UAE: Dubai Airport Crash Kills 17 Holidaymakers

An airport bus crash in Dubai has killed 17 people of different nationalities, Dubai Police have said.

Three people were also severely injured in the incident on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. Officers said the bus, driving a route between Muscat, in Oman, and Dubai, crashed into an overhead sign.

The driver of the bus, believed to be in his 50s, survived the crash and is receiving treatment for his moderate injuries at Rashid Hospital. Dubai Police Chief Maj Gen Abdullah Al Marri described the crash as a tragic incident.


He said: Sometimes a simple error or negligence during driving leads to serious consequences, as happened this evening, and resulted in the deaths of 17 people of different nationalities.

Mwasalat, a government owned bus company in Oman, said the crash happened at 6pm local time on Thursday.

Mwasalat family expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured. The service has now been suspended until further notice.

Police previously stated that 15 of the 31 people on-board the bus had died in the crash. They later corrected this to 17, confirming that two more passengers, including an unnamed woman, had died.

Dubai Police said the general directorate of Dubai Police extends its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased in the unfortunate accident.

Fiona Geraghty, 28, from Balbriggan, Co Dublin, was taking a year-long career break in the capital city, when the bus crashed into an overhead sign at 5.40pm local time.

Fiona Geraghty, from Co Dublin was killed during the Dubai Airport bus crash.

She had been taking a year long career break with her boyfriend, when the bus crashed into an overhead sign on Thursday.

She was travelling with her boyfriend, also a teacher in his 20s, when the disaster unfolded.

He was left with serious injuries and suffered internal injuries, but is recovering at Rashid Hospital.

Fiona and her boyfriend, were about to extend their stay in Dubai for another year.

They had both had been teaching at the School of Research Science in Al Warqa, Dubai.

Fiona’s parents were in Lanzarote celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary when they got the call yesterday that their pride and joy was gone.

She was a lovely, bright, young, intelligent girl, who loved life. I’m just devastated. I feel for her family, I’m numb.

Police Chief Maj Gen Abdullah Al Marri said people lost their lives because of a simple error or negligence during driving.

Officials later said the bus drove straight into a low-clearance sign, forcing the sign to sweep straight into the driver's side of the vehicle.

He is among seven passengers, and the driver, recovering from their injuries at Rashid Hospital.

His condition is believed to be stable.

The bus, which had 31 passengers on board, was travelling from Oman to Dubai when it crashed into the height restriction sign while come off a main highway.

Dubai police said that the incident occurred on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.

The government-owned bus company Mwasalat, expressed their condolences.

It said in a statement: "Mwasalat family expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured."

The bus was full of holidaymakers returning from Oman after the Eid holidays when it crashed on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road around 6pm local time.

Relations were said to be desperately trying to get information on passengers' conditions from Rashid Hospital officials.

Police said that the unfortunate incident is being investigated, and thanked the competent authorities involved for helping at the scene.

The force said after the tourist bus collided with a directive sign, the bodies and the injured have been transferred to authorities.

Dubai Police added: "The general directorate of Dubai Police extends its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased in the unfortunate accident.

The Oman-registered bus was carrying passengers between Dubai and Muscat.

The bus drove straight into a low-clearance sign in the Rashidiya district.

The Consulate General of India, Dubai, tweeted that eight Indians had died in the bus crash.


Tourism Observer

INDIA: IndiGo To Commence Flights To UK

IndiGo airline is likely to expand its wings into Europe with flights to Gatwick airport near London this winter, according to a source.

The airline has bagged a slot at Gatwick airport for the upcoming winter schedule and may start flights, said an aviation industry insider on the condition of anonymity.

The winter schedule starts from the last Sunday of October and continues till the last Saturday of March.

The flight to London Gatwick airport will include a stop mid-way. The move is part of the airline’s plan to expand into Europe and add at least nine destinations.

The airline will also be adding flights to China’s Hong Kong and talks to connect Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh are at an advanced stage.

IndiGo had said in a statement earlier that it would be adding flights to Male and Jeddah.

For its operations to Gatwick the airline is expected to deploy its new A321 neo, which it is likely to induct in November.

This plane will have one auxiliary fuel tank, enabling it to fly for eight to nine hours.

Currently, the airline flies to nine destinations in neighbouring countries, which include Bangkok, Colombo, Kathmandu, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Muscat, Sharjah and Singapore.

It has already announced flights to Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, effective next month.


Tourism Observer

Nile Air And Pegasus Sign Codeshare Deal, Pegasus Launches Flights To Muscat And Dammam Via Istanbul

Turkey’s leading low-cost airline Pegasus has signed a codeshare agreement with Nile Air, Egypt’s largest private airline.

Through the codeshare partnership, Pegasus guests will be able to purchase flights from Pegasus channels for the Nile Air flights between Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Cairo as of 15 June 2018.

Pegasus guests will be able to travel with Nile Air four days a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with the flights operated fromSabiha Gökçen to Cairo at16:05* and from Cairo to Sabiha Gökçen at 11:50.

With the addition of Nile Air, Pegasus now operates six codeshare partnerships, with agreements also in place with:

- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

- Flynas

- Alitalia

- Qatar Airways

- Delta Air Lines.

The Turkish carrier will launch three times weekly flights to the Omani capital on July 3.

This will increase to four times weekly from July 15.

Stansted-Muscat services, via Istanbul, will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, returning Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Prices start from £115.99.

Meanwhile, Pegasus has rolled out daily flights to Saudi Arabia’s third largest city Dammam, via Istanbul, with fares starting from £159.99.

The additions takes Pegasus’s network to 110 destinations in 43 countries.


Tourism Observer

OMAN: Oman Air To Make Daily Flights From Muscat To Istanbul

Oman Air commences its new daily flight from Muscat to Istanbul as of June 1, 2018.

