reconnected Doha and Philadelphia with the launch of a daily non-stop flight between Hamad International Airport (DOH) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), its 14th destination in North America, which resumed on 1 August 2026.
Read full storyThis summer, Central Shopping Centers invites international visitors to experience the best of shopping, dining, and leisure with Summer Holiday 2026, running from 20 July – 30 September 2026. Created exclusively for international tourists, the campaign offers shopping privileges across Thailand’s five world-class shopping malls: centralwOrld, Central Park…
Read full storyThe Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Jordan Tourism Board, in cooperation with tourism associations, have launched the integrated digital platform "Ahlan Jordan" as part of measures to support the tourism sector and address the impact of regional circumstances on travel activity.
Read full storyflydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, has increased its daily operations between Dubai and Naples and is set to boost its flights to Milan-Bergamo to a double-daily operation from 31 July, enhancing passenger connectivity to Italy.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – July 28, 2026: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced that Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a museum of modern and contemporary art, will open its doors on 11 December 2026 at Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi.
Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the region's largest indoor theme park, is inviting guests to place themselves in the hands of one of DC's most iconic Super-Villains, as Kryptonite Collider officially opens.
Malaysia Retains No. 1 Position in Global Muslim Travel Index 2025, Offering GCC Travellers a Summer of Festivals, Culture and Discovery.
The Dubai-based carrier announces the start of daily flights to Aleppo from 20 July, reaffirming its connectivity to opening underserved markets Aleppo becomes the carrier’s second destination in Syria alongside Damascus
What if the most valuable thing you brought home from a trip wasn’t an object, but a story? Northern Thailand is home to dozens of ethnic communities who have carried their identities across mountains and borders for centuries – and many of them welcome curious, respectful visitors.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today launched the search for the 7 Contemporary Wonders of the World, a global initiative designed to identify and celebrate the landmarks and buildings created since 1801 that have had the greatest impact on Travel & Tourism, local communities and economic development, and continue to redefine the future of destin…
Luxury travel today is no longer measured by how much you can see in a few days, but by how deeply you can experience a destination. At Le Méridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort, guests are invited to embrace this philosophy through Long Stay Beach Escape, an exclusive package designed for travelers who wish to enjoy more of Phuket's culture, wellness, and f…
Read full storyTwo hotels, three ways to stay, and one summer campaign inviting guests to choose their own scene across Paramount Hotel Midtown and Paramount Hotel Dubai
Read full storySharjah Museums Offer an Integrated Summer Experience Blending Culture, Science, and Discovery for All Community Members
Read full storyNew five-day programme empowers young people to build confidence, resilience and lifelong skills while embracing active lifestyles
Read full storyAcross Five Museums with Interactive Museum Programmes Enriching Children’s Knowledge
Read full storyOceans of Lights Festival returns to SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in its third edition to offer a summer program full of activities and new experiences
Read full storyJuly 2026, Yerevan, Armenia: Armenia has extended its temporary visa-free entry arrangement, keeping the country within easy reach for eligible travellers from across the Gulf for a further year. The arrangement now runs until 1 July 2027.
Read full storyJuly 2026, Yerevan, Armenia: The competent Armenian authorities announced the extension of the temporary decision exempting eligible travelers from GCC countries from prior visa entry for an additional year, making the decision effective until July 1, 2027. This decision aims to facilitate travel procedures and tourism movement and exchange between Armenia and the Arab Gulf region, allowing travelers…
Read full storySet within Khalid Lagoon, the island shows how Sharjah brings art, nature and design into everyday public life.
Read full storyBlending cultural discovery with elevated wellness and leisure experiences, World of Hyatt summer destinations offer GCC travelers seasonal getaways across the GCC, Africa and Europe.
Read full storyAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – June 30, 2026: Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi has officially been awarded the Guinness World Records™ title for the most waterslides in a waterpark, featuring a record-breaking collection of 55 slides.
