Tag Archives: tourism

Tourism New Zealand appoints Ratul Ghosh as Trade Marketing Manager for India

With over a decade of diverse experience spanning E-commerce, Debt Syndication, Trade & Investment, and Tourism, Ghosh brings in a wealth of expertise in customer-facing roles with Sales, Marketing, and Strategy at the core of his career.

Ghosh’s professional journey includes notable contributions to fostering international relationships and promoting tourism initiatives. During his tenure with the Government of Western Australia, he played a pivotal role in maintaining Sister-State relationships with Andhra Pradesh. His outstanding achievements led to his appointment as the first in-market representative of Tourism Western Australia (TWA) in India, where he served for four years.

His tenure with TWA was marked by successful destination promotion strategies, including presentations with travel partners, execution of familiarization trips, and joint marketing campaigns with prominent trade partners. His dedication to promoting tourism extended to his subsequent role with THRS, where he focused on core sales and marketing initiatives with luxury properties worldwide, including Relais Chateaux and The Set Collection of hotels.

In addition to his professional endeavors, he has a personal passion for cooking, travel, and immersing himself in different cultures, aligning perfectly with Tourism New Zealand’s mission to showcase the unique experiences New Zealand has to offer.

DET, Emirates ink deal to position Dubai as global business destination

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Emirates have signed a strategic partnership outlining joint initiatives to intensify international efforts and bolster Dubai’s mindshare as a hub for trade, tourism, and investment.

Building on both entities’ long-standing partnership and success in tourism promotion, this latest development underlines their commitment to achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, and to further enhance the city’s status as a leading destination for business and leisure.

The agreement was formalised on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market in the presence of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, and Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

The agreement was signed by His Excellency Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), and Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer.

Kazim said, “Driven by the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, DET is committed to developing and leveraging partnerships that can contribute towards achieving the city’s ambitious D33 goals. DET and Emirates have already built a powerful collaborative relationship in recent years, and this new MoU further enhances our ability to reach, engage with, and attract business audiences around the world. A key driver of Dubai’s tourism and wider economic growth has been the city’s international connectivity, propelled by Emirates’ global network and reputation as a leading airline, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Emirates to make Dubai the best city to visit, live and work in.”

Kazim remarked on the newly-inked cooperation with DET, “Dubai is already a magnet for so many international companies, entrepreneurs and family businesses with its business and investor-friendly climate and landscape, favourable trading conditions and high-standards of living. We’re committed to elevating Dubai’s global economic hub status with our partners at DET to increase its visibility across our network of over 140 cities and beyond through a gamut of promotional activities. We’re also working hard to grow our network and connectivity to complement Dubai’s already formidable trade map. DET’s and Emirates’ coordinated and robust strategy will support our visionary leadership’s goals of doubling the size of Dubai’s economy over the next decade and reinforce its position amongst the top three global cities.”

The strategic partnership will see both entities come together to promote Dubai’s robust business ecosystem, strategic location, unparalleled connectivity to key catchment regions, business-friendly policies and processes, ultra-modern infrastructure, and innovation-led economy. They will target corporates, multinational companies, prominent family businesses, and global investors, positioning Dubai as an ideal hub for businesses looking to tap into rapidly growing economies.

The partnership covers a wide range of initiatives where the two entities can collaborate and complement each other’s efforts; these include marketing campaigns to showcase the city as a key transit point for cargo and passengers, access to a wide range of services and solutions to streamline global logistics operations, and the sharing of market insights to further build awareness and favourability of Dubai as a hub for business, trade and investment. They will also work together on a series of events to strengthen relationships with the international business community, with Emirates becoming ‘Preferred Airline Partner’ at these global exhibitions and conferences.

Dubai has grown to become one of the world’s most dynamic economies, serving as a hub for multinationals, start-ups, family businesses, and entrepreneurs targeting growth in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, with a combined catchment area of over 1.7 billion people. Dubai also boasts state-of-the-art logistics parks, various economic free zones, and transport networks that make the city an ideal hub for businesses looking to streamline their supply chain operations and expand their reach in the region.

Dubai sees 11% rise in tourists during Q1, 2024

Dubai recorded an 11 per cent increase in tourist numbers in the first quarter of the year.

The emirate hosted 5.18 million international overnight visitors from January to March 2024, compared with 4.67 million tourist arrivals during the same period a year earlier, according to data published by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), reports The National.

“The number of visitors in the first quarter of 2024 indicates that Dubai is on course for another standout performance this year after the emirate received a record number of visitors last year,” said Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai’s Executive Council.

“This will ensure that the tourism sector continues its growth journey in line with the … objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to strengthen its position as a leading global city for business and leisure.”

The increase in tourists comes as global airline capacity improved after the Covid-19 pandemic and as more travellers from China, a crucial market for the emirate in 2019, started to return to the city in increasing numbers, Issam Kazim, Chief Executive of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, told The National on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

“What we’re better at doing today is getting the right product out to the right audience and in front of them at the right time, which helps us quite a lot, leveraging different platforms and channels and means of communication,” he said.

“What we’ve also been able to do over the years is really instigate the product offering from the three-and-four-star segment. So we’ve talked to all our partners and stakeholders in the sector and they’ve become quite efficient in the way that they price their product at the right time to really bring in the numbers as well. They’ve seen a massive growth in terms of occupancy on their side,” Kazim said.

From January to March, the Western Europe region was Dubai’s biggest source market with 1.138 million arrivals, followed by South Asia with 869,000 visitors, the DET said.

About 817,000 visitors were recorded from countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe.

“The markets we’ve seen good growth in is the CIS region, we’re still seeing great opportunity there as well. In the US and North America in general we see growth and we see great potential still,” Kazim said.