This is one of many strategic moves in the airline’s ambitious and dynamic programme of fleet and network expansion.

The airline is offering very attractive fares that start from RO 99 for economy Economy class, which received a big response from travelers.

The Airline’s Holidays division has also come up with exciting holiday packages offering tickets, hotel stay, airport transfers and excursions at a very competitive rate.

Omanis travelling to Istanbul are eligible for visa on arrival.

The new route comes ahead of other new routes to Casablanca and Moscow set to launch in July and October of this year respectively.

The Istanbul service will be operated by a Boeing 737-800 and will depart daily from Muscat to Istanbul Ataturk International Airport.

With a flight time of 5 hours and 25 minutes, Flight WY163 will depart Muscat daily at 20.00, arriving in Istanbul at 00.25.

The return flight WY164 will depart Istanbul daily at 01.25, arriving in Muscat International Airport’s new, award-winning passenger terminal at 07.25.

The new route between Oman and Turkey will strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, enhance the trading and tourism prospects, and enable Oman Air’s guests to explore one of the world’s most thriving cities.

Intertwining both ancient and modern cultures, Istanbul is right at the heart of Turkey’s economic, historical and cultural heritage.

Istanbul is a diverse and vibrant city with much to offer Oman Air guests travelling to this beautiful destination.

The opening of the new passenger terminal in Muscat has offered Oman Air guests a thoroughly enhanced service and the new terminal building has already won the 2018 World Travel Award’s Middle East’s leading new tourism development project for this year.

Oman Air is proud to be operating up to 200 flights per day from the new state-of-the-art passenger terminal.

The airline also flies to 9 destinations in the GCC states, 11 in India, and 7 in Europe, apart from its Indian Sub-Continent, Far East and MENA destinations, providing guests with more choice and easy connections across its network.

Oman Air is currently undergoing an exciting fleet and network expansion programme, which will see the airline operate up to 66 aircraft to around 60 destinations by 2022.

The airline continues to be recognised for its award winning on board experience; winning a raft of industry awards to add to its growing collection.


Tourism Observer

OMAN: Spread Your Wings Oman Air

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, is celebrating the country’s Renaissance Day with exciting Facebook and Instagram photo and twitter competitions.

As the country celebrates Renaissance Day on 23 July, Oman Air is encouraging its followers to share a photo of their festivities via the Oman Air Facebook and Instagram pages (www.facebook/com/omanair).

Winners will be selected by Oman Air on the criteria of how well their photo fits the contest theme of ‘Spread Your Wings’, the quality of their photo and how creative their photography is.

Three lucky winners will win exciting prizes from the 5-star Shangri-la Resort Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Muscat. The first prize winner will receive a one night complimentary stay for two in a Deluxe Room at the luxurious Al Bandar Hotel, worth OMR 90.

The second and third prize winners will receive dinner vouchers to dine at The Samba - the resort’s stunning onsite restaurant.

Oman Air followers in twitter can also win by tweeting their love for Oman using the same hashtag #OmanRenaissanceJoy. The first prize winner will receive a one night complimentary stay in a Superior Room at the luxurious Al Waha Hotel. The second and third prize winners will receive dinner vouchers to dine at the resort’s stunning onsite restaurant, Al Tanoor.

Mohammed Al Shikely, Vice President Marketing for Oman Air said: On Renaissance Day, we want people from around the world to visit our Facebook page and share with us their celebrations.

Through the photos, we want people to really express what this special day means to them. As the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, we are delighted to be joining the country’s citizens in celebrating Renaissance Day, as well as using the occasion to further showcase the progress the Sultanate of Oman has achieved under the Renaissance of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said.

We are very much looking forward to seeing all of the photographs people will share with us.

The contest went live on 19th Jul 2017. Winners will be announced in the first week of August.

Entrants must be over the age of 16 and any person working for companies or groups associated with organising the competition (including employees and agents of the carrier), are not eligible to enter the competition.

Oman Air’s social media channels are growing rapidly and this competition follows a hugely popular social media competition to celebrate the 46th National Day in November 2016. The competition – which asked followers to post their creative photo submissions under the theme ‘My Oman National Day’ – had a fantastic response on Facebook.



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OMAN: Tanfeedh Projects Reviewed At Tourism Panel Meet

The Tourism Sector’s Steering Committee held a meeting to discuss the developments of the National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification (Tanfeedh) on Sunday.

It reviewed the performance indicators and assessed the progress in implementing the sector’s initiatives.

The committee discussed a range of issues and approved allocation of local land plots for cafés and restaurants in Al Azaiba and Al Sarooj in the Governorate of Muscat and Salalah.

It discussed facilitating the establishment of integrated tourism complexes, hotels and tourist attractions and discussed the status of the comprehensive tourism layouts in several wilayats.

The Ministry of Tourism has floated tenders to develop comprehensive tourism layouts for Muscat, Al Dakhiliyah, Dhofar and South Al Sharqiyah governorates.

The ministry also awarded the tender for developing an integrated tourism layout for the Governorate of Musandam. The committee also discussed the establishment of one-stop station as a centre for investor and customer service at the Ministry of Tourism through operating the customer-service centre.

A model of the customer service centre has been presented to provide facilities for investors.

The initiative to facilitate the follow up of issuing tourist visas for the new tourist exporting markets was also reviewed. The team is developing a marketing plan for the sponsored visas and e-visas and is also following up to introduce the e-visa.



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UNITED KINGDOM: British Airways Strike Flights Will Be Affected

Flight Delays that’s the prospect for about 5,000 BA passengers for the next 16 days as another cabin-crew strike gets under way.

The 1-16 July strike is the latest episode in a long-running dispute involving members of the Unite union working for BA’s Mixed Fleet at Heathrow.

Thousands of passengers have had their flights cancelled, but the airline says the “vast majority” of its flights will operate,partly thanks to the planes BA is borrowing.

