The Middle East has
long been at the center of how the world connects with itself, but the region is evolving from a convenient hub to one of the most exciting and dynamic stories in global travel at record speed.
That’s why Skift is hosting its first Skift Global Forum East in Dubai from December 13-15, and why today we’re announcing the launch of a dedicated Middle East newsletter bringing you the biggest news across all travel sectors. What you get in your inbox first weekly and then daily are easy-to-digest articles on the latest news, from hotel developments to online travel innovations and airline expansion news, not to mention who the masterminds behind all of this are. growth and this investment. .
These are ideas you don’t want to miss out on.
Here’s our first issue, put together by our Asia/Middle East editor, Peden Doma Bhutia.
Middle East Travel Roundup: Nov 2, 2022
Submitted By: Skift
Peden Doma Bhutia, Editor
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today’s report
That fifa world cup should be celebrated Qatar This month promises a boom business for hotels in the region. Not surprisingly, then, the Middle East and Africa were the only world regions to report an increase in total hotel project activity at the end of the third quarter, according to the report. Hotel data giant STR. With most of the region’s pipeline activity concentrated in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia (39,070) and the United Arab Emirates (32,272) lead construction activity.
In what has been called the post-World Cup boom, Qatar is ready to welcome 6.24 million tourists by 2028 Spending in the sector reached 28,000 million dollars, according to a report published by Qatar Chamber on Sunday. The report, “Economic and Commercial Activities in Qatar 2022”, noted that spending on tourism would grow 9.1 percent annually through 2028. The report went on to explain that authorities have been working to create a system to speed up the licensing process for tourism businesses in order to attract more investment to the country. Qatar expects more than 1.5 million football fans to visit the country during the World Cup. The country has also lifted the requirement for a negative pre-arrival polymerase chain reaction test from Tuesday, just in time for the FIFA World Cup.
emirates has started its massive two-year upgrade program Work will begin on the first of 120 aircraft to receive a full cabin interior and the installation of the airline’s latest premium economy seats. The ambitious project will see a multi-million dollar investment that will see 67 A380s and 53 777s refurbished. By April 2025, when the project is complete, nearly 4,000 premium economy seats will be installed, while 728 first-class suites will be refurbished and more upgraded. 5,000 business class seats. Emirates has announced plans to introduce premium economy service on its routes to New York JFK, San Francisco, Melbourne, Auckland and Singapore by March 2023. Emirates Chairman Tim Clark said Monday at the Ultratravel Forum in London that Premium Economy has had a great response from passengers and has been packed since its launch. He also pointed out that instead of moving from business class to premium economy, passengers have moved from economy class to premium economy.
Dubai Sunset Hospitality Group
has secured a $35 million financing from Goldman Sachs Asset Management. The group, which currently operates in nine countries, owns and operates lifestyle hotel brands including METT Hotels & Resorts, Aura, Azure Beach, SushiSamba, Isola, Black Tap, L’amo, Ammos and Drift Beach. The financing will support the company’s international expansion plans, the company said in a press release. The company is actively evaluating acquisition opportunities around the world and funding would be critical to this new phase, said Antonio Gonzalez, CEO of Sunset Hospitality Group. In the summer of 2023, the iconic METT Hotel & Beach Resort will open in Marbella, Spain. The Company is also exploring additional opportunities in the Mediterranean region, the United Kingdom, the United States and Asia. “The investment is a sign of confidence in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates as a center for entrepreneurship and a growing center for hospitality,” said Gonzalez.
The Saudi Arabian Tourism Development Fund has sealed a $172 million settlement with Dana Bay Tourism Company develop a Mixed-use spa project in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom. The resort would include luxury villas managed by IHG, represented by the InterContinental brand. The project covers an area of 2.8 million square meters and includes attractions such as a water park and a spa, which will extend over 14 km of land facing the sea and will promote the urban growth of the region in line with the Vision 2030, according to a statement from the Saudi Press agency explained. The deal would help implement the Tourism Development Fund’s efforts to activate tourism destinations in the kingdom by strengthening support programs and diversifying financial solutions, said its executive director, Qusai Abdullah Al Fakhri.
