Author: holidayweekly

RIAYDH: Saudi Arabia is set to fold a mandatory daily catering charge directly into the Umrah visa fee. Under the new policy, every Umrah pilgrim will pay approximately 20 Saudi Riyals per day for a Nusuk meal voucher.The charge will be embedded in the visa fee rather than collected separately, mirroring how mandatory transport services already function on the Nusuk platform.More than 10,000 restaurants are being connected to the Nusuk application to support the programme. Each pilgrim will be assigned an individual BRN meal code linked to their visa before it is issued, allowing them to redeem meals during their…

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is pressing Boeing to accelerate delivery of at least five of the 16 787 Dreamliner aircraft it plans to acquire, with the US manufacturer now expected to deliver the first batch in the first half of next year, two company shareholders told Arab News on Saturday.The details emerged after PIA’s new management and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Boeing’s headquarters in Washington this week, where Naqvi and Boeing Global President Brendan Nelson agreed to finalize “the best deal as soon as possible” for the acquisition of 16 new aircraft, according to Pakistan’s interior ministry.“The…

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), under the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), successfully concluded the National Tour Guide Training Program 2026 with a certificate distribution ceremony held at PTDC Head Office, Islamabad.The certificates of participation were awarded by Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Secretary, Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), and Mr. Aftab-ur-Rehman Rana, Managing Director, PTDC, in recognition of their successful completion of the two weeks’ intensive foundation tour guides training program. 19 young participants from different cities of Pakistan participated in this training program.In his address, the Secretary IPC appreciated the participants’ dedication and emphasized the vital role…

KARACHI: The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) organized a mega Tourism Roadshow at the Karachi Marriott Hotel, bringing together leading stakeholders from Pakistan’s travel and tourism industry. The day-long event featured a press conference, B2B meetings, keynote speeches, destination presentations, tourism videos, captivating cultural performances, and an evening networking session.Sri Lanka continues to strengthen its position as one of South Asia’s leading MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destinations. With its close proximity to Pakistan, excellent air connectivity, world-class convention facilities, luxurious hotels, breathtaking landscapes, and exceptional value for money, the island nation offers an ideal combination of business and…

ISLAMABAD: Acknowledging the absence of local aviation and airline leadership capable of transforming Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), modernising its operations, and restoring profitability and professionalism, the airline has appointed former Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam as its Chief Executive Officer.The landmark appointment is aimed at spearheading PIA’s post-privatisation turnaround and re-establishing the national carrier as a competitive international airline.Tewolde is credited with transforming Ethiopian Airlines into Africa’s largest carrier by expanding its international network and strengthening Addis Ababa’s position as a major aviation hub.The appointment comes after the completion of the first phase of PIA’s privatisation, under which management…

ByLt Gen (R) Sardar Hasan Azhar HayatMD Pakistan Land Port AuthorityEx. MD Green Tourism Pvt. Ltd Since my retirement, I have taken on some projects myself, and one is a family tree of the Khattars of Wah, which I am! It has now been almost two years, as the family has massively spread, almost covering the complete globe. Unlike a traditional family tree, I have included females, which has doubled my work but has also made it more interesting. I am almost done but was confused about the genealogy at the top, so I was searching for people who could…

ISLAMABAD: The Privatisation Commission (PC) has appointed the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as financial adviser for outsourcing of operations of the Islamabad International Airport (IIAP). The decision was taken in the 255th meeting of the PC Board held on Friday under the chairmanship of Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation and Chairman, Privatisation Commission, the PC said in a statement. The Board approved the signing of the Transaction Advisory Services Agreement (TASA) with the ADB for the IIAP. “The PC Board reviewed the terms of the negotiated TASA and approved the agreement reached with ADB. The PC…

BEIJING: China’s expanded visa-free travel policy is delivering significant economic dividends, triggering a sharp rise in foreign visitor arrivals, boosting tourism revenues and encouraging international travellers to explore destinations beyond the country’s traditional hotspots. A growing number of tourists from Europe, Australia, North America and other Asian countries are taking advantage of relaxed entry regulations to visit China, with many extending their journeys to inland provinces and lesser-known destinations. According to data released by online travel platform Fliggy, inbound travel bookings during the recent Dragon Boat Festival surged by more than 600 per cent compared with the same period last…

LONDON: Women’s golf is growing at a record pace worldwide. According to the R&A’s Global Golf Participation Report [1], published this month, women now account for 34% of all adult golfers across the organisation’s key markets, up from 31% the previous year. The figures span 148 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean and Oceania.The trend is consistent across both established and emerging golf markets. In Germany, women now account for 41% of adult participants; in Argentina, 36%; in Great Britain & Ireland, 33%; and in Australia, 31%. Also, this month in the United States, the National Golf Foundation…

RIYADH: RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s newest full-service carrier, Riyadh Air, is rapidly moving from an ambitious start-up to an operational airline, marking significant progress within weeks of receiving its first factory-built Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.The airline has expanded its fleet with the addition of another Boeing 787 aircraft and has already launched operations to several key destinations, including London Heathrow, Dubai, Jeddah and Cairo. The swift expansion underlines the carrier’s determination to establish itself as a major player in the global aviation market.While Riyadh Air has consistently maintained that its primary mission is to serve the Saudi people, the airline is also…