It was originally about pay. Mixed Fleet was created in 2010, and currently constitutes about one third of BA’s total cabin crew. They are employed on inferior terms to longer-serving staff.

Mixed Fleet cabin crew who are members of the Unite union began strike action at the start of the year in a bid to improve what they called “poverty pay“.

British Airways and Unite have now reached agreement on pay. The battleground has now moved to what the union says are “punitive sanctions” against 1,400 members who took part in previous strikes, involving the removal of bonus payments and staff travel concessions.

The airline’s plans assume that the same number, around 1,400, will stop work. That’s about one in four of the Mixed Fleet total.

BA has also brought in planes. While spare aircraft and crews are difficult to charter in July, because it's peak season, BA’s part-owner, Qatar Airways, happens to have a lot of them sitting idle.

They have been grounded by the geopolitical row in the Gulf, which forbids the Qatari airline flying to a number of neighbours.

The Unite union had objected to the use of these planes, saying that Qatar Airways violated international labour standards. The union also claims: Qatar Flight Duty Time limitations and Rest requirements are inferior to the UK.

But permission for the deal was granted by the Government with just hours to go before the strike began. They will be deployed on short-haul routes from Heathrow to Munich, Brussels, Zurich and other destinations.

British Airways says any passengers who don’t want to fly on Qatar Airways can switch to “real” BA flights or get a full refund.

BA says that 99.5 per cent of its schedule will operate,which means that one in 200 flights will be cancelled. I have identified dozens of flights, all of them long-haul, that have been grounded because of the strike.

The most numerous cancellations are on the Heathrow-Doha link, with 12 flights axed between now and Thursday, but other flights are affected including round-trips to New York, Abuja and Muscat.

Over the next 16 days British Airways would normally expect to carry around 1.8 million passengers, and I estimate 10,000 will find their flight is cancelled. Passenger numbers could also be reduced because of reluctance to book on an airline threatened with a strike.

Flights that do not begin or end at Heathrow, eg those from Gatwick, London City and Stansted, are unaffected.

Passengers are being offered alternative departures, on British Airways or other airlines. They may also choose to cancel with a full refund, to postpone the trip or to reroute.

BA will not pay compensation for cancelled flights: industrial action is one of the relatively few grounds for an airline to refuse compensation due to extraordinary circumstances.

But if passengers are disrupted as a result of the strike, BA must provide a duty of care: meals, refreshments and if necessary accommodation as appropriate.


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ANGOLA: Luanda Overtakes Hong Kong As Most Expensive City For Expatriates To Live In

Mercer’s annual Cost of Living Survey finds African, Asian, and European cities dominate the list of most expensive locations for working abroad

- Luanda overtakes Hong Kong as the most expensive city for expatriates to live in according to Mercer’s 23rd annual Cost of Living Survey.

- Victoria in the Seychelles ranks 14th most expensive city sharing the same ranking with Moscow.

Cape Town, Blantyre and Windhoek ranks amongst the 15 cheapest cities globally.

In a rapidly changing world, mobility has become a core component of multinational organizations’ global talent strategy. To support the growing number of international assignees working in an increased number of locations, organizations are focusing on evaluating assignments from a cultural perspective, preparing for regional and lateral moves, and modifying compensation approaches to stay competitive.

As organizations grapple with these challenges, they are working hard to accommodate the needs of their workforce and to support employees’ careers. According to Mercer’s (www.Mercer.com) 2017 Global Talent Trends Study, fair and competitive pay as well as opportunities for promotion are top priorities for employees this year – not surprising given the current climate of uncertainty and change.

As a result, multinational organizations are carefully assessing the cost of expatriate packages for their international assignees. Mercer’s 23rd annual Cost of Living Survey finds that factors like instability of housing markets and inflation for goods and services contribute to the overall cost of doing business in today’s global environment.

“Globalization of the marketplace is well documented with many companies operating in multiple locations around the world and promoting international assignments to enhance the experience of future managers,” said Ilya Bonic, Senior Partner and President of Mercer’s Career business. “There are numerous personal and organizational advantages for sending employees overseas, whether for long- or short-term assignments, including career development by obtaining global experience, the creation and transfer of skills, and the re-allocation of resources.”

Mercer’s 2017 Cost of Living Survey finds Asian and European cities – particularly Hong Kong (2), Tokyo (3), Zurich (4), and Singapore (5) – top the list of most expensive cities for expatriates. The costliest city, driven by cost of goods and security, is Luanda (1), the capital of Angola view the Top 15 Cities Ranking here: http://APO.af/hrS2vG). Other cities appearing in the top 10 of Mercer’s costliest cities for expatriates are Seoul (6), Geneva (7), Shanghai (8), New York City (9), and Bern (10). The world’s least expensive cities for expatriates, according to Mercer’s survey, are Tunis (209), Bishkek (208), and Skopje (206).

Mercer's authoritative survey is one of the world’s most comprehensive, and is designed to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation allowances for their expatriate employees. New York is used as the base city and all cities are compared against it.

Currency movements are measured against the US dollar. The survey includes over 400 cities across five continents and measures the comparative cost of more than 200 items in each location, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment.

“While historically mobility, talent management, and rewards have been managed independently of one another, organizations are now using a more holistic approach to enhance their mobility strategies. Compensation is important to be competitive and must be determined appropriately based on the cost of living, currency, and location,” said Mr. Bonic.

Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
Only three European cities remain in the top 10 list of most expensive cities for expatriates.

Zurich (4) is still the most costly European city on the list, followed by Geneva (7) and Bern (10). Moscow (14) and St. Petersburg (36) surged fifty-three and one hundred and sixteen places from last year respectively, due to the strong appreciation of the ruble against the US dollar and the cost of goods and services. Meanwhile, London (30), Aberdeen (146) and Birmingham (147) dropped thirteen, sixty-one and fifty-one spots respectively as a result of the pound weakening against the US dollar following the Brexit vote. Copenhagen (28) fell four places from 24 to 28. Oslo (46) is up thirteen spots from last year, while Paris fell eighteen places to rank 62.

