Author: Abdul.Wasey

Dubai : Newlyweds today increasingly seek luxury honeymoons that feel personal, meaningful, and exclusive. As one of the fastest-growing segments of the honeymoon market through 2030, luxury travel is driven by demand for privacy, bespoke experiences, and refined comfort. With secluded resorts, private pools, world-class spas, and exceptional dining, these escapes offer couples the opportunity to connect in an intimate setting far removed from everyday life. Türkiye stands out as a premier honeymoon destination, combining easy access through global flight connections and VIP services with a rich selection of exclusive experiences. From couples’ hammam rituals and championship golf courses to MICHELIN-recognised dining and…

Abu Dhabi : Lorenzo Fanara, Italy’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, said in an exclusive interview with “GulfTourismNews.com” that tourism continues to be one of the fundamental pillars of relations between Italy and the UAE. The Ambassador noted that UAE nationals continue to demonstrate a deep appreciation for Italy’s rich cultural heritage, renowned hospitality, world-famous cuisine, and distinctive lifestyle. Italy has become an increasingly popular destination for cultural tourism, luxury shopping, leisure travel, and family holidays. Why tourism matters to Italy and the UAE Ambassador Fanara encouraged Emirati visitors to look beyond the traditional tourist destinations of Rome, Milan, and Venice,…

Exclusive insights from Dragon Trail International reveal Saudi Arabia’s growing appeal among Chinese travellers as the Kingdom accelerates its Vision 2030 tourism ambitions WTM Spotlight Riyadh is targeting China as one of its top source markets, supported by expanded air connectivity, Approved Destination Status, and tailored “China-ready” initiatives The event will bring together global travel leaders to explore opportunities across the Kingdom’s fast-growing inbound and outbound tourism sectors from 8 – 10 September at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC) Riyad: Saudi Arabia is rapidly strengthening its position as a leading destination for Chinese travellers, as new…

UN Tourism and The Bench have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking the beginning of a strategic collaboration to advance tourism investment, innovation, and education on a global scale.   The agreement was signed during a formal ceremony in Madrid by Shaikha Al Nuwais, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, and Ali Shahid, Chief Executive Officer of The Bench. UN Tourism has been actively involved with The Bench’ events for many years, including FHS Saudi Arabia which took place in Riyadh last week, and this partnership is a natural next step to further elevate the collaboration.   The partnership establishes a…

Riyadh : Saudi’s tourism sector continues to expand rapidly, driven by a growing range of travel choices and experiences for visitors. In line with this momentum, the sector increasingly needs platforms that can connect different elements into one streamlined ecosystem—making it easier for travelers to access tourism products and services. Within this context, the “Offers, Now and Beyond” platform offers a unified digital space that brings together deals from a range of tourism partners. These include hospitality providers, hotels, airlines, tour operators, events, and other services that contribute directly to the overall visitor experience. This initiative reflects a broader shift…

Dubai – PPHE Hotel Group, the international hospitality real estate group which develops, owns and operates a multi-brand portfolio of hotels and resorts, has expanded its digital transformation strategy through a landmark partnership with Hudini. The agreement will see PPHE use Hudini’s integrated technology solutions across 17 of its European properties, supporting the group’s wider ambition to enhance service delivery, empower hotel teams and drive operational excellence. The partnership forms part of PPHE Hotel Group’s broader strategy to reimagine how hotels are run by combining technology with the personalised service that sits at the heart of hospitality. Through a more…

Dubai : Dubai International (DXB) is heading into its summer peak, with around 3 million guests expected through its terminals in the first half of July. The peak begins with a surge in departures from 2 July as residents head off for the holidays. The busiest day is expected to be 12 July with over 225,000 guests, in a fortnight where daily traffic regularly tops 200,000. Transfer traffic is expected to account for around 50% of total guests, reflecting Dubai’s position as one of the world’s most connected global hubs. I Heart DXB At Terminal 3, Concourse B (near Gates…

Dubai : Al Khayyat Investments (AKI) has announced the signing of an exclusive distribution partnership with Aujan Coca-Cola Beverages Company. AKI will exclusively manage the UAE distribution and growth for household brands Rani, Vimto and Barbican. Under the new partnership with Aujan, one of the region’s most established beverage companies with a 120-year heritage and longstanding legacy of category leadership across the GCC, AKI will leverage its full route-to-market capabilities across modern trade, traditional trade, supermarkets, self-service, fuel stations, hotels, restaurants and catering (HORECA) and e-commerce. AKI and Aujan will work together to deepen distribution, sharpen trade execution, accelerate e-commerce,…

Geneva : The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for May 2026 global passenger demand: Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was down 2.2% compared to May 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 0.7%.Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), decreased 2.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.5% (+0.1 ppt compared to May 2025), a record high for May. International demand fell 1.6% compared to May 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 3.1%. Capacity was down 2.4% year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.7% (+0.7 ppt compared to May 2025).   Domestic demand contracted 3.1% compared to May…

com supports Agoda’s payment processing across more than six million properties worldwide. Virtual card issuing delivers highly reliable payment operations for Agoda’s global supplier network.   Dubai : Checkout.com, a leading global digital payments company, today announces its partnership with digital travel platform Agoda. The partnership delivers high-performance digital payments infrastructure that supports Agoda’s mission of bridging the world through travel. Agoda connects travellers to over six million hotels and holiday properties worldwide as well as with flights, activities, and other travel experiences. To deliver travel experiences at this scale, Agoda relies on payments that perform reliably across markets, currencies,…