Dubai’s hotels maintained a room occupancy rate of 83 per cent in the first quarter despite a 2 per cent year-over-year increase in overall room supply, the DET said.

In the first quarter of 2024, there were 11.2 million occupied room nights, representing a 2 per cent increase from the 10.98 million occupied room nights in the same period last year.

“In addition to our high-performing tourism ecosystem, these figures also continue to be spurred by upswings in the number of international businesses setting up, existing companies expanding business lines and catchment footprint from Dubai,” said Helal Al Marri, Director General of DET. (Source: The National)

Experts highlight slow travel, sustainability & technology as future trends

Travel & tourism experts from across the industry convened at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024 Future Stage to discuss the complexities of navigating the transformation of hospitality.

Slow travel, a movement that encompasses sustainable travel, mindful travel, and low-impact travel, sustainable practices and the use of AI and data to enhance the travel experience emerged as key actionable strategies for future-proofing travel and hospitality businesses in the Middle East region.

The opening session entitled Trends Shaping the Future of Hospitality in the Middle East, brought together senior representatives from IHG Hotels and Resorts, Marriot International, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Banyan Tree Dubai, Mastercard and Silkhaus. The diverse panel provided a broad perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing today’s hospitality industry.

Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, Middle East, Africa and South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, initiated the hospitality trends session with an insightful discussion on the dynamic transformation within the hospitality landscape.

Addressing a packed venue of trade professionals, Mattar highlighted the importance of how destinations and hotels identify their respective source markets, “The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way generations choose travel, with outdoor adventure now taking the No. 1 spot away from “beach, sun and sand”. For the industry to stay afloat in difficult times, the private sector needs to mirror the vision of their respective tourism authorities and work together to ensure appealing spending packages for those markets.”

He also outlined how generational shifts and emerging travel behaviours are giving rise to global travel trends such as slow travel and similarly, with the hospitality industry responsible for 10% of global emissions, consumers are now willing to spend up to 31% more on hospitality companies that execute sustainable practices.

Lastly, he highlighted how innovation in the hospitality industry is triggering the pace of digitalisation. “The future use of technology and AI will be critical for us to get a clear idea of how to enhance consumer preferences. Specifically, travel anxiety is starting to reduce with technology, and the focus should now be firmly on the traveller’s experiences,” he added.

Also speaking about the transforming needs of the market, Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East – Marriott International, echoed Mattar’s sentiments as he highlighted slow holidays, sustainability, the rise of AI and dupe destinations – similar to traditional holiday destinations but closer in geography – as some of the key travel trends for the next three years, according to the “Marriott Bonvoy Travel Trends report 2024 and beyond’.

“The insights shared today go beyond theories to offer direct reflections of the transformations we aim to foster through ATM. As we continue to drive innovation and entrepreneurial spirit within the travel industry, sessions like these equip our attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to lead the hospitality industry forward,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market.

Held in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024’s strategic partners include the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Destination Partner; Emirates, Official Airline Partner; IHG Hotels & Resorts, Official Hotel Partner and Al Rais Travel, Official DMC Partner.

 

Kashmir’s Tourism Summit returns after 30 years

 

Raja Yaqoob, the Director of Tourism in Kashmir, emphasised the crucial need for promoting Kashmir as an alluring tourist destination. He highlighted the importance of raising awareness and investment opportunities, urging tourists to explore the region’s abundant heritage, culture, and culinary delights.

“Kashmir is already renowned as an attractive destination, but we must amplify our promotional efforts. The participation of numerous investors in today’s conclave sends a strong message that Kashmir is open for investment and welcomes visitors. Beyond its breathtaking landscapes, Kashmir boasts a wealth of heritage, crafts, and culinary experiences. Our aim is to showcase these attractions and elevate tourism,” stated Yaqoob.

Yaqoob also revealed plans to host a tourism development summit, inviting stakeholders from across the country, and organising an Ambassadors’ meet to enhance tourism prospects.

During the event, stakeholders engaged in discussions, presentations, and interactive sessions focusing on infrastructure development, safety measures, marketing strategies, and community involvement.

The conclave concluded with the formulation of concrete strategies and recommendations to address challenges and harness the immense potential of Kashmir’s tourism sector.

Significantly, the government is actively seeking investments across various sectors, including tourism, with a target of attracting an average investment of INR 2000 crore per year for the next 5 years.

Despite the pandemic, tourism in Jammu and Kashmir has been on the rise. Last year, the region emerged as a global tourism hotspot, welcoming 2.02 crore tourists, including over 50,000 foreign visitors.

Former Minister raises concerns of soaring airfares to Kashmir hampering tourism

Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen, Chairman of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and former Revenue Minister has voiced serious concerns over the escalating airfares to Kashmir, reports Rising Kashmir.

“It’s not just tourists who are affected,” Yaseen said in a statement. “Students studying in and outside Kashmir valley, as well as those requiring urgent medical attention outside the valley, also face difficulties due to the rising airfares.”

Hakeem said the escalating airfares present a pressing issue for the Kashmir tourism industry. The increased costs make family travel packages prohibitively expensive, dissuading tourists from visiting Kashmir, he added.

The PDF chairman urged the government to promptly address the issue of rising airfares, especially as the tourism season in Kashmir is at its peak. “Compared to international destinations like Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, air travel to Kashmir has become disproportionately expensive for tourists,” he said. Yaseen called for government intervention to regulate airfares, similar to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai.

The former minister further advocated for the operation of additional flights to stabilise airfares, while also recommending the imposition of price caps during peak demand periods. These measures are crucial for ensuring the sustainability of Kashmir’s tourism industry, he said.