Read full storyExperience the Colours of Malaysia at Citrawarna 2026 This Summer
Read full storyGermany is an ideal destination for friends traveling together, thanks to its creative neighborhoods, vibrant markets, street food culture, and stunning natural retreats
Read full storyFollowing the launch of its first collaboration in 2025, the Jacquemus brand returns this summer to the Monte Carlo Beach Club with a new design that reimagines the coastal atmosphere with a contemporary spirit. The design evokes the spirit of 1950s beach clubs, where elegance meets the calm Mediterranean lifestyle.
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DUSSELDORF, Germany - German state North Rhine Westphalia and its capital Düsseldorf are becoming stronger magnets for leisure travel, according to a study released by the State Office of Statistics. More than 1.7 million foreign visitors traveled to the region in the first 6 months of 2010, an increase of 9.2 percent compared to last year. In total, 8.6 million visited the region, an increase of 5.4 percent,…
The Rixos Premium Belek, Antalya, on the Turkish Riviera has been chosen to host Europe’s most important travel and tourism awards. The continent’s leading travel companies, operators, and destinations are battling it out to be crowned the best of them all. World Travel Awards, described by the International Herald Tribune as the “Oscars" of the travel industry, holds the Europe Gala Ceremony on October 1,…
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) started the implementation of eight projects to develop tourist sites in Tabuk, in an effort to support other projects implemented by municipalities, investors, and businessmen in the province. Efforts also aim to benefit from the natural tourism potential and find appropriate tourist sites to achieve the aspirations of different social groups. Nasir bin…
The Executive Committee of the Eid Al Fitr Celebration at the Riyadh Mayoralty has announced the Eid al-Fitr programs in various parts of the city to celebrate the Eid Holidays. These include the 200 free events spread over more than 40 locations in various neighborhoods of the capital with the participation of a large number of folk shows, traditional and performing artists and poets, and the fireworks to…
Egypt Air has become the latest airline in the Middle East region to offer in-flight connectivity to passengers.
Doha, QATAR – Qatar Airways today announced further expansion to its Indian network with a 20 per cent increase in frequency covering the cities of Delhi, Cochin and Amritsar from next month. Beginning September 1, the number of flights to the northern Indian city of Amritsar will rise from four- a-week to daily. The expansion comes less than a year since Qatar Airways launched flights to Amritsar. The…
To mark the beginning of a new phase in its Silk Road Program, UNWTO, in collaboration with the government of Uzbekistan, will hold the 5th International Meeting on the Silk Road on October 8-9, 2010 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The meeting will introduce new concepts for Silk Road branding and marketing, destination management, and travel facilitation, and will set out key strategies for the UNWTO’s “Silk Road…
CHICAGO and HOUSTON - In an agreement intended to address the United States Department of Justice's concerns related to Continental's proposed merger with United, both airlines have agreed to lease 18 pairs of take-off and landing slots (roundtrip flights) during peak and off-peak travel times and certain related facilities to Southwest Airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport. "We think this would be…
EGYPTAIR has received its first Airbus A330-300 aircraft from the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France. Powered by Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines, the aircraft seats 301 passengers with 265 in Economy Class, and 36 in Business Class. Joining EGYPTAIR’s existing Airbus fleet of 17 A320 family aircraft, seven A330-200s and three A340-200s, the new A330-300 will be the first EGYPTAIR aircraft to feature onboard…
Dubai: 29th August, 2010: Priority Pass, the world’s leading independent airport lounge program, has added over 50 new lounges to its program this year making it the largest selection of lounges ever offered to its members. Within the Middle East, new lounges are now available to members in Jeddah (Al-Fursan Golden Lounges), Riyadh (Al-Fursan Golden Lounges), Abu Dhabi (Dana Lounge) and in Muscat (Plaza…
Starting November of this year, passengers traveling to Chennai, India, will have the possibility of doing so in one non-stop flight, with Air Seychelles. Responding to the increased number of arrivals from the Indian subcontinent and the demand from the local Indian community, Air Seychelles, has decided to launch this service, which will provide a direct air-link to India. The national airline has recently…
The year 2010 represents a golden opportunity for South Africa as a nation to win not just on the football field as host nation of the 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP, but on the global tourism stage. The reality, however, is that the end of the 2010 Games do not mark the end of the work, they mark the beginning. And for Destination South Africa, the tourism industry is firmly in extra time. As stated by Mr. Jabu Mabuza,…
