UAE: Flydubai Wants Compensation From Boeing And Replacement Of 737 Max

Most airlines across the world grounded 737 Max after an Ethiopian Airlines jet crashed in March. Flydubai may prefer an option of replacing its order of more than 100 Boeing 737 Max jets with Airbus A320neos.

Then further demand compensation from the US plane-maker for the loss incurred following the grounding of 14 narrow-body aircraft, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the low-cost carrier said on Monday.

Speaking at the Arabian Travel Market, Sheikh Ahmed, who is also Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said the airline had to cancel up to 15 flights a day after grounding almost 10 per cent of its fleet.

Most airlines across the world grounded 737 Max after an Ethiopian Airlines jet crashed in March and a LionAir jet crashed last October, killing a total of 346 people.

Sheikh Ahmed did not say when flydubai would exercise the option for replacing the order nor did he reveal how much was the compensation flydubai would demand from Boeing.

The Dubai-based carrier operates a fleet of only 737 aircraft and is one of the largest Max operators having ordered 250 of the plane in November 2017 in a deal valued at $27 billion.

With so much aircraft on order, he said he couldn't sit and do nothing but needed to look at options such as the Airbus A320.

He stressed the replacement option and compensation are flydubai's rights.

We didn't ground those aircraft just because we wanted to. Even if we wanted to fly this aircraft, it would not be possible as nobody will allow it to fly within their airspace.

Sheikh Ahmed said he expects the US plane maker to improve communication with customers. We do not have a definite idea about the date when Max aircraft will be flying again.

On Boeing's claim that it is developing a software fix and new pilot training for regulatory approval to get Max recertified, Sheikh Ahmed said there was lack of clarity about those fixes and how long the plane grounding will last.

I have to see when this aircraft will be flying again and what assurances we will be getting, and how much compensation we will get. I don't want the delay to continue, he said.

On the higher fuel price and its impact on the airline's profitability, he said several other factors, including geopolitical issues, are posing challenges of all operators, but the full year 2018 results would be positive for the group. However, I would like to see oil prices at $60.

On the status on the talks with India to boost bilateral seat quota, Sheikh Ahmed said he expects to get more capacity, but did not say when a new agreement could be inked.

On Airbus 380 aircraft of the world's largest commercial jet-liner of which Emirates is the largest operator in the world, he said although its production would cease, the plane would continue to be operational for another 15 years.

We are today at 107 aircraft, it will go up to 125 before we see that some of the older aircraft come out of the fleet, he said.


Tourism Observer

UAE: Tourism Growing Very Fast And Steadily, Dubai Alone Is Worth $29.6 Billion (AED109 Billion)

The UAE’s efforts to diversify its economy are bearing fruit, as new data has revealed that the country’s tourism sector is experiencing a boom in revenue and visitors.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai are in the forefront of the resounding success.

Tourism sector gives oil a run because of its money. The UAE has been taking active steps through the years to solidify the tourism sector as a venerable area of the country’s economy, in addition to a major feature to tourists and investors alike.

According to the planet Tourism Organization (WTO), the UAE happens to be among the ten fastest growing holiday destinations in the global world, which was attained by the country’s Emirates, abu Dhabi especially, through developing their infrastructure and supporting the hotel sector, along with holding exhibitions, festivals along with other events.

With new data revealed by Dubai’s Department of Commerce and Tourism Marketing, Dubai Tourism, the real numbers appear to support this.

At the ultimate end of 2017, the sector in Dubai was worth $29.6 billion (AED109 billion) per year in accordance with their findings.

The true amount of visitors through the first quarter of 2018, who found its way to the country’s airports, reached around 32.8 million.

Dubai welcomed an archive 8.10 million international overnight tourists through the first half a year of 2018, year representing a frequent increase on the same period last.

In fact, DXB’june that 1 s operator revealed in late. 1 million passengers were likely to visit in 3 days just, between July 5th and July 8th.

The initial half a year of 2018 have both sustained and generated a reliable performance, supporting strong growth across our global feeder markets.

Attracting 8.10 million visitors through the first 1/2 of 2018 stands us in good stead once we accelerate momentum towards our visionary aspiration to become the most-visited city on the planet, Helal Saeed Almarri, Director-General of Dubai Tourism, commented.

