The ITIC Middle East Tourism Investment Session has presented their annual ATM Investment Summit meeting at ATM 2023.Exploring the economic outlook for regional tourism, the session also delved into the relationship between sustainability and investment in the sector as well as the growing opportunities for women in the Middle East, focusing on Oman as a case study. Hosted by Gerald Lawless, Director ITIC Ltd, Invest Tourism Ltd and Ambassador WTTC, the summit opened with Nicolas Mayer, Global Tourism Leader PWC and Nicholas Maclean, Chairman and Managing Director CBRE Middle East. Sharing an optimistic view on the market Maclean said: “One of the key asset classes which is attracting special interest, particularly in the GCC is the opportunity for investors to capitalise on the hospitality industry. The profile of investors in the GCC is much more long term than in other markets around the world.” Saudi Arabia is a particular growth area for the GCC region with the Kingdom recording 93.5 million tourists in 2022. Commenting on the investment situation in Saudi, Mayer said: “In Saudi Arabia there is an acceleration of not just hotels and rooms, but the creation of entire destinations which entails a number of different asset classes, be it in entertainment, human capacity building or experiences. The tourism industry is seen as a transformational sector when it comes to meeting sustainability goals and the sustainability aspect is now front and centre when it comes to investment in the Kingdom.” The sustainability segment of the ITIC session was moderated by BBC Anchor Sameer Hashmi and the speakers for this session included: Amr El Kady, CEO, Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board; Dr. Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director of Jordan …

As part of its ongoing bilateral and cultural ties with its Indian counterparts, Sri Lanka Tourism organised a series of Road Shows in key South Indian cities. These series of roadshows were conducted with an aim to promote the destinations and tourism products of the serene island nation. The first road show was held at Chennai on 24th April, followed by at Cochin on 26th Apriland ended at Bangalore on 28th April. A delegation of over 30 Sri Lankan Travel Agencies and hotels participated at this event. The delegation was led by the Hon. Harin Fernando, Minister of Tourism and accompanied by Mr. Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Mr. Thisum Jayasuriya, Chairman Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Ms. Shirani Herth, Junior Manager, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and ​Ms. Malkanthi Welikla, Manager – Marketing, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau. Hon. Harin Fernando, Minister of Tourism, said “Sri Lanka is experiencing a significant rise in tourist arrivals, particularly from India, which has now secured the top spot. In the first three months of 2023, we welcomed 46,432 Indian tourists. With an ambitious promotional campaign underway, we are aiming to attract 2 million Indian tourists this year. This increase in visitors has had a positive impact on tourism earnings, with Sri Lanka earning around 530 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2023, compared to $482.3 million in the same period last year. We expect to generate a total of $3 billion in tourism revenue this year.“ He further added, “Sri Lanka values the Indian outbound market since it has been instrumental in driving tourism to our country. The country features a varied range of attractions and offerings, …

Arvind Singh, Secretary, Tourism, has informed that the Kashmir TWG meeting will be held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Convention Centre in Srinagar in May. “We will do a side event on film tourism at Srinagar. We want to show India’s and Kashmir’s potential as a film tourism destination,” he informed. 

Post completion of phase 3A expansion work scheduled in 2023, Delhi airport will become the only Indian airport whose terminals would be able to handle 100 million passengers per annum (MPPA), said a release from DIAL.

Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, said, “Through G20 each state is promoting its own district, product and culture and that is leading to every state becoming a brand by itself. The G20’s impact is that many states are building up their own brands to penetrate global markets.” 

Riaz Munshi, president, OTOAI said, “There is a significant change in travelling pattern, travellers are now taking multiple trips during the year. They prefer to travel for more number of days, explore newer destinations and uncover off-the-beaten track experiences”. 

