Middle East Bets Big On
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Vol. XV No. 11; November 2019 A DDP PUBLICATION Pages: 36 TravTalkMiddleEast.com Media Partner Middle East bets big on WTM At World Travel Market (WTM) Our participation in leading global events such as WTM forms part of our efforts to promote the emirate of Sharjah regionally and internationally as an in London, tourist boards, ideal destination for family tourism, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council travel companies and hotels and Ruler of Sharjah. Thanks to our relentless efforts to diversify tourism offer- from the MENA region will ings by focusing more on sports and adventure activities as well as cultural offerings, we have been able to position the emirate as the family destination of have a diverse new range of the region. Through our 17th consecutive participation at WTM, we will show- case Photography Mirror, Sharjah Boat, and VR experience. Furthermore, we opportunities to connect and will draw attention to Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021 and SCTDA’s collaboration reap more business through the with European travel trade to meet targets. The emirate’s eco-tourism products, key developments such as airport expansion, Khorfakkan projects, and new networking sessions. HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa marine connectivity between Sharjah and Dubai will also be highlighted. Chairman, SCTDA This year at WTM, we are WTM is a great vehicle for Shurooq has been a participating with our key partners promoting our breadth of participant at WTM for over 10 to showcase the diversity of our offerings. We hope to expand our years, and this year we are emirate. UK is an important sales base, educate and excite focusing on eco-tourism, with source market for the UAE, potential future partners, and flagship destinations and hence, we attend not only to showcase a destination that we hospitality projects such as network with our existing partners are immensely proud of. Ras Al Mleiha Archaeological and Eco- but also to seek new partners and Khaimah has significantly tourism, Al Noor Island, Sharjah HE Saeed Al Raki Phillips Ahmed Al Qaseer Samahi opportunities. The emirate CEO increased its adventure and Chief Operating Officer Collection brand and its three Director General received a considerable number Ras Al Khaimah sustainable tourism offering in Shurooq fully operational eco-retreats: Al Fujairah Tourism and Tourism Development Antiquities Authority of visitors last year and this year, Authority recent years. With 12 partners Faya Lodge in Mleiha, Al Badayer we expect an increase in visitor participating, we will unveil news Oasis in Al Badayer Desert and Kingfisher Lodge at numbers as we have new properties. We continue on international hotel partnerships, the Bear Grylls Kalba. We will showcase how these destinations with our marketing strategy to promote the Survival Academy, new hiking trails, and Jebel Jais have redefined the meaning of authentic and eco- destination in every possible manner. adventure products among others. tourism for Sharjah and the region. Inputs by Shehara Rizly EXHIBITIONS NOVEMBER 2019 TRAVTALK 3 Middle East ups the tourism Biometrics to replace boarding ante at WTM London passes at Dubai airport With 2019 being touted as a record year for WTM London, the he latest project im- ney for the passenger be sent from the airline Middle East is being considered as a significant contributor to it. Tplemented by General who would not need to to the GDRFA for confir- Directorate of Residency carry even a boarding mation. Hence, when the The region’s recent strides in both inbound and outbound tourism and Foreigners Affairs pass to enter the aircraft passenger arrives on the are being felt across the world. (GDRFA) Dubai under or even the lounge. day of departure, all he the Federal Authority for or she should do is walk TT Bureau decade, the tourism in- Identity and Citizenship is Major Ghalib Abdulla through the smart tunnel dustry in the region has the seamless passenger Hassan Al Majed Al with no boarding pass. rganisers predict grown ten-fold and de- experience with Emirates Marri, Director, Business He adds, “Biometrics will O2019 to be a record velopments have been airline. The soon-to-be- Management Depart- provide access not only year for WTM, boosted incredible with the tallest by a strong contingent of buildings and tallest ho- exhibitors from the Middle tels, revolutionary trans- East region. Several Mid- port infrastructure, as dle Eastern companies well as theme parks and have been shortlisted for leisure attractions.” the International Travel & Tourism Awards (ITTAs) He adds that it should Simon Press as well, and nominations Senior Director come as no surprise then include Abu Dhabi Depart- WTM London that five outstanding cam- ment of Culture and Tour- uted to the Middle East, paigns from the MENA re- ism, Azerbaijan Tourism in particular to the UAE gion have been