Other Western European cities dropped in the rankings as well, mainly due to the weakening of local currencies against the US dollar. Vienna (78) and Rome (80) fell in the ranking by 24 and 22 spots, respectively. The German cities of Munich (98), Frankfurt (117), and Berlin (120) dropped significantly as did Dusseldorf (122) and Hamburg (125).

Despite moderate price increases in most of the European cities, European currencies have weakened against the US dollar, which pushed most Western European cities down in the ranking,” explained Ms. Constantin-Métral. “Additionally, other factors like the Eurozone’s economy have impacted these cities.

As a result of local currencies depreciating against the US dollar, some cities in Eastern and Central Europe, including Prague (132) and Budapest (176) fell in the ranking, while Minsk (200) and Kiev (163) jumped four and thirteen spots, respectively, despite stable accommodations in these locations.

Ranking 17, Tel Aviv jumped two spots from last year and continues to be the most expensive city in the Middle East for expatriates followed by Dubai (20), Abu Dhabi (23), and Riyadh (52), which have all climbed in this year’s ranking. Jeddah (117), Muscat (92), and Doha (81) are among the least expensive cities in the region. Cairo (183) is the least expensive city in the region plummeting ninety-two spots from last year following a major devaluation of its local currency (view the Bottom 15 Cities Ranking here: http://APO.af/4AAhwv).

Egypt’s decision to allow its currency to float freely in return for a 12 billion dollar loan over three years to help strengthen its economy resulted in the massive devaluation of the Egyptian Pound by more than 100% against the US dollar, pushing Cairo down the ranking” said Ms. Constantin-Métral.”

Quite a few African cities continue to rank high in this year’s survey, reflecting high living costs and prices of goods for expatriate employees (view the African Cities Ranking here: http://APO.af/pCXLBW). Luanda (1) takes the top spot as the most expensive city for expatriates across Africa and globally despite its currency weakening against the US dollar.

Luanda is followed by Victoria (14), Ndjamena (16), and Kinshasa (18). Tunis falls six spots to rank 209 as the least expensive city in the region and overall.

Asia Pacific

Five of the top 10 cities in this year’s ranking are in Asia. Hong Kong (2) is the most expensive city as a result of its currency pegged to the US dollar, which drove up the cost of accommodations locally. This global financial center is followed by Tokyo (3), Singapore (5), Seoul (6), and Shanghai (8).

“The strengthening of the Japanese yen along with the high costs of expatriate consumer goods and a dynamic housing market pushed Japanese cities up in the ranking,” said Ms. Constantin-Métral. “However, the majority of Chinese cities fell in the ranking due to the weakening of the Chinese yuan against the US dollar.”

Australian cities have all experienced further jumps up the global ranking since last year due to the strengthening of the Australian dollar. Sydney (25), Australia’s most expensive city for expatriates, gained seventeen places in the ranking along with Melbourne (46) and Perth (50) which went up twenty-five and nineteen spots, respectively.

India’s most expensive city, Mumbai (57), climbed twenty-five places in the ranking due to its rapid economic growth, inflation on the goods and services basket and a stable currency against the US Dollar. This most populous city in India is followed by New Delhi (99) and Chennai (135) which rose in the ranking by thirty-one and twenty-three spots, respectively. Bengaluru (166) and Kolkata (184), the least expensive Indian cities, climbed in the ranking as well.

Elsewhere in Asia, Bangkok (67) jumped seven places from last year. Jakarta (88) and Hanoi (100) also rose in the ranking, up five and six places, respectively. Karachi (201) and Bishkek (208) remain the region’s least expensive cities for expatriates.

The Americas

Cities in the United States are the most expensive locations in the Americas, with New York City (9) ranked as the costliest city, climbing two spots from last year. San Francisco (22) and Los Angeles (24) follow, having climbed four and three spots respectively. Among other major US cities, Chicago (32) is up two places, Boston (51) is down four places, and Seattle is up seven places. Portland (115) and Winston Salem (140) remain the least expensive surveyed cities for expatriates in the US.

Nathalie Constantin-Métral, Principal at Mercer with responsibility for compiling the survey ranking, said, “Overall, US cities either remained stable in the ranking or have slightly increased due to the movement of the US dollar against the majority of currencies worldwide.”

In South America, Brazilian cities Sao Paulo (27) and Rio de Janeiro (56) surged 101 and 100 spots, respectively, due to the strengthening of the Brazilian real against the US dollar. Buenos Aires, the Argentina capital and financial hub ranked 40 followed by Santiago (67) and Montevideo, Uruguay (65), which jumped forty-one and fifty-four places, respectively. Other cities in South America that rose on the list of costliest cities for expatriates include Lima (104) and Havana (151).

Dropping from 94th position, San Jose, Costa Rica (110) experienced the largest drop in the region as the US dollar strengthened against the Costa Rican colon. Caracas in Venezuela has been excluded from the ranking due to the complex currency situation. Depending on which exchange rate is being used, the city would arrive at the top or at the bottom of the ranking.

“Inflationary concerns continued to cause some South American cities to rise in the ranking, whereas the weakening of the local currencies in some of the region’s cities caused them to drop in the ranking,” said Ms. Constantin-Métral.

Up thirty-five places from last year, Vancouver (107) has overtaken Toronto (119) to become the most expensive Canadian city in the ranking, followed by Montreal (129) and Calgary (143). Ranking 152, Ottawa is the least expensive city in Canada. “The Canadian dollar has appreciated in value triggering the major jumps in this year’s ranking,” explained Ms. Constantin-Métral.

