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Saudi Arabia air traffic to Europe has dropped sharply due to the outbreak of the swine flu virus. The start of the summer usually brings in huge profits for most of the airlines, because many Saudi families spend their vacations abroad. This year many Saudis have opted not to travel to western countries affected by the swine flu virus, including the United States and several European states. Airline and travel…
Prince Sultan bin Salman announced the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) will open a branch office in the holy city of Makkah. The prince made the announcement at the Makkah Chambers of Commerce board of directors meeting. A chamber spokesman said the Prince requested cooperation from all in setting up a committee to endorse accommodation contracts for pilgrims this year. The Prince said…
The “Talking Art Louvre Abu Dhabi” exhibition will continue at the Emirates Palace until 29 August 2009. The exhibition was opened last May to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Sadiyat Island. The museum will open in 2013 and a sample of artworks are on display at the Emirates Palace. The Tourism Development and Investment Company is the organizer of the exhibition. They said it is being…
A flydubai flight to Berlin was cancelled at the last minute on Saturday, stranding over 100 passengers who had traveled from other emirates to take the flight. An airline staff said the 10:30 am flight was cancelled because of technical reasons. The low cost carrier issued a statement apologizing to passengers for the cancellation. The statement said “As a gesture of good will we have offered all passengers…
The UAE, represented by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Bulgaria signed an Air Services Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding. Under the agreement the designated airlines of each country are granted unrestricted access on routes between Bulgaria and the UAE. Capacity and types of aircraft whether owned or leased, and for any type of service (passenger or cargo) may operate on these…
Multinational hotel chains are trying to boost falling occupancy rates by attracting Middle Eastern travelers with special packages and offers such as Arabic-speaking staff, private swimming pools, and butler services. Vice President of Sales and Marketing for South West Asia at Hyatt said the Middle East is and important market and they have developed “a wide range of services to attract business and leisure…
Tourism professionals in Morocco believe tourism in the county will slow this summer. Tourism experts say there will probably be a substantial fall in tourism activities because of the global economic crisis, lower purchasing power of Moroccan expatriates, the flu pandemic, and the start of Ramadan at the end of August. Between 1 January and 31 May the number of tourists visiting Morocco increased 10% to…
Gulf Air will resume flights to Iraq 33 years after discontinuing flights to the country. Direct services will operate between Bahrain and four cities in Iraq. There will be seven weekly flights to Baghdad and twelve to the holy city of Najaf. The Baghdad flight service will resume in September and the Najaf flights will begin after further work is completed on its airport. Increasing demand for service…
A survey carried out by the Bahrain Centre for Studies and Research found that 38% of Bahrainis have altered their travel plans because of fears over swine flu. The survey found that 25% of respondents do not feel safe about measures to prevent the disease from spreading. Of the respondents who changed their travel plans, 44% postponed their departure date, 27% cancelled the trip completely, and 29% changed…
A Westin Hotel spokesman confirmed they are closing for 24 hours so its air conditioning system can undergo maintenance. Earlier this year three former guests of the hotel were diagnosed with Legionnaires disease. The hotel spokesman said the planned closure on 16 July is not taking place because of any new concerns. He said “It has nothing to do with Legionnaires.” All guests who have booked stays at the…
A private company in Lebanon has launched a cosmetic surgery tourism initiative. The company is operating under the auspices of the tourism ministry and includes post operation rest and recuperation in premium resorts, and summer camps for patients children. Lebanon is renowned for its highly skilled and affordable surgeons. The Dubai based company Image Concept will handle all bookings and accommodation for…
Etihad Airways opened its first premium lounge outside of the UAE, at Frankfurt Airport, The new lounge is the first of many planned across the airlines global network as part of a strategy to strengthen its brand during the economic downturn.. Etihad Airways chief commercial officer said it “marks the beginning of a gradual rollout of Etihad lounges across the airline’s network which will all offer the same…
Prince Sultan emphasized the importance of providing affordable domestic tourism. The Prince spokes about the issue following signature of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Taif President. The Prince, who is secretary-general of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) said the high price of tourism concerns everyone, and “it should be studied and any complaint from the…
The cabinet approved establishment of the Ajoun Special Economic Zone on Tuesday. It is expected the new zone, which was launched by His Majesty King Abdullah early in the month, will bring in about JD1.4 million in tourist revenues annually, and over the next fifteen years attract billions of investment dollars, creating thousands of jobs. Twenty four tourism projects are planned for the zone, including a…
Emirates Palace is planning to build its own world class, full size football training facility for the upcoming Fifa Club World Cup which will be held in the UAE capital. The new facility will be one of eight official training grounds during the tournament which takes place between 9 December and 19 December 2009. A Local Organising Committee official said it will be the highest quality football grounds…
The Burj Al Arab is often described as a seven star hotel in hotel reviews and industry pamphlets, although no hotel actually has such a rating. The Burj Al Arab management describes their hotel as a five star hotel and says they are not encouraging use of the term “seven star hotel” A Jumeirah Group spokesperson said “There is not a lot we can do to stop it.” and “We’ve never used it in our…
Tourism growth has slowed in Abu Dhabi but continues to grow at a rate of 6%, despite a 20% decrease in the number of incoming air passengers. The lower passenger numbers were first observed in January and this trend became worse after the swine flu began to spread. Travel agents have not yet encountered serious difficulties according to a senior official. Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Travel and Tourism…
Seventy Emirati students are now participating in Abu Dhabi’s three week summer youth tourism programme, which began yesterday. The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has partnered with the Armed Forces Officers Club to offer the program which will develop the student’s understanding of the hospitality industry, and leadership and teamwork skills. Students will receive hands on practical instruction in hospitality…