shortlisted Board, and The Jordan and Saudi Arabia’s large for the ITTAs. “Both vol- Trail Association. expatriate population. ume and quality of entries implemented walk-in bi- ment Smart Services, through the gates but Relaxation of tourist visa received from the region ometrics system or tunnel says that three days prior also to the lounge and Simon Press, Senior requirements has also reaffirm the Middle East as for all classes - Economy, to the passenger start- the flight, so that the cus- Director, WTM London, provided an additional one of the most dynamic Business, and First Class ing the journey, details tomer has a much better says, “Part of the growth incentive for Middle East- travel destinations in the - allows a seamless jour- about the passenger will passenger experience.” in tourism can be attrib- ern tourists. Over the last world,” Press shares. 4 TRAVTALK NOVEMBER 2019 GUESTCOLUMN Abu Dhabi Airports signs Travelport’s tech quotient MoU with Beijing Daxing International Kathryn Wallington, Country Manager for the UAE, Travelport, says that in 2020, they for sharing best aim to enhance their offerings while keeping their commitment of exceptional service. practices TT Bureau opportunities unlocked VFS Global by the changes within inaugurates Abu he technologies that we our company. Dhabi Joint Visa Tare building are central to the evolution of the plat- In 2020, we will continue Application Centre form economy, which is to invest in the speed growing in significance at and quality of our search, Azerbaijan tourism a time when experience is shopping, travel manage- partners with Arabian everything and demand ment and robotics capa- Travel Awards for personalisation is forc- bilities and as we have ing the travel industry to always done, look at ways Marriott signs think and do things differ- to use new technologies to deal with Assila to ently. A blockchain solu- make the process of buy- tion developed by Travel- ing and managing travel introduce luxury port, IBM Services, and continually better for eve- collection to Saudi BCD Travel could drive ryone. One thing we won’t Arabia in 2020 transparency, trust, and change is our commitment ultimately booking volume In 2020, we will continue to invest in the speed and quality of our to providing the same ex- Accor partners by putting the lifecycle of search, shopping, travel management and robotics capabilities ceptional quality, innova- with Oman Air to hotel booking and com- tion, support, and service mission processing on our customers expect. enrich members’ the blockchain. Together of travel spending annual- tion with Qantas, for whom sidering the importance travel experiences with easyJet, we have also ly — giving us access to a we have handled bookings of staying on top of the been developing a voice huge amount of data and in a live production test evolving traveller demand. Al Safeer Travel search tool called “Speak insights. These insights environment, as well as and Tours inks deal Now” in its mobile App, are being used to inform Singapore Airlines on the Year 2019 has been a with Sabre enabling travellers to find how we approach the sup- implementation of its Kris- uniquely rewarding year flight options by mention- ply side of our business, Connect programme – the for Travelport, as we have BTEA receives an ing their destination, dates including how we integrate airline’s initiative to lever- been experiencing a of travel, and airports they and support major indus- age NDC standard. transition phase with the all-female delegation want to fly from. try initiatives like New Dis- changing ownership of the of Saudi travel tribution Capability (NDC) The launch of our Global company. We have am- agencies and Continually enhancing and Next Generation Digital Traveler Research bitious new owners with tour operators distribution capabilities is Storefront (NGS). results and a couple of a big vision and a new also integral to our road- destination insights – such CEO with the experience St. Regis to bring map. Our travel commerce Having been the first GDS as the GDS booking data to deliver it. The transition Kathryn Wallington platform processes more to make a live NDC book- ahead of Hajj pilgrimage – has been very smooth Country Manager for the UAE Travelport 271 luxury rooms than one air shop request ing in 2018, Travelport has could give travel agencies, and successful. We have and 170 branded for every person on the connected to six airlines’ airlines and other players made considerable invest- (The views expressed are solely of the author. residences to Muscat planet every month, and NDC content. We have in the industry a real com- ment in our employees, The publication may or may not powers over US$ 83 billion also stepped up coopera- petitive advantage, con- helping them explore the subscribe to the same.) A word from stalwarts We have launched the visitor visa for 49 countries with an option to book the visa online within just three minutes, or take the visa upon arrival.