Author: holidayweekly

ISLAMABAD: PIA, the national flag carrier of Pakistan will be flying to Europe in the first quarter of 2022, after getting clearance from the international aviation auditor, revealed PIA CEO Arshad Malik. The Chief anticipated that the ban would be lifted in the first quarter of next year. PIA sorted out its in-house affairs and brought significant improvement in safety and quality standards, which were checked by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) before the visit of IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) team. “We were able to clear and cross that hurdle (safety and quality standards) with outstanding remarks,” he…

MINGORA: Hundreds of tourists from across the country flocked to the scenic valleys of Malam Jabba and Kalam to witness snowfall but were disappointed at the closure of the ski resort. According to officials, over 30,000 tourists thronged to the hill stations of Malam Jabba, Kalam, Mahodhand and adjoining areas, where the tourists spent quality time along with friends and families. Hotels in these upper areas of the Swat district were almost jam-packed, and there was hustle and bustle on the roads. However, many tourists were disappointed when they reached the scenic Malam Jabba valley where they found the ski…

MUSCAT: Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman, recently participated in ICAO’s Regional Security Culture Webinar under the theme ‘Year of Security Culture.’ The webinar provided an opportunity for key aviation stakeholders to explore the principles, importance and benefits of a strong and effective security culture in aviation, with a focus on some of the challenges and subsequent solutions adopted by stakeholders in the Middle East region. Speaking on behalf of Oman Air, Mr. Alauddin Al Ali, Senior Manager of Airline Security, explained how a strong security culture is embedded into Oman Air’s operations and forms the…

LONDON: A new analysis of staff shortages by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed 205,000 travel and tourism jobs across the UK predicted to remain unfilled by the end of this year. The worrying figures from WTTC, which represents the global private travel and tourism, shows for the first time the enormous impact staff shortages could have on the UK’s economic recovery. Data compiled by Oxford Economics for WTTC, analysed staff shortages across the UK and other major Travel & Tourism markets, including the US, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, between July – December 2021 and 2022.…

GENEVA: 2021 has been a year of learning and adapting for tourism. It has proven that only by working together can the sector overcome challenges and embrace opportunities. Gathering the global tourism community and developing concrete actions, UN World Trade Organisation (UNWTO) has led tourism’s response with the vision of not only restarting, but doing so in a more inclusive, innovative and sustainable way. As global tourism faced up to a second year of unprecedented crisis, UNWTO began 2021 by counting the cost so far. At the same time, however, the emergence of vaccines brought hope. The Global Tourism Crisis…

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed direct flights to Mashhad, Iran, after a five-year gap in a bid to develop people to people contacts and boost religious tourism with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The development reportedly came as a result of “serious efforts by the Iranian Embassy in Islamabad” for the facilitation of air travel between the two countries. The announcement for the beginning of PIA’s direct flight operations from Lahore to Mashhad was made by the airline’s Chief Executive Officer during a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Mohammad Ali Hosseini, a press statement by the…

MURREE: Shangri-La Hotel & Resort – one of the most beautiful hotels in Murree, which is the most popular, beautiful and picturesque tourist destination of Pakistan recently celebrated the birthday of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The event was graced Mr. Umar Maqbool, Assistant Commissioner Murree as the Chief Guest while the guests of honour was Mr. Muhammad Nauman Abbasi, Information Secretary, Murree Development Forum and Mr. Nisar Ahmed, President Pakistan Professional Union of Journalists. Speaking on the occasion the speakers paid rich tribute to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan and the father of the nation on his…

WASHINGTON: The Biden administration will lift travel restrictions on eight southern African countries imposed last month over concerns about the fast-spreading COVID-19 Omicron variant, the White House said Friday. Foreign nationals who are barred from the United States because they have been in one of the eight countries within the prior 14 days will again be allowed on U.S.-bound flights leaving after 12:01 a.m. ET on Dec. 31, a senior official said, confirming a Reuters report. The United States on Nov. 29 barred nearly all non-U.S. citizens who had recently been in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique…

KARACHI: PIA District Manager Karachi, Ms. Nadia Gul Sahiba along with Manager Passenger Sales Mr. Hamid Mahmood, Manager Interline Mr. Ayaz Mahmood, Ticketing Office Manager Mr.  Mukhtiar Ali Abbasi and Manager Cargo Mr. Mohsin Hameed met with PIA business Partners and Senior Travel agents at Karachi Gymkhana. They Discussed Matters of mutual interest, particularly the introduction of PIA new routes.

KARACHI: Annual Dinner and Music Program of Old Ravians was held in Oval Ground of Government College, Lahore. Dr Amjad Saqib, Chairman Akhuwwat Foundation graced the event as its Chief Guest. The event was presided by Jahanzeb Nazir Khan, President ORU. Vice Chancellor GCU Dr Asghar Zaidi specially participated. Dr Abdul Basit, Secretary General ORU was the stage secretary. Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Affairs Sheharyar Afridi, Ex-Governor Punjab Sardar Latif Khosa, Vice Chancellor KEMU Dr Khalid Masud Gondal, DG Lahore Walled City Authority Kamran Lashari, Ex Federal Secretary Qazi Afaq, famous juornalists Mubashar Luqman, Usama Ghazi & Barrister Ehtisham…