According to the most recent Q2 data published by the Expedia Group, a ongoing company that runs travel fare aggregator sites, the true amount of travelers visiting the center East from Europe is increasing.

The set of the most notable ten markets in to the UK be included by the UAE, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and Switzerland – a complete of six Europe.

Recent research released prior to the Arabian Travel Market revealed that arrivals from Europe to the GCC are set to cultivate for the time of 2018 – 2020 by around 17%, Expedia explains.

The most these travelers are anticipated to reach in the UAE.

India, Saudi Arabia, and the united kingdom, for the reason that order, earned the greatest amount of visitors into Dubai in H1.

Spread across a complete of 700 establishments, Dubai’s accommodation inventory stood at 111,of June 2018 317 by the end, up 7% set alongside the same time this past year.

With a rise popular for mid-market hotels operating in Dubai, the real amount of four-star properties has increased from 114 to 138, representing 25% of the rooms’ inventory, highlighting the high level of big spenders passing through the national country.

According to WAM, occupied room nights were up year-on-year with a complete of 14 also.97 million in comparison to 14.53 million through the same period in 2017, outlining the ongoing popularity and diversity of Dubai’s hospitality sector.

On another hand, the most recent statistics from the Abu Dhabi Department of Tourism and Culture concur that 162 hotels, hotel resorts and apartments in the emirate received 339,592 guests through the first 1/2 of 2018.

That is a rise of around 19,from June 2017 000 guests, while hotel establishments in the emirate received 2,413,year 230 guests through the first half a year of the existing, a rise of 5% on the same period in 2017.

The increased popularity of a comparatively more budget option for accommodation such as for example Airbnb in addition has contributed to a rise in tourism.

30% of individuals say they wouldn’t normally have traveled if it had been not for Airbnb, Hadi Moussa, the company’s general manager for the MENA region.

Moussa also said that Airbnb has its eyes set on growth within the spot, such as for example plans to capitalize on the 25+ million visitors likely to go to the UAE for the Expo 2020.


Tourism Observer

UAE: 326,649 Medical Tourists Visited UAE In 2016

Dubai generated over Dh1.4 billion from the medical tourism sector with around 326,649 tourists visiting the emirate last year, said Dubai Health Authority (DHA) on Tuesday.

The influx of tourists marked a 9.5 per cent increase over previous years and the most popular areas of treatment were orthopaedics, dermatology and ophthalmology, said Dr Laila Al Marzouqi, director of Dubai Medical Tourism Project.

The largest market for the emirate was Asian medical tourists, who accounted for 37 per cent of visitors.

Arab and GCC countries were the second largest market, accounting for 31 per cent of tourists and visitors from Europe amounted to 15 per cent of the total, added Dr Al Marzouqi.

Al Marzouqi said her department was looking at enhancing partner portfolio in the field with more collaborations. Besides targeting growth in numbers, we are also concentrating our efforts on enhancing our partner portfolio.

We have recently included the region’s first holistic health and wellness resort in our portfolio.

This will provide the health tourist a unique opportunity to avail the complete wellness offering in Dubai.

We have also partnered with The Health Bank in a strategic initiative to enhancing the customer experience by offering end-to-end services — right from research of doctors and health facilities to treatment, accommodation, translator services and post-treatment follow-up,” she pointed out.

In a bid to strengthen their position in the medical tourism market, Dubai has participated in a number of global events. The Medical Tourism Council (MTC) represented the emirate at ITB Berlin 2017. One key market for Dubai is Africa and in March, Dubai Health Experience (DXH) participated in the Dubai-Africa Partnership for Better Health Roadshow, with visits to Nigeria and Ghana.

Approximately, 15 health care providers attended, along with a number of travel agents, who promoted the Dubai as a destination and the city’s international medical expertise.

In April, DHA also participated in the 5th Shanghai International Private Health Management Expo 2017. The organisation also held a series of roadshows across the GCC, in association with the Ministry of Economy, under the umbrella of the Visit UAE campaign.