OMAN: Ever Been To Oman? Listen To This

The former capital of Oman offers cooler weather, architectural sites to die for and a valley that's surprisingly green

THE CAPITAL of the Sultanate of Oman between 1932 and 1970, the coastal city of Salalah is a popular holiday destination during the khareef season, when the normally arid mountain ranges and pastureland take on a refreshing green hue.

The sky is brushed with grey and blue streaks by the Indian Ocean monsoon from June until September, making the summer here considerably cooler than in other parts of the Arabian Gulf.

The average mean temperature in Oman in summer is 44 degrees Celsius but in Salalah, it’s a balmy 35 degrees. While we don’t get a lot of rain, we are blessed with the monsoon from June to September, and the cooler climate draws tourists from Yemen, the Emirates and India, the local guide says.

Spread over the southern Omani coast, Salalah is the country’s second largest city after Muscat and the capital of Dhofar Governorate, where Sultan Qaboos bin Said was born and grew up.

Located 925 kilometres from Muscat, Oman Air’s flight takes just one hour and 15 minutes to arrive in Salalah and I take full advantage of my luxury business class seat and in-flight facilities to make the most of my journey.

Rich in nature and cultural interest, Salalah has a backdrop of lush mountains, white beaches, and a charming old town to explore.

It is also famous for high-quality Arabian frankincense used for creating essential oils for massage treatments, incense and wedding products representing fortune and the beginning of good life.

Salalah was the leading dried sardine exporter but now people tend to prefer king fish. Today, we export frankincense, frankincense oil and other merchandise to India.

I join a city tour the next morning and a local guide leads us to the well-preserved Taqah Castle in the heart of old town.

Built in the 19th century, it originally served as a private stronghold for Sheikh Ali bi Timman Al-Ma’s ashani and in 1984 was converted into the official residence and administrative centre for local governors (Walis).

The walls are fashioned from solid blocks of Taqah stone, a local limestone composed of fossilised shells and corals was used widely in ancient constructions.

Inside the complex the atmosphere is intimate, just like a real home and the principal rooms are furnished with refined handicrafts.

The food store on the ground floor displays large quantities of dried fish, grain, dates and other vital supplies and offers an interesting reflection of how people lived in bygone days.

A well in the courtyard ensured an abundant supply of fresh water for drinking and an outdoor oven provided for the well-ventilated roasting of meat and daily cooking.

The living room in the well-preserved Taqah Castle is decorated with beautiful hand-embroidered cushions and draperies

The luxury family suite on the upper floor is designed as a living room, where family members enjoyed light meals and shared news during the day.

Adjoining the living room is a reception area, where the wali would hold private discussions with special guests.

Colourful and elegant, each room is adorned with locally made cotta pottery, porcelain plates and bowls obtained through trade with China, India, Europe and Zanzibar, as well as beautiful hand-embroidered cushions and draperies.

Leaving the castle, we head to the Wadi Darbat valley, passing camels and donkeys making the most of the pastureland.

Reaching the top of hill, visitors are spoiled with a picturesque panorama of a turquoise crystal lake. Boat rides on the lake are offered with prices starting at OMR 3 (Bt260) for a 30-minute paddleboat for two and OMR 5 (Bt442) on a motorboat.

People living outside the area have 10 to 20 camels and let them graze on the land.

They will come to see their camels once or twice a week and feed them with sardines. Most villagers raise camels for meat. Camel meat has low fat and people always give it to the guests as a gift.

We use camel milk to make cheese too. During the Khareef season, the mountain is very green and potatoes taste sweeter. You will see plenty of healthy looking cows because they can feed on the grass to eat.

The government also has a project to provide water and electricity for houses on the mountains at no charge.

We return to the old town and continue for another 20 minutes to Marneef Cave and Al Mugsayl Beach, a much-loved picnic spot for local folks and tourists.

The cave is formed from eroded limestone and the beach entertains travellers with three stunning blowholes, from which the water shoots up as high as 28 metres.

Back in town we visit the Al Baleed Archaeological Park, the Unesco World Heritage Site, which is home to the ruins of the ancient city on the Indian Ocean and the Museum of Frankincense.

The complex has several rooms in different sizes and a water basin linked to a range of drainage channels that date back to 750-950 AD.

The Al Baleed Castle occupies 5,000 square meters and is built with large stones showcasing the craftsmanship in the Iron Age. Another impressive building is the Al Balled Mosque. B

uilt in 850 AD, it boasted 144 columns parallel to the qibia wall, mostly octagonal or cylindrical, with square bases and crowns decorated with floral ornaments.

OMAN: Budget Hotels Boost Tourism As Oman Air Eyes 70th Destination By 2023

More budget hotels and apartments are opening in Oman to cater to affordable and mid-market hospitality sector travellers, the Ministry of Tourism said.

After announcing three budget hotels in Mussanah and Barka, the ministry announced that another hotel apartment is coming up at Sohar. “A hotel apartment with 37 rooms is coming up in Sohar, and is expected to open by July 2017,” it said.

Recently, the ministry had announced that construction was in full swing at the 40-room Hisn Al Mussanah Hotel in Mussanah, 30-room Al Salam hotel and 27-room Orchid Hotel at Barka. All these hotels are expected to open within the first half of 2017, the ministry revealed.

Travel agents said budget hotels will give a big boost to tourism as there was a shortage of such hotels in the Sultanate.

“A large number of travellers look for budget accommodation. Having more hotels will be great as these can cater to tourists who don’t look at four or five star accommodations,” said an official of New Star Travel in Ruwi.

He also said, “The global trend in tourism is changing as tourists with high levels of disposable income are seeking something new during their vacations.

“The budget and mid-market hospitality sector will offer a touch of authenticity to travellers,” he added. Oman is looking at 8-12 per cent annual growth in the tourism sector.

