World Tourism

Wizz Air has signed a definitive agreement with its partner Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company to establish Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. The low-cost airline is set to launch its operations at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the autumn. The agreement is a major milestone in the launch of the new …

The Red Sea Development Company has unveiled plans to become the largest certified Dark Sky Reserve in the world. The location is seeking an accreditation that recognises areas with an exceptional quality of starry nights and a commitment to protecting the nocturnal environment. The company has awarded a contract to …

Sparked by robust recovery in the destinations that were affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, Caribbean tourism rebounded soundly to post record stayover and cruise arrivals in 2019. Stayover arrivals grew by 4.4 per cent to reach 31.5 million, outpacing the international rate of growth of 3.8 per …

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi has welcomed guests to experience its all-new Family Zone for the first time. Complete with four state-of-the-art attractions designed exclusively for younger guests, the new area is a must-visit for families and friends of all ages. The new zone promises to deliver unrivalled thrills that mirror …

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has begun to urge against all but essential travel to a number of towns in northern Italy. The communities have been isolated by the Italian authorities due to an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus. Travellers are urged to avoid ten small towns in Lombardy – Codogno, …

Qatar Airways has cut capacity to Iran and South Korea as both countries battle the coronavirus outbreak. Flights to and from South Korea will temporarily operate with a smaller aircraft. An Airbus A350-900 will replace a Boeing 777-300 to meet demand. Passengers from Seoul are also barred from entering the …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority has announced strong visitor figures for 2019, with arrivals up almost four per cent to 1.12 million. RevPAR stood at an $115, reflected by the strong yearly occupancy rates, averaging at 74 per cent. Last year’s inbound growth was spurred by the variety of …

Saudi Arabia will block Muslim pilgrims seeking to reach the holy cities of Mecca and Medina as the country seeks to control the spread of coronavirus. Religious tourism is a large part of the hospitality sector in the kingdom, and the impact is likely to be keenly felt. A statement …

Asia Pacific destinations popular with travellers from mainland China continue to report a huge hotel occupancy impact from the coronavirus outbreak, according to preliminary February data from STR. Pulling from Tourism Economics’ global top 20 for mainland China outbound travel, STR analysed 14 markets for a six-week period beginning with …

Closing borders, blanket travel bans and more extreme government policies will not stop the spread of coronavirus, argues the head of the World Travel & Tourism Council. WTTC president Gloria Guevara is the former tourism minister of Mexico and has first-hand experience of containing a major, viral incident after dealing …