MADRID: UNWTO and other international organizations failed us and tourism will not bounce back, said Dr. Taleb Rifai, former UNWTO Secretary-General. What we need is a new multilateral system, a more harmonized, fair, and equitable system, because it’s not important how successful every country is on its own. Dr. Rifai wears many hats, including as a board and co-founder of the World Tourism Network (WTN). Rifai said: “Four years ago, I had an interview with a Victor Jorge Portuguese Work media network and was asked how I would define the current moment at that time, which included terrorism, Brexit, and…
Author: holidayweekly
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan launched its first-ever tourism TV channel “Discover Pakistan” on Mar 22, marking a major step towards Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision to boost this fledgling sector as a growth engine. Tourism is gaining weight in Pakistan’s economy. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2019, the tourism industry contributed 5.9% to Pakistan’s GDP, with 3.9 million jobs created. The government is also elevating tourism higher on its agenda. A 12-member National Coordination Committee on Tourism has been initiated in the hopes of creating more job opportunities and injecting impetus into Pakistan’s economic development. Pakistan is…
LAHORE: Mr. Asif Mahmood, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Tourism and PHA, on Wednesday inaugurated a picture gallery at the historic Moorcroft Pavilion at Shalimar Gardens. Secretary Tourism Ehsan Bhutta was also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mahmood said that the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) is committed to protecting heritage sites across the province. He added that Punjab is home to many famous landmarks including the Shalimar Gardens. Secretary Tourism Ehsan Bhutta said that the incumbent government accords high priority to the development of tourist attractions in the province. He further stated that…
Some 4.7 billion fewer passengers are projected to travel by this year-end, representing a decline of 47.5 percent in global passenger traffic, according to a report by Airports Council International (ACI) World. This is estimated to equate to a loss in revenue of more than US$94 billion this year, which is half of the projected baseline. As prospects for a recovery in 2021 begin to emerge, ACI World estimates that different regions of the world will recover at different rates. At the country level, markets having significant domestic traffic are expected to recover in 2023 to pre-Covid-19 levels, while markets…
LONDON: Travellers who are missing the skies and want to experience the culinary delights of first-class dining can do so from their home thanks to a new partnership between British Airways, Feast Box, and Do & Co. The airline has teamed up with its catering partner Do & Co, and Feast Box, a provider of internationally inspired recipe boxes, to create a limited-edition cook-at-home meal kit that mirrors British Airways’ First cabin dining experience. Each meal kit includes a four-course menu inspired by the luxurious food served in British Airways’ First cabin. Customers can choose vegetarian, fish, and meat dishes…
BANGKOK: Foreign travelers who have been fully vaccinated will be allowed entry into Phuket without quarantine from July 1. Deputy Governor Pichet Panapong was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying that the infectious diseases committee approved the proposal on Wednesday, March 24. Phuket’s tourism industry had been flourishing before Covid-19; Patong Beach in January 2021 pictured Noting that Phuket has recorded zero new Covid-19 cases for 89 days, Panapong said that the holiday island is in “urgent need for foreign tourists… to stimulate the economy and tourism sector”. Before reopening, Phuket health authorities plan to acquire 930,000 doses of…
PESHAWAR: The tourist information desk set up by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism (KPCTA) at the Saidu Sharif Airport was inaugurated on Friday to facilitate tourists during their visit to the Swat valley or elsewhere in Malakand Division. Chief Minister Mahmood Khan inaugurated the tourist information desk at the Saidu Sharif Airport. Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, Chief Executive Officer PIA Arshad Malik, Commissioner Malakand Division Zaheerul Islam, Deputy Commissioner Swat Junaid Khan, and officials of the Tourism Department accompanied the chief minister. The KPCTA displayed brochures, banners, posters, booklets, and…
SWAT: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) restored regular flight operations to Swat after a gap of 17 years on Friday. Flight PK-650, carrying tourists as well Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, and federal minister Murad Saeed, landed at the picturesque valley at 11 am on Friday, March 26. The restoration of flights to Swat was aimed at boosting tourism in the scenic valley, with two flights operating from Islamabad every week. The operation will connect with flights from Karachi and Lahore. Speaking at the departure of the flight, the aviation minister said that…
BEIJING: Beijing’s total revenue from tourism decreased by over 53% in 2020 for a staggering loss of $50 billion, according to data presented by TradingPlatforms.com. China has long moved on from its isolationist policies and has long encouraged the mainland as a travel destination for tourists. Revenue from China’s tourism sector grew at a strong 13.8% CAGR from 2010-2019 almost $880 billion. In 2019, China was the fourth most visited country by foreign tourists with 65.7 million arrivals for the year. Beijing is one of the leading tourist destinations in China and the city has been enjoying the growth of…
NEW DELHI: Scheduled international commercial passenger flights to and from India will continue to remain suspended till April 30, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was quoted as saying in a media report. International flights were suspended at the end of March last year as part of a lockdown to curb the spread of Coronavirus, reported Emirates news agency Wam. The extension of the ban on regular flights came on a day when the government announced a major expansion next month of its nation-wide vaccination drive against Coronavirus to cover everyone over the age of 45. So far, only…