Next week more than 1500 international travel delegates and the country’s leading tourism operators will experience Ōtautahi during TRENZ, a four-day trade event designed to build relationships, broker business opportunities and explore new tourism experiences from the country’s visitation sector. TRENZ being held in Ōtautahi represents another significant milestone for the city. In 2019, prior to COVID, the tourism industry was valued at over $39 billion to the New Zealand economy, with $1 billion spent in the Christchurch economy while still in recovery post-earthquake. In 2010 visitor expenditure in the city exceeded $1.7 billion. The last time TRENZ was held in Ōtautahi was 2006. The trade show doubles not only as a business generating tradeshow, but as a chance for international travel trade and inbound tour operators to refamiliarise themselves with the city and region. “ChristchurchNZ is thrilled to welcome back TRENZ delegates to our vibrant city. For many of the delegates it will be their first experience of Christchurch. For others it will be their first time back since 2006 – they will be surprised and delighted,” says Kath Low, ChristchurchNZ’s Head of Tourism. “The program of appointments, famils and events is designed to nurture and re-energise as we reconnect in person after considerable time. It is Christchurch’s time to shine and we’re so eager to show it all off,” Low says. “TIA is proud to partner with ChristchurchNZ to bring this event back to life after the COVID disruption of the past three years. Prior to the pandemic, tourism was the most valuable sector to New Zealand’s economy and this is the industry’s chance to reconnect but also critically reimagine how travel and tourism will grow and develop …

According to official sources, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has announced the postponement of the first Global Tourism Investors’ Summit (GTIS). The event was originally scheduled to take place from May 17 to 19 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. However, a new date for the summit is expected to be announced soon.

Spree Hospitality is thrilled to announce the signing of a new boutique hotel, Zip by Spree Hotels Morjim. Set to open its door on 1st June 2023, this new addition to the Spree Hospitality family promises to offer an unforgettable hospitality experience in the stunning coastal town of Morjim, Goa. As part of EaseMyTrip’s leading travel company, Spree Hospitality offers unbeatable service, comfort, and style. Currently, Spree Hospitality operates more than 30 hotels, clubs, and guesthouses across India. The launch of more than 7 hotels is planned for this quarter. Sagar Khurana, Vice President of Spree Hospitality “We are delighted to announce the addition of Zip by Spree Hotels Morjim to our portfolioand are confident that it will become a sought-after destination for travelers seeking a luxurious and comfortable stay” said Mr. Sagar Khurana, Vice President of Spree Hospitality. “With its prime location, stunning view, comfort rooms and top-class facilities, we are confident that the hotel will exceed our guest’s expectations.” The hotel is located in the heart of Morjim and is in close proximity to some of the town’s popular attractions. Guests can enjoy a stroll along the beautiful Morjim beach, take part in water sports, or explore the local markets and cafes. Zip by Spree Hotels Morjim boasts a range of top-class facilities that are sure to make guest’s stay comfortable and memorable. The hotel features spacious rooms with balconies, some of which offer stunning views of Morjim beach. Guest can enjoy the fresh sea breeze and soak up the sunshine from the comfort of their own private balconies. To further enhance the guest experience, the hotel also boasts an in-built restaurant and swimming pool. The restaurant will …

The climate crisis was under the spotlight during the opening session of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 today at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The discussion gathered tourism and economy figureheads from across the Middle East region to address how the travel industry needs to adapt totackle the issue of climate change and meet current regulations by implementing new sustainable policies, funds and support. Taking place on the Global Stage at ATM, the discussion was moderated by Eleni Giokos, Anchor and Correspondent CNN, and the prestigious line-up of speakers included Sujit Mohanty, Regional Division for the Arab States, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR); Dr Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, Managing Director, Jordan Tourism Board; and H.E. Walid Nassar, Minister of Tourism, Lebanon. According to Sustainable Travel International, tourism is responsible for approximately 8% of global carbon emissions from transport, food and beverage, accommodation and related goods and services. The opening session at ATM looked at the industry’s crucial role in climate change – a particularly pertinent topic as the UAE prepares to host COP28 later this year. The UNDRR works closely with governments, the private sector and stakeholders across the globe, including 22 Arab nations, to reduce disaster risk. Building a picture of the current situation, Mohanty said, “Globally, in the last 20 years, there have been $2.97 trillion in economic losses due to disasters. Climate change is leading to more frequent and severe climate-related hazards such as floods, heatwaves, cyclones and hurricanes. In turn, the tourism industry loses enormous amounts of money due to these hazards. Therefore the return on investment is clear – invest now to help protect the future.”   Jordan is one of the …