In April, the tourism council also participated in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, and signed MoUs with The Retreat Palm Dubai – M Gallery by Sofitel as well as The Health Bank.

To ensure that the emirate has an accurate understanding of the medical tourism market in Dubai, in 2015, the Medical Tourism Council initiated a collaboration with the Dubai Statistics Centre to collect patients’ data from the private health sector, outpatient clinics and polyclinics.

The private health care sector was mandated to collate key information on their patients, such as their age, gender, nationality and city of residence.

Private centres are required to submit data periodically to the Dubai Statistics Centre’s e-source, electronic system. The statistics are then used to develop a greater understanding of medical tourism trends so that Dubai can meet visitors’ needs as the medical tourism sector expands.

International and domestic medical tourism

Domestic

2015: 332,474

2016: 323,893


International

2015: 298,359

2016: 326,659


Main age group

25-45 years

PHILIPPINES: Tourist Arrivals Increase By 10.5%

Despite "a war on drugs" that reportedly claimed the lives of over 7,000 people in less than a year, the Philippines is still growing in popularity as a holiday destination, the Undersecretary of Tourism, Benito Bengzon, has said.

Responding to a question about whether the perception was that the Philippines had become less safe since Rodrigo Duterte became president and began his violent crackdown on drugs, Bengzon said that he was “impartial to empirical data.”

“Foreign visitor arrivals in the first two months of 2017 grew by 10.5 per cent year on year. The Philippines saw similar levels of growth, around 10 per cent, throughout 2016,” said Bengzon, who is in Dubai promoting the Philippines as a holiday testination during the annual Arabian Travel Market event.

By comparison, the global average is around four per cent.

“We must be doing something right,” Bengzon added.

When Duterte was elected in May 2016, many predicted that the Philippines would suffer a sharp drop in tourism as a result of his promise of a war on drugs.

The president-elect had promised on the campaign trail to dump all of the “drug-pushers and do-nothings into Manila Bay, and fatten all the fish there.”

After taking office, he again declared that “there are three million drug addicts. I’d be happy to slaughter them.”

A Philippines tourism official in March even felt obliged to urge the local press to tone down its reports on drug-related killings, as they were hurting visitor numbers.

Yet despite these remarks, and indeed the realisation of his promised assault on criminals that has seen extrajudicial killings skyrocket and which Amnesty International has described as “the police’s murderous war on the poor,” tourism doesn’t seem to have been dented.

Inbound arrivals surged in January 2017 to 631,639, the highest ever recorded in a single month by the Pacific nation, according to statistics from the Department of Tourism.
Target: 7 million tourists

“We have set a target of seven million visitors in 2017, and we are on track to achieve that,” Bengzon said.

“It’s very clear what our mission is: to step up our advertising and promotions in key markets around the world,” he said.

When asked if he felt frustrated that his efforts at promoting the country abroad were being hampered by the headlines of violence that dominate coverage of the Philippines, the Undersecretary said that “there’s no way to control the perception of the outside world.”

When talking about how to fight this negative public image, he said that “we try to insulate tourism from the political goings-on.”

“We know our deliverables in respect to headcount, yield per tourist, and the number of people we want employed by tourism. We try to focus on those deliverables,” he added.

The country is looking to double the number of Filipino’s employed in the tourism sector from roughly four million currently, to eight million by 2022.

Multiple studies have found that human rights violations, and violence in general, can cause a steep decline in tourism, particularly as travellers are often quick to swap their holiday destinations for somewhere safer.

In recent years, both Egypt and Turkey have seen tourism numbers to popular holiday destinations such as Sharm Al Shaikh and Bodrum plummet following terror attacks as holidaymakers opt for more serene alternatives such as Morocco or Italy.

In addition to its war on drugs, the Philippines is also contending with Daesh-linked group Abu Sayyaf in the south, a conflict that recently spilt over to popular tourist island Bohol, where there was a skirmish between militants and the army.
3,500 daily bookings from S. Korea alone

“The first thing we do when we hear about situations like the one in Bohol, is ask how we’ll be affected. That’s always the first question. The second question is, have there been cancellations?” Bengzon said.

