Tag Archives: Dubai

IndiGo to connect Pune with Dubai via direct flights from Nov 22

IndiGo is set to launch daily direct service from Pune to Dubai from November 22.

With this new addition by IndiGo, the airline will now operate 383 average weekly flights out of Pune offering direct connectivity to over 25 destinations in India and two international destinations, the Gurugram-headquartered airline said in a statement.

This new route will enhance IndiGo’s international network from Pune by providing direct connectivity to one of the most sought-after tourist and business destinations for Indian travellers in the UAE, it said.

The daily connectivity between Pune and Dubai will enhance accessibility between the two cities and introduce new avenues for business and job opportunities for travellers, IndiGo said.

“With the introduction of these flights, IndiGo will now operate over 100 weekly, direct, flights to Dubai from 13 cities in India, and now offers a wide choice of more than 225 weekly flights into the UAE from 18 cities in India,” said Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo.

The airline has already announced a flight to Bangkok from Pune.

Dubai and Hilton partner to elevate tourism

 

In a significant move to elevate Dubai’s global tourism appeal, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Hilton have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), focusing on enhancing visibility and refining service excellence in the city’s hospitality sector. This partnership aligns with Dubai’s Economic Agenda, D33, aimed at positioning Dubai as a top destination for both leisure and business, and further exemplifies DET and Hilton’s commitment to creating premium experiences for international visitors.

The MoU establishes a foundation for joint marketing initiatives, emphasising Dubai’s unique offerings through global advertising campaigns and social media. By incorporating seasonal travel packages, the partnership will showcase Dubai’s signature attractions while offering Hilton Honors loyalty program members exclusive Dubai experiences. Hilton, with over 195 million Honors members worldwide, will leverage DET’s resources, particularly in team training offered through Dubai College of Tourism. This will ensure Hilton staff are skilled in cultural awareness and customer service, elevating the standard of guest experiences throughout Dubai.

His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), highlighted the role of Hilton in Dubai’s tourism evolution, emphasising that this MoU will bolster Dubai’s presence on the world stage while enhancing service quality within the city. This collaboration exemplifies Dubai’s culture of public-private partnership and strengthens the city’s tourism ecosystem. Through this partnership, more global travellers are expected to discover Dubai’s offerings, fostering advocacy and encouraging repeat visits.

Hilton, a global hospitality leader with 24 properties across nine brands in Dubai, will bring its extensive industry expertise to this strategic partnership. Guy Hutchinson, Hilton’s President for the Middle East and Africa, commended Dubai’s leadership in tourism innovation and Hilton’s commitment to supporting Dubai’s vision for unmatched hospitality. Hilton looks forward to participating in DET’s training programs to cultivate the next generation of hospitality professionals.

Dubai’s tourism sector has shown impressive growth, with the city recording a 7.5% increase in international visitors from January to August 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, when a record 17.15 million overnight visitors were welcomed. The hotel industry has achieved an average occupancy rate of 76.2% this year, reflecting Dubai’s sustained popularity as a premier travel destination. The DET-Hilton partnership is poised to enhance Dubai’s hospitality standards, supporting Dubai’s position as a global tourism leader.

Travel trade members from Kolkata at the Atlantis dinner

Atlantis Dubai engages with Kolkata travel trade

Atlantis, The Palm and Atlantis The Royal recently hosted an exclusive travel trade event last month at Avartana, ITC Royal Bengal, focusing on driving business from Kolkata for the ongoing Durga Pooja and Diwali festivals.

The event brought together key travel agents and trade partners to explore new opportunities for promoting festive travel packages to Atlantis Dubai’s iconic properties.

During the event, representatives from the destination highlighted the luxurious experiences and unique offerings of both the Atlantis, The Palm and Atlantis The Royal, with the aim of tapping into the high demand for premium travel during Kolkata’s festive season.
The engagement also sought to strengthen collaborations with local travel agents, enabling them to offer exclusive experiences at Atlantis to their clientele.

Rutuja Patil, recently appointed as Account Director for India at Atlantis Dubai, attended the event as part of her first visit to India in this new role. Expressing her enthusiasm about the Kolkata market, she remarked, “It was a great pleasure to connect with the travel community here in Kolkata. The energy and excitement surrounding Durga Pooja and Diwali makes this market incredibly dynamic. We are confident that by partnering with local agents, we can create unforgettable festive experiences for travellers at both Atlantis, The Palm and Atlantis The Royal.”

The event featured detailed presentations on the properties’ world-class amenities, including luxurious accommodations, award-winning dining and entertainment experiences that appeal to multi-generational Indian travellers. Following the presentations, a networking lunch provided further opportunities for attendees to discuss collaboration and future travel promotions.

Patil’s visit to India also included visits to Delhi and Mumbai, where she held one-on-one meetings with key trade partners and stakeholders to further strengthen Atlantis’ relationships and explore new business opportunities.

Pune to get direct Dubai flights from Oct 27: MoS Civil Aviation

The city of Pune in Maharashtra is set to get direct daily flights to Dubai, and three-times-a-week service to Bangkok from October 27, Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation, announced yesterday.