Co-operative Travel Group managing director Mike Greenacre will lead a stellar line up of private sector speakers at the annual World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Ministers’ Summit at World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry. This year’s summit is poised to be the largest ever with more than 150 ministers and senior aides attending. For the first time, the summit will conclude…
SEYCHELLES - The Seychelles Tourism Board has written to Emirates Airline to congratulate them on the recent promotions given to three of their Seychellois staff managing their Seychelles operations after it had been confirmed that effecting August 1, 2010, Mike Bathilde was promoted from cargo supervisor to cargo officer, Shana Laporte was promoted from senior airport services agent to airport services officer,…
UAE hotels are relying on food and beverage revenues from iftars and suhoors because of the decline in occupancy rates during Ramadan. “The hospitality industry has always been accustomed to experiencing a drop in room occupancy during Ramadan, especially when it falls on summer season,” said Syed Zulfiqar Mehdi, the sales director at Samaya Hotel Deira in Dubai. But iftars and suhoors are helping to offset…
UNWTO Secretary-general, Mr. Taleb Rifai, met with the Croatian Prime Minister, Ms. Jadranka Kosor, and the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Damir Bajs, to discuss tourism development in the country during a visit to Croatia (August 20-21, 2010). The Prime Minister expressed her full support for the tourism sector, underlining its crucial role in economic growth and development. Meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr.…
NEW YORK, NY – Exceptional scuba diving can be found throughout the Caribbean, but for a truly one-of-a-kind undersea adventure, Martinique’s Diamond Rock is tough to match. This uninhabited, hardscrabble islet located off Martinique’s southern coast features a cavern that extends directly beneath it from one end to the next. This affords divers the unique opportunity to dive under an island, beginning on one…
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced international scheduled traffic statistics for July which showed continued strengthening of demand for both passenger and cargo traffic. Compared to July 2009, international passenger demand was up 9.2% while international scheduled freight traffic showed a 22.7% improvement. These year-on-year comparisons for July were less than the June growth data…
Passengers on Bmibaby flight were treated to live opera singing on their flight from Manchester to Prague. Vera Likerova, a member of the Prague State Opera, performed a Czech melody for all passengers, which is the first event in the airlines's "enterplanement" season. "As well as putting the fun back into flying, we thought we could do something more interactive and actually have representatives from the…
LONDON, England - Today, Corinthia Hotels released further details of the five-star luxury hotel it is building in central London, which is due to open in early 2011. It will become the world’s ninth Corinthia Hotel. Corinthia Hotel London is being built within an imposing Victorian building, on a city block location between Whitehall Place, Northumberland Avenue and Great Scotland Yard, overlooking Trafalgar…
HANOI, Vietnam - Seychelles’ participation in the Second International Forum held in Hanoi from August 17 to 19 on the theme “Vietnam-Africa: Cooperation on Sustainable Development" has opened new avenues of concrete cooperation between the two countries and projected, in the region and beyond, a dynamic image of Seychelles’ “Look East" diplomacy. During the event that was attended by more than 600 delegates…
Dubai, UAE; August 23, 2010: A collection of artwork by Italian artist Pordenone Montanari, described as a genius rediscovered, will be on display in London, on loan from the private art collection of a Dubai-based entrepreneur, and promoter of DAR Capital Group, a boutique investment advisory and private equity firm with business interests in India, the Middle East and Africa. A core group of paintings by…
RAK Airways Chairman, Sheikh Omar bin Saqr al Qasimi, has said the airline will re-launch its operations during the September-October period and aims to break-even on the first year. The carrier will start with two planes flying to South India and Saudi Arabian destinations, he said. "We are aiming (to break-even) as soon as possible. We are aiming from the first year," he said. The Ras Al Kaimah population are…
World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, is expanding its technology seminar program for 2010 with the introduction of a presentation theatre on the exhibition floor within the technology and online travel section. It’s the first time a conference venue has been positioned on the World Travel Market (WTM) exhibition floor in the event’s 31-year history. The new Technology and…