According to the Undersecretary, when he called the Philippines’ tourism office in South Korea, his colleagues informed him that there had only been 150 cancellations.

“When you compare that to the 3,500 or more bookings we receive from South Korea every single day, it doesn’t seem so bad,” he said.

“Will the 150 hurt us? You be the judge,” Bengzon added with a smile.

UAE: New Hotel Introduces Women’s Duchess Floor

The newly opened five-star hotel and residences on Palm Jumeirah that brought British luxury to Dubai has launched Duchess Floor, an exclusive area dedicated to female guests.

DUKES Dubai, the quintessentially British five-star hotel has debuted its Duchess Floor, which features 20 exclusive rooms on its third floor. With private lift access, the floor features women’s only public spaces, as well as discreet and private access to rooms.

Full-length windows provide sweeping views of the Palm Jumeirah with the Burj al Arab to the east and the stunning Dubai Marina skyline to the west.
The entire floor is adorned with Liberty Fabrics, providing elegant touches through silks, textiles and drapes in each ocean view room, while on the third floor, the Champagne and Tea Lounge will offer a Duchess breakfast exclusively for the hotel’s female guests.

The Duchess initiative was borne out of DUKES Collection Managing Director Debrah Dhugga’s own business travel experience and will be showcased at this year’s Arabian Travel Market (24-27 April at Dubai World Trade Centre), from stand: HC0270.

Dhugga identified a niche for five-star hotel brands to create a tailored experience specifically for women travelling alone, with a focus on comfort, service, style and quality.

She said: “As somebody who travels regularly either for business or for leisure with friends and female relatives, I could clearly see a gap in the market for a women’s only area in a luxury hotel.

The Duchess Floor combines the safety and security of a private residence, with beautifully elegant décor and bespoke facilities, in order to provide female guests with a sense of sanctuary when they stay at DUKES Dubai.”

We have used Liberty Fabrics throughout our Duchess rooms, bringing their iconic prints to the Palm Jumeirah for the first time. The Duchess Floor features a variety of sumptuous, rich-coloured Liberty Fabrics taken from the brand’s chic Chesham Cabinet Collection, a new timeless interiors collection of fabrics inspired by remarkable cabinets and dolls’ houses from the 17th to 19th centuries.

Dhugga added: “A Liberty print is instantly distinguishable and a true beacon of London living. This is the first time Liberty Fabrics have been incorporated within a hotel on this scale, and we can’t wait to show off the results of our partnership, starting in Dubai.”

Liberty Fabrics are a subsidiary of the London brand Liberty and have a dedicated home-space in their iconic store on Regent Street. Liberty Fabrics joins independent family perfumer Floris, Paxton & Whitfield cheese, hair and beauty salon Toni & Guy, William Edwards china and Andrew Martin interiors, who have all agreed brand partnerships with the new hotel. Even the classic British taxi, the Hackney Carriage, features outside the hotel to transport guests around Dubai.

Owned and operated by Seven Tides, DUKES Dubai is the first international property for the DUKES Collection brand.

The 279-room hotel and 227-hotel apartment complex opened to the public at the end of March 2017, on the main trunk of Palm Jumeirah, overlooking the Arabian Gulf, Burj Al Arab and Dubai Marina.

UAE: Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority Targets Indian Tourist Market

Ras Al Khaimah has signed an agreement with Cox & Kings, a leading tour operator from India, to strengthen its relationship and expand its presence in the Indian market, which is one of the fastest outbound markets in the region.

This agreement will focus on promoting the various aspects of Ras Al Khaimah and popularize it in the Indian market.

The agreement, which was signed today at Arabian Travel Market (ATM), will take effect from May 1. The partnership will also introduce Ras Al Khaimah to the Indian market through specially created itineraries, creation of stand alone tourism products for the emirate and market the destination via a series of campaigns and training programmes for Cox & Kings staff.

India has already cemented its position as one of the emirate’s leading source markets with an 80 per cent increase in visitors year-on-year (2014-2015).

Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority said: “Following our revised strategies and vision to reach one million visitors by the end of 2018, we will be announcing a number of partnerships such as this. Air India Express has already launched new routes to the emirate and our agreement with Cox & Kings will ensure we’re making the destination as accessible as ever.