Recent NCSI statistics revealed that local tourism contributed 77 per cent to the total earnings in the Sultanate’s tourism sector in 2015.

The 9th Five Year Plan (2016-2020) accords a great deal of attention to this sector, recognising the significant role it can play to attract foreign investments and create employment opportunities.

The data released by the NCSI about tourist indicators also showed that the tourism sector contributed 748.6 million to the GDP, accounting for 2.8 percent, in 2015, up from 2.2 percent in 2014. The tourism indicators bulletin referred to a rise in the number of hotels in the Sultanate, with the country having 318 hotels in 2015, compared to 235 hotels in 2011, an increase of 35 per cent.

Meanwhile, Oman Air has made an ambitious plan to reach its 70th destination by the end of 2023, said Paul Gregorowitsch, CEO of Oman Air at the press conference in Manchester on Tuesday.

The event was organised by Oman Air to mark the launch of its new destination to Manchester. He pointed out that Oman Air’s fleet will reach 70 aircraft of different sizes by the end of 2023 and that Oman Air has developed an ambitious plan to expand its fleets and network and to add new destinations like Hong Kong, Seoul and some African destinations, such as Cape Town.

As for the new destination, Oman Air CEO said that the trip to and from Manchester is an impressive development that reflects Oman Air’s commitment to the United Kingdom (UK) market as Oman Air is the only carrier that operates direct flights from the Sultanate to outside London.

This will give British and Omani travellers the opportunity to enjoy the high quality service provided by Oman Air through its direct flights between North England and Muscat.

“The new destination will enable travellers to benefit from the connection opportunity provided by Oman Air with 27 destinations within three hours of travel.

“Travellers will also enjoy the reduced competitive fares, which provide attractive options to travellers on Oman Air’s fleet between Muscat and Manchester,” he added.

He further said the new flight operated by Oman Air to Manchester on the A330-200 aircraft is the second destination for the national carrier to the UK after the daily double flights operated between Heathrow Airport and Muscat Airport.

The new destination to Manchester is an important addition to the ambitious network expansion plan in a bid to enhance and develop the relations

between the Sultanate and the UK, which is an important trade and strategic partner to the Sultanate.

The press conference included a promotional documentary on the Sultanate’s tourism, cultural and historic potentials, in addition to its traditional markets.

On the other hand, Collette Roche, Deputy Managing Director of Manchester Airport made a presentation on the partnership opportunities and the future cooperation after launching the direct route between Muscat and Manchester. She also highlighted the public services provided by the Airport and the international awards it has captured.

OMAN: Oman Wants Tourism Growth

Oman is looking for growth in its mid-market travel sector as challenging global and regional economic conditions weigh on people’s willingness to spend.

That is one of the reasons we are focusing on rural areas to bring more tourists to Oman, a senior official attached to Oman’s tourism sector said.

A tourism department official said a 23-room hotel in Ibra is opening in September 2017.

Ibra is the second largest city in the Ash Sharqiyah region of Oman and is about 170 km from Muscat. In the past, it was famous for its fine horses and horsemen.

Another hotel with six chalets featuring private swimming pools is coming up at Bidiyah. “It is likely to open in April 2017,” an official said.

Bidiyah, located in Ash Sharqiyah region, is 233 kms from Muscat and is well known for its golden sand dunes that attract tourists from all over the world.

Recently, the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) had announced opening up of three new budget hotels in Muscat in the first quarter of 2017 to boost Oman’s tourism.

Detailing the projects, the MoT said Hisn Al Musannah Hotel with 40 rooms is set to open in April 2017.

Al Salam hotel apartment, opening in Barka in February 2017, will have 30 apartments catering to the tourists, the MoT said.

The ministry also announced that another hotel is coming up in Barka. “Orchid Hotel with 27 apartments will be opened this year,” the MoT said recently.

Travel agents said these budget hotels will boost tourism in a significant manner since the Sultanate has a shortage of such hotels.

“A lot of travellers look for budget accommodation. So it would be great if we have more hotels which can cater to tourists who do not look at four or five star accommodation,” said an official of New Star Travel in Ruwi.

Oman is looking at 8-12 per cent annual growth in tourism.

INDIA: IndiGo Flying Non Stop Daily From Chennai to Muscat

IndiGo has introduced a new flight connecting Chennai with Muscat, effective December 15, 2016. IndiGo will be offering introductory fare of Rs 7999, all-inclusive one way from Chennai. The introduction of the new daily service will further strengthen IndiGo’s presence in the Gulf with 16 daily flights, catering to the large number of Indians in the Gulf.

The new service from the city will complement the airline’s existing daily Gulf operations to Muscat and Dubai from several cities in India. Elaborating on the new flight launch, Aditya Ghosh, President and Whole Time Director, IndiGo said, “We are absolutely delighted to announce the new daily and direct flight between India and Oman, and specifically, between Chennai and Muscat.

It is an indication of the strong demand on this sector. IndiGo has established itself as a prestigious brand on account of the warmth of its service and quality of its in-flight product and we are confident that this daily service would also prove equally popular with our flyers. Expanding operations on these routes are in line with our growth strategy outlined for Oman.”

OMAN: International Caves Conference Opens

Omran is hosting the 2016 International Show Caves Association’s (ISCA) conference on 6-12 November, with more than 40 international delegates welcomed to Oman’s renowned Al Hoota Cave attraction.

The conference itself will be held at three diverse locations in Muscat, Nizwa and Sur.

Al Hoota Cave is Oman’s most popular natural tourist destination and is estimated to be over two million years’ old and is an active member of the ISCA. Located at the foot of Jabal Shams, Oman’s epic mountain, the first show cave in the Arabian Peninsula is committed to promoting proper management to ensure conservation and preservation of the cave, as well as for the safety of guests in the enjoyment of show caves - two of the ISCA’s key aims.

