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Lebanese Ministry of Tourism released statistics on Sunday showing Saudi Arabian visitors in Lebanon account for 20% of all tourist spending, more than any other nationality. Emiratis followed with 13% of total spending, Kuwaitis account for 12%, Egyptians 8%, and Jordanians 6%. Arab visitors comprise 41.3% of the total number of visitors to Lebanon. During the first three months of 2009 Lebanon received…
A survey of more than 92,000 room bookings in 30 US and international destinations by US travel management company Ovation Travel group showed Abu Dhabi bucking the global downturn in the tourism industry. Year on year average room rates in Abu Dhabi increased more than 33% while room rates in Dubai decreased 25%. The survey revealed three, four, and five star hotels across the globe reduced their rates by…
Mubadala, Abu Dhabi’s government investment arm, signed a hotel management contract with Dallas based Rosewood Hotels and Resorts. The contract is for a new business hotel, the Rosewood Abu Dhabi Hotel, which is scheduled to open in 2012. The hotel is set in Sowwah, the core of Abu Dhabi’s new business district. News agency WAM said the Rosewood Abu Dhabi Hotel will be developed by Mubadala Real Estate and…
Company chiefs for Dubai based Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH) said they are sticking with their plans to develop 100 hotels by 2012 despite the global economic slowdown. HMH has expansion plans in the Middle East and beyond, but their main focus is UAE, Bahrain and Qatar. HMH CEO Michel Noblet said they are committed to developing 100 hotels by 2012, that it will be challenging but it is achievable. He…
UAE travelers to Thailand are safe and not stranded according to Karn Chiranond, Thai ambassador to the UAE. Chiranond said the airport is functioning normally and there are no disruptions in flight. He said several Emirates visit Thailand annually for tourism or medical tourism, all are safe, and those that are travelling outside the country are safely accompanied to the airport. An Etihad Airways…
A burial ground containing dozens of brightly painted mummies was uncovered by archeologists near the llahun pyramid in Fayoum oasis south of Cairo, Egypt. The countries antiquities chief said the mummies date as far back as 4,000 years. Zahi Hawass said a mission found the mummies in 53 rock hewn tombs dating back to the Middle Kingdom between 2061 and 1786 BC. The mummies were wrapped in linen and painted in…
Saudi investors are now implementing several multi-billion riyad tourism projects as they view the tourism sector as one of the few bright spots during the global economic slowdown. Projects include the resorts in the Red Sea coast in the western region, the coast of the Arabian Gulf, southern Aseer region, and the tourist destination of Taif. A report by the Tourism Information Research Centre shows…
Sharjah based airline Air Arabia won the 2009 World Airline Award for “Best Low Cost Airline in the Middle East”. The award is based on passenger surveys conducted by Skytrax Research. Air Arabia is the first and biggest low cost carrier in the Middle East and has served more than 10 million passengers since it was launched in October 2003. This is the third consecutive year the carrier has won the award for…
Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) reported that the number of visitors to heritage sites in Dubai increased 16% in 2008. The number of people visiting heritage sites operated by DTCM increased from 873,831 in 2007 to 1,009,848 in 2008. DTCM director of Heritage attributed the increase in visitors to aggressive promotion and marketing by their department. DTCM supervises the heritage…
Etihad Airways announced on Monday it has partnered with alternative energy initiative Masdar in order to reduce its global footprint. Etihad Airways said it will reduce emissions and use more environmentally friendly fuels. The aviation industry must comply with new European Union Emission Trading Scheme rules by 2012. Masdar will provide support for Etihad’s carbon management programs including its…
GCC investors are showing an increasing interest in European hotels in major cities like Paris and London. Capital France Hotel acquired four-star hotel Radisson Paris Boulogne Hotel from Compagnie La Lucette. This is the first Parisian transaction this year. It shows confidence in the European markets and indicates there are good opportunities in the hotel market. Capital France Hotel is a hospitality fund…
The Jordanian charter flight operator Arab Wings announced yesterday they will launch a sister company, Gulf Wings, in Sharjah. Arab Wings general manager, Ahmad Abu Ghazaleh, said they have recently received an Air Operators certificate to form Gulf Wings which will be an executive flights business also providing aircraft management for luxury jet owners. Mr. Ghazaleh said the company’s expansion reflects…
Planet Group was awarded the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Uzbekistan Airways, the Uzbekistan national carrier for the UAE. Planet Group is a conglomeration of 11 companies including a well established chain of companies in the UAE. Ibrahim Naikhande, the GSA for Uzbekistan tourism in the UAE said during the Arabian Travel Market 2009 they plan to launch a standalone brochure on Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan…
Prince Sataam pledged support for the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia after formally inaugurating the Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market (STTIM) 2009 event yesterday. The Prince said the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia will recover despite the global economic slowdown. He promised to support the local tourism initiatives of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities. SCTA President Prince…
Nakheel Hotels announced it opened the 137 room One&Only Cape Town hotel on the world famous harbor the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa. Kerzner International are owners and operators of the One&Only and Atlantis brands. Nakheel’s opening of One&Only Cape Town further strengthens their relationship with Kerzner and expands its brand of luxury hotels in Africa. Dubai World is Nakheel…
Emirates Airlines said they have not yet made a final decision regarding repair of the damaged A340-500 aircraft which made an emergency landing after striking its tail on the runway in Melbourne last month. According to the Australian Transport Safety Board damage is substantial. When asked if the plane would be written off an Emirates spokesman said they are still considering repair options. The…
Emirates Airlines bolstered its market position with recent important appointments and adding new services to its current network of 100 destinations. Richard Vaughn was named Divisional Senior Vice President (DSVP). He is an Australian with more than forty years of experience in the travel industry. UAE nationals Ahmad Khoury, Salem Obaidullah, and Majid Al Muah assume senior positions in the commercial…
The World’s biggest network of travel brands said they are focused on growing in the Middle East. Vice President, Middle East for Travel Port Rabih Saab said their fundamentals in the region are very strong, and they still believe in the economic growth potential here despite the economic slowdown. Mr. Saab said they announced further investments last summer and these were used to build up resources and…