We are proud to begin a long relationship with such an established travel company within one of our top source markets. India offers an important contribution towards our overall visitor figures and we keen to progress this opportunity to target Indian travellers even further.”

Ashutosh Mehere, senior vice president, Alliances & Special Projects, Cox & Kings, said: “Ras Al Khaimah offers the Indian traveler an opportunity to explore a new destination. We will focus on promoting the destination aggressively in the Indian market and create packages that are affordable and capture the essence of the destination."

MALAYSIA: Malaysia Announces Tourism Campaign At Arabian Travel Market

Tourism Malaysia’s deputy director general (International Promotion) Azizan Noordin officially launched a new advertising campaign for the West Asian market during a press conference held in conjunction with the Arabian Travel Market (ATM).

The new advertising campaign targets the West Asia, Iran, and North and South African markets in a series of print, broadcast, and online advertisements. It will focus on themes that appeal to travellers from these markets, such as shopping, luxury holidays, eco adventure, family fun, and honeymoon.

Besides that, Noordin also introduced Malaysia’s latest shopping icon Miss SHOPhia (pronounced Sho’ fi’ ah). She is the country’s shopping ambassador and retail queen, who keeps her followers up-to-date with the latest bargains, new fashion, food outlets, and shopping events on her blog. She is their ultimate shopping buddy and gives them the best advice on fashion, trends, the latest gadgets, etc. Miss SHOPhia will also take on cameo roles in viral videos and TV commercials to promote shopping in Malaysia.

The new campaign is in line with Tourism Malaysia’s effort to boost arrivals from the West Asian market. Last year, Malaysia received 316,209 tourists from West Asia, signifying a drop of 10.7 per cent compared to 353,955 arrivals in 2014.

Noordin is leading 124 Malaysian sellers from 77 organisations to promote Malaysia’s extensive tourism offerings at this year’s ATM, which marks the 23rd year of the country’s participation in this prestigious event. It is a testament to its commitment to make Malaysia a top-of-mind destination for travellers from the West Asian market.

The Malaysian delegation is comprised of a good mix of hotels and resorts, travel agents, tourism product owners, and representatives from state tourism boards. During the four-day event, they will be highlighting their respective tourism products and services that cater specially for the Middle Eastern market.

Noordin will also take the opportunity to meet up with the top management of West Asian airlines, namely Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Oman Air, besides having several interviews with the local media.

Besides having sales missions/road shows to various parts of West Asia and participating in major tourism events like ATM, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia also lends support to efforts that will help boost arrivals from West Asia, such as the concert of award-winning Lebanese superstar Nancy Ajram in Kuala Lumpur, which will be held on July 30 and 31, 9 pm, at Merdeka Hall, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

UAE: Louvre HotelsTo Open 40 Properties In Mena

Louvre Hotels Group, one of the largest hospitality groups in the world, is looking to expand its presence in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) by opening 40 budget and economy hotels over the next five years, a senior Louvre Hotels executive said ahead of his company’s participation in next week’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2016.

Driving the group’s expansion in the region will be two of its fastest-growing brands – Première Classe, a modern, limited-service budget hotel focused on comfort, connectivity and convenience; and Campanile, a value-driven mid-market brand that caters to new-age travellers.

Rami Moukarzel, vice president - development and acquisitions, Mena, Louvre Hotels Group, said: “The new hotels aim to fill the existing gap in the budget and economy segment. Louvre Hotels already has a formidable footprint in Mena, managing 60 hotels and more than 8,000 guestrooms, and our experience and presence in the region has ensured we understand better the needs and dynamics of diverse regional markets.

"Expansion opportunities have been identified across the GCC, commencing with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Oman, and we are also exploring opportunities in emerging markets in North Africa and the Levant,” he said.

“The potential to develop a footprint of our Première Classe and Campanile brands spreads across primary, secondary and even tertiary cities in markets such as Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar. Première Classe and Campanile are both globally established names, and in bringing these well-renowned brands to the region, we aim to redefine conventional notions of what a budget or economy hotel should be, by offering guests quality-focused serviced hotels that combine comfort, convenience and technology amenities in an affordable package.”

