LONDON: Government spending watchdog asked to review costs and benefits of then Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s 2020 ‘own goal’ decision The Treasury’s independent forecaster is to review the axeing of tax-free shopping for tourists, raising the possibility that a decision that leisure companies and retailers have blasted for deterring visitors and losing the UK billions in sales could be reversed. With a change of heart likely to be seen as a shot in the arm for struggling businesses, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is to examine the costs and benefits associated with Rishi Sunak’s 2020 decision to end the retail…
Author: holidayweekly
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation hosted a reception to honor the remarkable achievement of two Polish women, Monika Witkowska and Joanna Mostowska, who have successfully completed the First Female Winter Ski Traverse of Deosai. Deosai, the second highest plateau in the world after Tibet, witnessed this historic expedition as Monika and Joanna traversed its challenging terrain alone, enduring harsh weather conditions with temperatures dropping as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius. Their ten-day journey from January 27th to February 5th, 2024, showcased extraordinary physical endurance and determination. Mr. Aftab ur Rehman Rana, the Managing Director of PTDC, congratulated the…
ISTANBUL: Turkish Airlines, the airline flying to the more countries than any other in the world, has added a new service to its digital offerings for passengers by launching the TK Wallet application. Turkish Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Ahmet Olmuştur stated: “In line with our digitalization goals, we continuously improve ourselves to implement applications that will facilitate our passengers’ travels. We are working to make our services more accessible and continue to introduce innovations that will add comfort to our guests’ travel experiences. We have added TK Wallet to our digital payment methods by incorporating it into our digital services…
ISLAMABAD: Continuing its mission to promote accessible education and employment opportunities for the economic upliftment of Pakistan, the country’s leading hospitality and tourism conglomerate, Hashoo Group, has collaborated with the National Endowment Scholarships for Talent (NEST) of the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training M/o FE&PT, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. This collaboration will introduce dedicated Hospitality Scholarships in Pakistan to promote the Hospitality & Tourism Sector, marking the first time in the country. The hospitality sector is one of the highest employment-generating sectors, both internationally and locally. Through this impactful initiative, underprivileged students across Pakistan will be eligible to…
ISTANBUL: Türkiye’s tourism revenues increased by 16.9 percent last year compared to 2022 to $54.3 billion, while foreign tourist arrivals rose more than 10 percent to 49.2 million, separate official data showed on Jan. 31. Tourism revenues remained below the target of $55.6 billion, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek commented. “In line with the forecasts in the medium-term program, we expect the number of visitors to increase to 59.4 million and tourism revenue to $59.6 billion this year, as the tourism industry’s strong performance continues in 2024,” Şimşek wrote on X. While individual expenditures constituted $41 billion of the…
ISLAMABAD: Hitit, a leading player in airline and travel technology, proudly supported its partner by standing alongside PIA as the event sponsor of PIA’s Annual Marketing Conference. The event, hosted at the Pearl Continental Burban Hotel, served as a platform for Hitit to emphasize its commitment to advancing excellence in airline and travel technology. This commitment was reiterated through dynamic video presentations and enlightening keynotes delivered to more than 100 industry leaders. As the technology provider for PIA, Hitit was delighted to play a pivotal role as an event sponsor of the PIA Annual Marketing Conference, held at the Pearl…
MUSCAT: As part of its ongoing transformation, which aims to improve the company’s overall financial performance and fortify its position in an increasingly competitive market, Oman Air has announced several strategic changes to its network. These include the addition of a new route, Sialkot, as well as the cancellation of operations to Islamabad, Lahore, Colombo and Chittagong. The airline will also be reducing frequencies to certain markets while increasing capacity to two current destinations (Lucknow and Thiruvananthapuram). In addition, three destinations will be operated on a seasonal basis: Trabzon during the summer season, and Zurich and Malé during winter. Oman…
KARACHI: In a noteworthy development recently, Fly Jinnah has received clearance from Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to operate CAT III approaches, arrivals, and departures. Airlines with CAT III status can easily operate in extremely low visibility conditions. The low-cost carrier is the only domestic airline in the country with CAT III certification for its entire fleet and all of its pilots.It is expected to improve the airline’s capability to navigate and operate seamlessly in bad weather conditions, particularly during fog between the major cities of the country. It is important to mention that the Category 3 (CAT III) of…
Royal Caribbean’s new, nearly 1,200-foot-long and 250,800 gross ton Icon of the Seas towers like a multilayered birthday cake with frosting on the top in the form of seven swimming pools, a whimsical striped carousel, groves of tropical greenery and twisting waterslides in green, pink, blue and orange. When the $2 billion ship sailed into the Port of Miami with music blasting on January 10, after crossing the Atlantic from the shipyard in Turku, Finland, where it was built, it was greeted with a cacophony of fireboat salutes and a banner flag flyover. The commotion brought traffic to a halt…
KARACHI: In the year 2023, the PIA Karachi Booking Office team showcased remarkable proficiency by successfully completing the Hitit Reservation and Ticketing Training. The certificates, personally issued by the Ticket Office Manager, Mr. Mukhtiar Ali Abbasi, were awarded to the dedicated individuals listed below: Mr. Zahid Channa Mr. Farhanuddin Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim Mr. Abdul Khaliq Gabole Mr. Muhammad Saddiq Brohi Mr. Sher Muhammad Mr. Ghulam Hussain Mr. Ayaz Hussain Abbasi Mr. Muhammad Rauf Ms. Nazneen Certificate of Performance: This certifies that each recipient has consistently demonstrated outstanding performance and unwavering dedication in their roles at the PIA Karachi Booking Office…