Eng. Khalid Mirza, Director of Projects Development, Omran, said: “The ISCA works to ensure show caves are sustainable and preserved for future generations while helping to deliver a safe, exciting experience for visitors today - this is something we fully believe in at Al Hoota Cave, so it’s a great honour that we’re welcoming ISCA’s international delegates to the Arabian Peninsula’s first show cave during this week.

“We’ve put together a comprehensive programme for the conference delegates and there will be a focus on the variety of caves and other geological wonders Oman has to offer. The conference agenda will feature a number of papers on topics relating to Oman, as well as key international topics for show caves. This kind of discussion ensures Omran, as operators of some of the Sultanate’s most important geological attractions, provide the best experience for visitors and develop sustainable conservation efforts,” he added.

Brad Wuest, President of ISCA, commented: “Oman is a unique geological place, and it’s fantastic to be holding our conference here for the first time. The Al Hoota Cave is important as it was the first show cave to be opening in the Middle East, and its recent re-opening following Omran’s work with the Oman Ministry of Tourism to create a sustainable cave experience supports the aims and objectives of ISCA. We look forward to an exciting, insightful conference while experiencing some of the best geological attractions Oman has to offer.”

Through its commitment to respecting, preserving and safeguarding Oman’s natural resources and subterranean land, Omran organised the 2016 International Show Caves Association Conference, with the objective of giving ISCA global members the chance to educate and immerse themselves in Oman’s geopolitical landscape. The conference will welcome several high profile local and international speakers, as well as cover a series of research and educational papers on topics around show caves.

The International Show Caves Association aims to promote, encourage and support the cooperation of show cave operators around the world through the sharing of information and to promote the preservation and conservation of caves while increasing public interest in the world of show caves by way of unique marketing and the evolution of methods to enhance the show cave experience.

INDIA: IndiGo Commences New Routes Next Month

The Delhi-based low-cost airline, IndiGo is to start its 15th direct flight between Delhi and Bengaluru and 11th direct flight between Delhi and Chennai from June 1.

In a communication to travel agents, the airline has said that the 15th direct daily service between Delhi and Bengaluru will leave at 11.30 p.m. and arrive in Bengaluru at 2.10 a.m.

The 11th direct flight between Delhi and Chennai will leave 11.30 p.m. and arrive in Chennai at 2.15 a.m.

The airline will also start another service between Chennai and Delhi from June 2. The new flight will depart Chennai at 2.45 a.m. and arrive in the national capital at 5.30 a.m.

The airline will also start two new flights connecting Delhi with Kolkata. The launch of these two flights will see IndiGo operating 13 direct daily flights between Delhi and Kolkata.

The airline will launch its first non-stop daily flight between Kochi and Muscat from June 21. It will also launch its second daily non-stop flight service connecting Kochi and Hyderabad from June 22.

With 767 daily flights connecting 40 destinations, these new flights will allow corporate and leisure travellers to experience matchless on-time performance, Aditya Ghosh, President, IndiGo, said.

INDIA: Airbus Signs MoU With IndiGo For 250 A320neos

Gurgaon, India-based IndiGo today signed a major Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 250 firm Airbus A320neos, the manufacturer’s single-largest aircraft order. IndiGo is a domestic and international low-cost carrier founded by Rahul Bhatia of conglomerate InterGlobe Enterprises and Rakesh Gangwal, the former chairman and CEO of US Airways from 1998 to 2001.

The carrier, based at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, currently has 83 A320-200s. It has existing orders for 280 Airbus aircraft — 100 A320ceos and 180 A320neos. IndiGo serves 31 cities in India, along with flights to Bangkok, Dubai, Kathmandu, Muscat and Singapore for a total of 540 daily flights. The airline’s business model resembles that of Southwest Airlines — one common fleet type, a focus on keeping costs low and an obsession with on-time operations.

Since its beginnings in 2006, IndiGo has been the fastest-growing carrier in India. Among domestic airline in the second quarter, IndiGo’s market share was 31.6 percent, the best among its competitors, according to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Air India was 18.5 percent while SpiceJet was 18.3 percent.

The aircraft covered under the MoU includes what Airbus calls the “new engine option,” along with large sharklet wing-tip devices, which offer carriers 15 percent in fuel savings now and up to 20 percent by 2020. Airbus currently has orders for 49 A319neos, 2,494 A320neos and 729 A321neos from carriers including Swiss, Eurowings, JetBlue, China Eastern airlines and Air New Zealand.

OMAN: Oman Air Makes Its Way To Dhaka

Ribbon cutting in Dhaka. Oman Air will link Muscat with the Bangladeshi capital with a four times weekly link which will face direct competition from United Airways Bangladesh and Biman Bangladesh Airlines according to OAG Schedules Analyser.

Oman Air commenced services between Muscat (MCT) and Dhaka (DAC) on 25 October. The 3,261-kilometre link will be served four times weekly on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. From 1 December, a Monday and Wednesday service will also be added.

Dhaka is the airline’s second destination in Bangladesh after Chittagong, which is served daily from Muscat. Services between the two capital cities will face direct competition from United Airways Bangladesh and Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which both operate a daily service.

Oman Air will serve the city pair using a mixture of its A330-200s and A330-300s according to OAG Schedules Analyser data.

UAE: flydubai Launches Dubai Al Maktoum Operations

Offering six new routes and 63 weekly frequencies, flydubai’s new base at Dubai Al Maktoum was opened for business on 25 October.

flydubai launched its first flights from Dubai Al Maktoum (DWC) on 25 October.

Speaking about flydubai’s new operations, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, said: “It is the same spirit that allowed us to develop significant potential for growth in the many markets within our geographic focus and now enables us to take advantage of the huge opportunity presented by DWC. We recognise the benefits and convenience that DWC offers, while at the same time continuing our operations at the world renowned Dubai International.