How to configure it to host those Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Cop27) climate summit this week Egypt resort of Sharm al Sheikh now is your name first eco-friendly city in the Middle East. Announcing this, Khaled Fouda, Governor of South Sinai, said that the Green Zone project in Sharm el-Sheikh has finally been completed: “31 projects have been implemented to make Sharm el-Sheikh the first green tourist city in Egypt and the Middle East. East. In the run-up to the summit, Egypt’s tourism minister had given hotels and tourist facilities in Sharm El Sheikh six months to obtain green certification. The United Nations Development Program has signed an agreement to support Egypt with 6.2 million dollars to transform Sharm El-Sheikh into a green city.
With nearly 25,000 rooms managed agreement it is Expected to be the largest hotel room operator in the United Arab Emirates by 2030, according to real estate consultant Knight Frank. The group would also enjoy this position in Saudi Arabia. In its latest earnings call, Accor said revenue per available room (RevPAR) grew 68 percent in the third quarter in the India, Middle East and Africa region compared to 2019. The United Arab Emirates rose 17 percent. in the third quarter Accor forecast that performance would continue to improve in the fourth quarter after the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Turkey generally welcome 40.25 million visitors in the first nine months of the year, as foreign tourist arrivals increased 98% between January and September compared to 2021. The country’s tourism receipts rose 27% year-on-year to $17.95 billion in the third quarter, according to data from the Institute of Statistics from Turkey. Turkish expatriates accounted for 14.3 percent of sales. Turkey has revised its year-end target for foreign tourist arrivals to $47 million and tourism receipts to $37 billion.
Marjan, developer based in the United Arab Emirates they will be Debut in Ras Al Khaimah with the opening of Lifestyle beach resort Rove Al Marjan in 2024. Marjan announced that construction has begun on the 441-key beachfront resort, which aims to offer “simple and invigorating experiences for the new generation of budget-conscious leisure travelers.” Referring to Ras Al Khaimah as one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the region, Marjan CEO Abdulla Al Abdouli said: “There is an opportunity to broaden the horizons of the emirate’s lifestyle hotel market and cater to the growing segment of value-conscious travelers. . ”
Kuwait-based low-cost airline Jazeera Airways plans to get up $2 billion from commercial banks to finance 70 percent of an Airbus deal for 28 A320neo aircraft, the president told Reuters on Monday. The airline’s order book with Airbus for 2021 of 20 A320neo and 8 A321neo is estimated at US$3.4 billion. Last month, the airline took delivery of its 10th and 11th A320neo aircraft from Airbus, increasing the airline’s fleet to a total of 19 aircraft from seven in 2018. Jazeera was the first airline in the Middle East to use the A320neo. The airline plans to further expand to Central Asia and Saudi Arabia, according to a report by Bloomberg. The airline is already one of the largest foreign airlines in Saudi Arabia in terms of frequencies.
ready to start it travel superapp next year, Online travel agency based in the United Arab Emirates Musafir.com opens its technology and innovation center in Pune, India. The company also established a hub in the United Arab Emirates this year. The hubs allow the company to accelerate its digital transformation and expansion into multiple markets, said Sachin Gadoya, co-founder and CEO of Musafir.com. The establishment of the centers is consistent with Musafir.com’s strategy of using technology to fuel its growth. “It will act as a catalyst for the development of innovative travel technology solutions that redefine the customer experience, such as the super travel app that will launch next year,” the company said in a statement. To capitalize on the demand for travel to Qatar, Musafir.com has also established a new office in Doha.
air Arabia Abu Dhabi, the first low-cost airline in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, celebrated the inauguration of its Flight to Kuwait on Monday. The airline also announced the launch of its new route from Abu Dhabi to Beirut, Lebanon on Sunday. With the addition of the Kuwait route, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi now operates 28 routes to Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, Nepal, Sudan, Pakistan, Oman, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia.