Première Classe will open its first hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2018, while the first of many Campanile hotels in the region will be announced in the coming months for a 2018 opening.

Première Classe and Campanile operate more than 650 properties worldwide.

A highlight of the Campanile hotels is a specially designed hub at the heart of each property, created to offer an experience beyond a smooth check-in and check-out process, with vibrant open spaces meant for hotel guests or surrounding residents to meet, socialise, entertain, dine or simply grab a quick snack on the go.

“Creating vibrant social spaces all across the property has become vital for attracting young travellers who are always seeking opportunities for social interaction,” Moukarzel said.

The ATM runs from April 25 to 28 at the Dubai World Trade Centre and Louvre Hotels can be found at stand HC0565 located in Sheikh Saeed Hall.

QATAR: “World’s Best Airline” Officially Opens Luxurious New Lounge In Dubai

Qatar Airways is preparing to bring its unique offering to the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the Middle East’s leading travel trade fair taking place in Dubai from 25-28 April 2016. This year, Qatar Airways will showcase the award-winning service and hospitality that the airline is renowned for, making memorable experiences for passengers world-wide.

At its state-of-the-art exhibition stand, Qatar Airways will give visitors a premier experience in its A380 First Class cabin, which takes luxury travel to new heights. The cabin, featuring ultra-wide seats, privacy dividers and the flexibility to convert the space into a fully flat bed or extend a table to invite a guest to dine with them, provides travellers a haven of tranquillity and relaxation while cruising at Mach 0.85 for business or leisure.

Visitors can also get a feel for the luxuriously appointed Dubai Premium Lounge located in Dubai International Airport’s Concourse D. Available to Qatar Airways First and Business Class passengers and Privilege Club Platinum, Gold and Silver members, the Dubai Premium Lounge is a modern and sophisticated space where travellers can relax and rejuvenate before their journey.

The recently opened lounge is decorated with artistic Arabic calligraphy, Mediterranean-style tiles and calming water fountains, featuring private family areas, shower facilities, spacious seating areas and an international cuisine buffet.

Speaking on the airline’s involvement in Arabian Travel Market for this year, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Arabian Travel Market has consistently been one of the most exciting platforms for us to participate in, providing us with the opportunity to network with our passengers and partners alike.

We are looking forward to recreating the unique Qatar Airways experience at our stand this year, enabling visitors to get a true taste of what it means to be a Qatar Airways passenger travelling to any one of our more than 150 global destinations.”

Several senior representatives from Qatar Airways will be present during the event. On day one, H.E. Mr. Al Baker will hold a press conference to discuss the airline’s expansion plans, upcoming developments, and the newest additions to its growing portfolio of offerings.

QATAR: Qatar Airways Introduces New Standards At Arabian Travel Market 2016

Qatar Airways is preparing to bring its unique offering to the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the Middle East’s leading travel trade fair taking place in Dubai from 25-28 April 2016. This year, Qatar Airways will showcase the award-winning service and hospitality that the airline is renowned for, making memorable experiences for passengers world-wide.

At its state-of-the-art exhibition stand, Qatar Airways will give visitors a premier experience in its A380 First Class cabin, which takes luxury travel to new heights. The cabin, featuring ultra-wide seats, privacy dividers and the flexibility to convert the space into a fully flat bed or extend a table to invite a guest to dine with them, provides travellers a haven of tranquillity and relaxation while cruising at Mach 0.85 for business or leisure.

Visitors can also get a feel for the luxuriously appointed Dubai Premium Lounge located in Dubai International Airport’s Concourse D. Available to Qatar Airways First and Business Class passengers and Privilege Club Platinum, Gold and Silver members, the Dubai Premium Lounge is a modern and sophisticated space where travellers can relax and rejuvenate before their journey. The recently opened lounge is decorated with artistic Arabic calligraphy, Mediterranean-style tiles and calming water fountains, featuring private family areas, shower facilities, spacious seating areas and an international cuisine buffet.

Speaking on the airline’s involvement in Arabian Travel Market for this year, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: ' Arabian Travel Market has consistently been one of the most exciting platforms for us to participate in, providing us with the opportunity to network with our passengers and partners alike.

