Author: holidayweekly

WASHINGTON: The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has temporarily extended the Framework Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) for cruise operators until January 15, 2022. The order was extended by three months from the expiration date of November 1 due to concerns about the spread of the Covid-19 Delta variant. The CSO was put in place last October to replace the Covid-19 cruising ban and included a set of rules that cruise operators had to follow to sail out of U.S ports during the pandemic, including ensuring that 95 percent of passengers were fully vaccinated, enforced testing and safeguards…

BARCELONA: Tourism has united around a common Call to Action, outlining a shared vision for the sustainable and inclusive future of the sector. On the second day of the Future of Tourism World Summit in Barcelona (26-27 October), UNWTO was joined by fellow UN agencies, government Ministers, and public and private sector leaders, in agreeing to seize the opportunity to restart and recover better from the impacts of the pandemic. The Call to Action brings together the solutions and plans put forward during the two-day summit, recognizing the importance of transforming tourism ‘for people, for the planet, and for prosperity.…

DUBAI: Emirates plans to boost its operational workforce by planning to recruit more than 6,000 staff over the next six months. As restrictions ease worldwide with the wider administration of the vaccine, additional pilots, cabin crew, engineering specialists, and ground staff will be needed to support the airline’s ramp-up of operations across its global network in response to the sooner-than-expected surge in customer demand. Emirates has already restored 90% of its network and is on track to reach 70% of its pre-pandemic capacity by the end of 2021. The world’s largest international airline is supplementing its flight schedules with increased…

DUBAI: Ain Dubai, the world’s largest and tallest observation wheel by Dubai Holding and the centrepiece of the $1.6-billion Bluewaters project, opened its doors offering visitors a whole new world of unique experiences. It was inaugurated by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, at a special ceremony held in the presence of Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs. Ain Dubai is welcoming the world with spectacular family entertainment and performances including a breathtaking light and drone show with fireworks at Ain Dubai Plaza over a two-day celebration. Speaking…

KARACHI: Khadim Ali Shah Bukhari Institute of Technology (KASBIT) and Special Technology Zone Authority (STZA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to plan and develop a Special Technology Zone (STZ) in Karachi, which will provide technology companies, including startups, SME’s and multinationals a high-tech business environment to promote and push technology-driven growth in Pakistan. The MoU Signing Ceremony took place at the site of the KASB Altitude Building in Clifton, Karachi which will apply for the Special Technology Zone as per STZA Rules 2021 for the status of Zone developer after due consultation on the legal framework with the Government…

MUSCAT: Oman and Greece have signed an agreement on mutual visa waiver for holders of diplomatic, special, and service passports between the Sultanate and Greece. The agreement was signed at Oman’s Foreign Ministry on behalf of the governments of the two countries by Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister and Nikolaos Georgios Dendias, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, reported Oman News Agency (ONA). The two sides also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for political consultations between Oman and Greece. The agreement signing ceremony was attended by Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has announced plans to convert an oil rig into a 150,000 square meter “Extreme Park” and resort located in the Arabian Gulf. Funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), The Rig will be comprised of three hotels and 11 restaurants spread over a number of connected platforms, as well as roller coaster rides and adrenaline-rush activities like bungee jumping and skydiving. Renderings of the upcoming attraction, which aims to “provide a multitude of hospitality offerings, adventures, and aquatic sporting experiences,” along with a promotional video, were released earlier this month. “This project is a unique tourism…

World Travel Awards, the leading authority that recognizes and rewards excellence in travel and tourism has revealed its Europe 2021 winners. Greece, with its resurgent travel and tourism economy, was voted ‘Europe’s Leading Destination’, Portugal’s Algarve was named ‘Europe’s Leading Beach Destination’, and the Azores took ‘Europe’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination’. The imperial splendour of Moscow was acknowledged with the award for ‘Europe’s Leading City Destination’. The fascinating city of Batumi, Georgia was declared ‘Europe’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination’. Saint Petersburg won ‘Europe’s Leading City Break Destination.’ In the hospitality sector, Çırağan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul was voted ‘Europe’s Leading Hotel’,…

DOHA: Several new airlines could join the Oneworld alliance as the group seeks to swell its numbers to close the gap against rivals SkyTeam and Star Alliance. Oneworld currently has 14 airlines as full members – the most recent being Royal Air Maroc in 2020 and Alaska Airlines in 2021 – with SkyTeam at 18 and the dominant Star Alliance group at a thundering 26. Airlines ranging from Oman Air to Taiwanese startup Starlux and Alitalia successor ITA are among the unaligned ‘free agents’ which have said they want to join forces with a global alliance. Oneworld Chairman and Qatar…

SHARJAH: The UAE has been ranked among the top five best places to live and work, according to a new survey released by HSBC. The country has climbed ten spots to rank fourth out of 48 markets globally, with most expatriates feeling positive about life in general and expecting better personal finances as well as work-life balance, reported Emirates News Agency WAM. Overall, Switzerland took the number one spot, followed by Australia in the second position and New Zealand in the third place. HSBC’s Expat Explorer 2021 is the latest edition of the bank’s long-running study that covers more than…