We are a young, dynamic airline and keen to increase opportunities for travel for our passengers across Dubai; DWC gives us that.”

On the same day flydubai’s inaugural flight landed in the capital city of Eritrea, Asmara (ASM). The Eritrean capital becomes the airline’s 13th destination in East Africa and the 18th destination flydubai has launched this year.

OMAN: Quorvus Collection Continues Its Expansion In Oman

Carlson Rezidor, one of the most dynamic hotel groups worldwide, announces a new member of the luxury Quorvus Collection: the existing Hormuz Grand Hotel in Muscat (Oman). The property with 231 guest rooms will join the collection in late 2015. Quorvus Collection is a new generation of expertly curated luxury hotels inspired by the lifestyle and sensibilities of the contemporary global traveller.

“We are delighted to add one of Oman’s flagship hotels to the Quorvus Collection. The hotel ideally complements our Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson properties in the city, and allows us to offer an additional segment to our national and international guests and to create operational synergies”, said Wolfgang M. Neumann, President and CEO of Rezidor.

“The Middle East is a core market for Quorvus Collection. We already have one member in the region – the Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait – and will further expand our network of carefully selected properties together with our partners”, added Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer of Rezidor.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Carlson Rezidor for such an exciting project. With its iconic architecture and ideal location, we are confident that the Hormuz Grand will fast become the first choice of travellers looking for world-class luxury and hospitality in Oman”, commented Khadim Awadh, Chairman of Hormuz Grand.

The Hormuz Grand features 231 elegant rooms and suites, and is located 4km away from Muscat International Airport and 20km away from the city centre. It is situated at one of the premium locations in Oman that is a hub for governmental and academic institutions, shopping centre and golf courses. The hotel offers two restaurants (all-day-dining and a celebrated Indian venue; a third seafood restaurant is under development), modern conference rooms including a 390 sqm ballroom, a pool, an outstanding spa managed by ISpa (Thailand), and a gym. With the ever expanding business and leisure tourism into the city, the Hormuz Grand promises to meet the needs of business and leisure travellers alike.

Quorvus Collection was launched in 2014 to unite individual and inspiring luxury properties offering distinguished experiences. Different in scale, architecture, ambiance and design, the portfolio aims to include historic landmarks, contemporary residences, classic boutiques and urban retreats. All hotels offer a range of essential services perfectly tailored to the guests’ needs. The “Q24” concept comprises six core lifestyle elements – wellness, replenishment and style encompassing the body; and inspiration, entertainment and connectivity to meet the needs of the mind.

SYRIA: Cham Wings Airlines Flys Damascus To Muscat

Gift exchanges and cakes, two of the hallmarks of new route launches. This time these celebrations were convened for the start of Cham Wings Airlines’ new service from Damascus to Muscat on 3 September.

Cham Wings Airlines, a privately-owned, Damascus-based, Syrian scheduled and charter carrier, began offering two direct weekly services between Damascus (DAM) and Muscat (MCT).

The first flight was operated by its 156-seat A320 on Tuesday 3 September, making it Oman Airports’ 63rd destination worldwide in a network spreading across 31 countries.

The airline offers flights to other regional and international destinations from Damascus, such as Baghdad, Najaf, Beirut, Malmo and Istanbul.

In the future, Cham Wings is hoping to launch services to cities such as Kuwait, Doha, and Khartoum. The 2,386-kilometre sector faces no direct competition.

INDIA: AirAsia, Gulf Air, TruJet and Vistara Are Newest Carriers At Rajiv Gandhi Airport

According to AAI figures, in January of this year Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport achieved a rolling 12-month passenger throughput of more than 10 million passengers for the first time in its history. This was followed in May by handling over one million passengers in a month for the first time. The airport ranks as India’s sixth busiest and serves the capital of the southern Indian state of Telangana.

The current facility was opened on a former greenfield site in March 2008, when passenger numbers were around the seven million mark. Initially passenger numbers fell as a result of the global economic crisis, but since then demand has rebounded well, and in the year ending 31 March 2015 the airline processed 10.4 million passengers, a 20% increase on the previous 12-month period. Latest AAI figures for June 2015 show that the airport has handled close to 11 million passengers in the last 12 months.

IndiGo is #1 carrier

The leading airline at the airport is IndiGo, with an estimated 40% of scheduled seat capacity spread across a network of 15 domestic destinations and one international (Dubai). This makes the carrier more than twice as big as its nearest rival, Air India. SpiceJet has fallen from second to third at the airport as a result of its network restructuring, while Jet Airways is fourth.

The leading foreign carrier at the airport is Emirates, followed by Etihad Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Thai Airways and British Airways (shown in bright green). Four airlines have begun service from the airport in the last 12 months; AirAsia, Gulf Air (technically a resumption of services), TruJet and Vistara.


Delhi and Mumbai jostle for leading route status

Delhi and Mumbai are evenly matched as the airport’s two busiest routes, well ahead of third-ranked Bengaluru. There are only two international routes in the airport’s top 12, but one of them, Dubai, ranks as the airport’s fourth busiest route, served by Air India, Emirates, flydubai and IndiGo. Abu Dhabi in eighth place is served by Etihad Airways and Jet Airways. Other destinations served in the Middle East include Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait, Muscat and Riyadh. Asian destinations with direct service include Bangkok (with Thai Airways), Hong Kong (with Cathay Pacific Airways), Kuala Lumpur (with AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines) and Singapore (with both SilkAir and Singapore Airlines). The only non-stop service to Europe is to London Heathrow with British Airways. There are currently no direct services to anywhere in China or the US.

TruJet is newest airline

On 12 July, Hyderabad welcomed its newest carrier, TruJet. The new, domestic carrier currently has a fleet of two ATR 72-500s and operates from Hyderabad to Aurangabad, Chennai, Tirupati and Rahajmundry, with services to Bengaluru expected to launch in mid-September.