Mohol made the announcement on his X handle on Thursday evening.

Mohol stated that the demand from Pune residents over the past several months is now being addressed. He added that Pune’s direct connection to an important financial centre like Dubai will undoubtedly benefit both Pune and western Maharashtra.

“It is believed that the daily connectivity between Pune and Dubai will reduce the gap between the two cities and open up new avenues for economic progress. Moreover, tourist destinations like Bangkok will also be directly connected to Pune,” he said.

 

Drukair to launch Dubai-Paro flights from Oct 28

Drukair is set to commence twice-weekly flights between Dubai and Paro starting October 28, 2024.

This new route will enhance connectivity for travellers, offering convenient access between the UAE’s major global hub and Bhutan’s picturesque capital.

The introduction of this service aims to bolster travel options for both business and leisure travellers, facilitating easier connections for those interested in exploring Bhutan’s unique cultural and natural offerings. The new flights are expected to open up a range of travel possibilities from Dubai, catering to both regional and international passengers.

“Launching services to Dubai is a proud moment for Drukair. It reflects our expanding international presence and our dedication to connecting Bhutan to the world,” said Tandi Wangchuk, CEO, Drukair.

Bhutan’s national carrier Drukair currently operates scheduled flights to nine international destinations within the South Asian region, and three domestic destinations from Paro International Airport.

 

Resorts World One to make Gulf debut on Nov 1 with Dubai as homeport

At Resorts World Cruises’ first press conference in Dubai with the support of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the cruise line announced the debut of Resorts World One in the Gulf in the Middle East.

Starting November 1, 2024, the Resorts World One will homeport in Dubai via DP World’s Mina Port Rashid, to offer three weekly departures.

These include the 2 Night Sir Bani Yas Weekend Cruise (Friday departures); the 3 Night Oman (Khasab-Muscat) Cruise (Sunday departures); and the 2 Night Doha Cruise (Wednesday departures). For a longer cruise vacation, passengers can combine any of the itineraries to make a 4, 5 or 7 Night Cruise.

Michael Goh, President, Resorts World Cruises

“These are exciting times for Resorts World Cruises, as we inch closer to the start of our first sailing from Dubai to the Gulf with the Resorts World One on 1 November. The response from the Gulf and from various markets in Asia, including from our travel partners have been very encouraging and we look forward to welcoming guests aboard soon”, said Michael Goh, President, Resorts World Cruises. “Our deployment in the Gulf will unlock new opportunities for Dubai and the Gulf as a premiere cruise region. We look forward to this journey together, as we boost inbound and outbound travel for the cruise tourism sector,” he added.

Saud Mohammed Saeed Hareb, Cruise Tourism & Yachting Lead, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism

Saud Mohammed Saeed Hareb, Cruise Tourism & Yachting Lead, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said, “Inspired by our visionary leadership and with the continuous support of our partners, cruise tourism continues to play a pivotal role in the growth of Dubai’s tourism industry, aligning with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure. This strategic partnership with Resorts World Cruises is a testament to our commitment to bring increasingly diverse cruise experiences to our city, underlining Dubai’s position as the cruise hub of the region. We appreciate the efforts of the cruise line in fully assessing the needs of the market and offering a comprehensive world-class holiday to travellers from the region and around the world. We look forward to welcoming the first passengers onboard Resorts World One and providing them the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable experience, particularly in Dubai itself where they will begin and end their cruise journeys and be able to take advantage of the wide range of offerings across the city.”

Resorts World Cruises will introduce its brand of renowned Asian hospitality to the Gulf, providing international cruising lifestyle experiences, with adaptation for the regional markets being served.

The commencement of Resorts World One on 1 November also coincides with Diwali, one of India and Asia’s major festivals, which will also attract a wider expat demographic in the region and the inbound Fly-Cruise segment to Dubai.

“The Omani Ministry of Heritage and Tourism with their key partners is playing a significant role in preparations to ensure a genuine experience and hospitality for Resorts World Cruises in Khasab and Sultan Qaboos Ports from November 2024 to April 2025. This endeavour holds immense significance for Oman in their respective plans to operate 11 ports in the future,” said Khalid Al Azri, Director of Tourism Trends Department, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman.

“We are excited to welcome Resort World Cruises to Doha for the first time. Renowned for its international experiences and expertise to cater to the needs of its passengers, we are eagerly waiting for her debut across the region. Qatar Tourism’s Cruise Season 2024-2025 is expected to be the largest yet, as the season will see many maiden cruises as well as returning cruise ships gracing ‘The Terminal’. We will be updating visitors with all the new offerings soon,” said Maryam Saoud, Head of Tourism Product Support Section at Qatar Tourism
For the ultimate luxury experience at sea, The Palace, a luxury ship-within-a ship’ all-suite enclave will provide private amenities and access to exclusive restaurants, including 24-hour butler service.

With the upcoming deployment, Resorts World Cruises is also excited to announce its new partnership with DP World, a leading maritime gateway and hub for the region. This collaboration will focus on homeporting Resorts World Cruises fleet at Port Rashid.