We are looking forward to recreating the unique Qatar Airways experience at our stand this year, enabling visitors to get a true taste of what it means to be a Qatar Airways passenger travelling to any one of our more than 150 global destinations'.

Several senior representatives from Qatar Airways will be present during the event. On day one will Mr. Al Baker hold a press conference to discuss the airline’s expansion plans, upcoming developments, and the newest additions to its growing portfolio of offerings.

In East Africa does Qatar Airways fly to Entebbe, Kigali, Nairobi and also to Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and the holiday island of Zanzibar.

QATAR: Qatar Airways To Showcase Unique Experiences At ATM

Qatar Airways will showcase its award-winning service and hospitality at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the Middle East’s leading travel trade fair taking place in Dubai, UAE, from April 25 to 28.

At its state-of-the-art exhibition stand, Qatar Airways will give visitors a premier experience in its A380 First Class cabin, which takes luxury travel to new heights.

The cabin, featuring ultra-wide seats, privacy dividers and the flexibility to convert the space into a fully flat bed or extend a table to invite a guest to dine with them, provides travellers a haven of tranquillity and relaxation.

Visitors can also get a feel of the luxuriously appointed Dubai Premium Lounge located in Dubai International Airport’s Concourse D. Available to Qatar Airways First and Business Class passengers and Privilege Club Platinum, Gold and Silver members, the Dubai Premium Lounge is a modern and sophisticated space where travellers can relax and rejuvenate before their journey. The recently opened lounge is decorated with artistic Arabic calligraphy, Mediterranean-style tiles and calming water fountains, featuring private family areas, shower facilities, spacious seating areas and an international cuisine buffet.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: “Arabian Travel Market has consistently been one of the most exciting platforms for us to participate in, providing us with the opportunity to network with our passengers and partners alike. We are looking forward to recreating the unique Qatar Airways experience at our stand this year, enabling visitors to get a true taste of what it means to be a Qatar Airways passenger travelling to any one of our more than 150 global destinations.”

Several senior representatives from Qatar Airways will be present during the event. On day one, Al Baker will hold a press conference to discuss the airline’s expansion plans, upcoming developments, and the newest additions to its growing portfolio of offerings.

UAE: Gulf Tourists Spent SR22bn In Kingdom Last Year

Saudi Arabia's pavilion at Arab Tourism Exhibition in Dubai.

Last year, 6.6 million tourists from the Arabian Gulf spent SR22.8 billion in the Kingdom, according to a report from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) released here this week.

A report by Tourism Information and Research Center (MAS), the statistical arm of SCTNH, indicated that the number of people who visited the Kingdom during the past year (2014) from GCC countries was 11.3 million visitors.

One-day visits, without an overnight stay accounted for SR4.7 million. Over 6.6 million tourists spent about SR22.8 billion — where the one-day visitor without an overnight stay is not considered a tourist by global tourism concept.

Both Kuwait and Bahrain had a large presence in terms of the number of tourist arrivals to the Kingdom by about 33 percent each, followed by Qatar and the United Arabic Emirates.

The Makkah province including Makkah, Jeddah and Taif, occupied the first position in receiving GCC tourists, followed by Madinah, Eastern Province, Riyadh and Asir.

The first half of 2015 provided a total number around 7.4 million GCC visitors to the Kingdom, an increase of 25 percent compared with the same period last year, of whom 2.1 million visitors were day visitors-without overnight stay. About 5.2 million tourists spent about 30.5 million nights and spent nearly SR11.8 billion which went into the Saudi economy.

The ministers of tourism of GCC countries endorsed in their second meeting, which was held in Doha on October 7, a plan of action to strengthen intraregional tourism, and established a group chaired by Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of SCTNH, to lay out a comprehensive joint tourism vision, for strategic goals, in addition to preparing an implementation plan to achieve the vision and strategic goals within three months.

SCTNH supports Saudi travel companies in organizing tours for GCC nationals through engaging them in specialized travel exhibitions such as Arabian Travel Market, which is held annually in Dubai, and the Travel and Tourism Exhibition in Kuwait.