DUBAI: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, toured ATM, the Middle East’s leading travel and tourism event, started on 24 April, as it celebrates 24 years of industry milestones. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was joined by dignitaries including HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and CEO of the Emirates Group; and His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism…
Author: holidayweekly
ABU DHABI: Mr. Robin Kamark has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer, Airline Equity Partners by Etihad Aviation Group Monday, 24 April. Mr. Kamark will be responsible for leading and developing the group’s minority equity investment strategy, which includes stakes in airberlin, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Etihad Regional and Virgin Australia. Kamark takes the charge from Bruno Matheu, who has held the role since May 2016, and is leaving for personal reasons. Having a 17 year experience of the airline industry, Kamark rised through a range of strategy, commercial and general manager roles at SAS Group to…
It’s often assumed that Antarctica is safe from the negative effects of humans on the environment after all, it appears to be pristine and wonderfully isolated. However, new research says the southernmost continent needs considerably more attention to safeguard it, with its wide-ranging biodiversity showing increasingly more signs of damage from tourism, overfishing, transnational pollution, and warming oceans. A new study in PLOS Biology looked at the threats facing Antarctica’s biodiversity, from the albatross to the sea spider to the blue whale. It also looked at how Antarctica is addressing the 20 biodiversity targets set by the Convention on Biological…
Written by Ch. Faisal Mahmood As we earlier wrote, the Tourism industry worldwide has been developing faster and deeper since the turn of the present century. Not only have the very concept of Tourist Products obtained new meanings, the various sectors serving those products have also acquired different profiles and different dynamics. Historical and archaeological products, which previously sufficed for marketing of destinations, are now considered ‘static products’; rendering them unsalable, except with activities contrived around them. The current ‘in thing’ for attracting tourists is what experts call ‘Contrived Products’. Changes in the transportation sector have been the more visible…
Dubai: Capitalising the expected growth in Iran Air, German Carrier, and Lufthansa is currently in talks with Iran Air over providing catering services as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. “We are in intense discussion with the technical services of Iran Air. Also, LSG, our catering company, is in quite intense discussions in the Iranian market because they all see huge potential in that market,” said Heike Birlenbach, Senior Vice President of sales for Lufthansa Hub Airlines and chief commercial officer. Lufthansa already flies to Iran, and the airline is planning to expand its presence outside of commercial flights…
DUBAI: Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has expanded its footprint in Pakistan after finalising an agreement to operate its third property in the country. The Swiss hospitality firm has signed a deal with the Orient Group of Companies to manage the 310-key Mövenpick Hotel & Apartments Lahore, part of a new mixed-used development the government has earmarked as the city’s new commercial hub. Set to be one of the tallest buildings in Pakistan when it opens in 2021, the property will be the focal point of the high-profile Finance and Trade Centre project in Johar Town, an up-and-coming district earmarked for…
DUBAI: The UAE is hosting this week two mega events, the Ministerial Forum of UNWTO, and the 42nd UNWTO Commission for the Middle East on 24th April, on the sidelines of the Arab Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai. The ministerial forum of UNWTO and ATM Forum will be held under the patronage and attendance of Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, and will see the participation of several world renowned personalities of travel & tourism trade, tourism ministers of Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon and of course Mr. Taleb Al Rifai, the Secretary-General for the World Tourism Organisation, as…
DOHA: Qatar Airways has become the first airline to achieve compliance with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Resolution 753 at its hub in Hamad International Airport (HIA), the airline said. The resolution requires the airline to track every piece of baggage from the start of the journey all the way through to its finish. The certification has been achieved thanks to the airline´s Baggage Management System (HAQIBA) developed in-house, as well as real time integration with the Qatar Airways website and mobile app. Qatar Airways offers real time updates on checked baggage through the “Track My Bags” feature on…
KARACHI: Easter this year has uniquely fallen on the same Sunday for all sects, the Christians, the Catholics, the Greek Orthodox (who follow a lunar calendar) and the Protestants, whereas it was usually celebrated on different days by them. The occasion definitely called for a special celebration and the new General Manager, Mr. Azeem Quraishy of Beach Luxury Hotel, rising to the occasion, arranged a festive Easter Brunch. The inaugural tape was cut by the Chief Guest Consul General of Switzerland, His Excellency Philippe Crevoisier accompanied by his wife. Other prominent guests present were the Consul General of the Russian…
LAHORE: Pakistan Rangers and India’s Border Security Forces are set to replicate Wagah border’s elaborate military drill in one of three border openings between the two countries, to draw more tourists. Amid frosty ties between Pakistan and India, Pakistan Rangers and the Indian Border Security Force plan to open a new front of bonhomie on the Punjab border. The security forces of the neighbouring countries plan to develop the Sulemanki- Sadiqi joint check post (JCP) as a tourist spot on the lines of the Attari-Wagah JCP soon. “Sulemanki and Sadiqi have tourism potential so both nations have made up their…