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Turkish Airlines adds Marrakech to flight schedule

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Starting on April 15, Istanbul – Marrakech – Istanbul direct flights will be commenced five days of a week as Turkish Airlines reinforces its title of flying to more international destinations than any other airline.


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Successfully completing its “Great Move” process and transferring all of its passenger operations to its new hub, Istanbul Airport, Turkish Airlines now adds Marrakech, tourist city of Morocco, to its flight network. As the national flag carrier’s first inaugural flight from its new home, Marrakech became Turkish Airlines’ the second destination in Morocco while becoming its 308th destination globally.

The inaugural flight from Istanbul Airport, landed in Marrakech Menara Airport, was welcomed by the customary water cannon salute in a formal ceremony, to which attended by the executives both from the global carrier and Marrakech Menara Airport, and press members as well.

Commenting on this inaugural flight, Turkish Airlines Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Ahmet Olmuştur stated that; “With Istanbul Airport, a new era has begun in the global aviation. Our new operation center offers an important opportunity for us to develop our globally unparalleled flight network performance even further. Thus, we are working on new strategies to capitalize on this opportunity. Marrakech will always hold a special place for us as it is the first destination we added from our new home. We are happy to carry our passengers to this crimson city with our privileged travel experience.”

Known as the “Crimson City” due to the color of its soil, Marrakech offers tourists and travelers the opportunity to experience the entire allure of North Africa in a single location. Bringing historical buildings, famous mosques and colorful flower gardens together at the foothills of Atlas Mountains, Marrakech is well on its way to become one of the favorite tourism centers of the world. As the first capital of Morocco, whose name means “Land of God” in the Berber language, Marrakech’s streets are teeming with the historical heritage of various cultures.

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Passengers, travelling to Marrakech with the privileged travel experience of Turkish Airlines, will be able to visit various significant locations for cultural tourism while experiencing different activities such as nature and wildlife tours.

Istanbul – Marrakech – Istanbul scheduled flight times beginning from 15th April 2019;

Flight No. Days Departure Arrival
TK 619 Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday IST 11:30 RAK 14:30
TK 620 Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday RAK 15:25 IST 22:05

All times are in LMT.

To view the flight schedules, please visit turkishairlines.com or contact the call center at +90 212 444 0849 or visit any TK sales office.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Middle East visitors to Egypt to increase 50% by 2022, ATM report reveals

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Arrivals from the Middle East to Egypt are expected to increase 50% from 1.49 million in 2018 to 2.23 million in 2022 with visitors from Saudi Arabia driving this growth, according to data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market 2019, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April – 1 May 2019.

While arrivals from Europe are expected to be the largest contributor on a regional basis, increasing from 6.2 million in 2018 to 9.1 million tourists in 2022, the latest research from Colliers International revealed arrivals from the Middle East will actually witness the highest Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) at 11%.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Over the last 12 months, Egypt’s tourism industry has witnessed healthy and steady growth, with arrivals up 14.5% from 8.3 million in 2017 to 9.5 million in 2018. Growth has been fuelled by the cheaper Egyptian Pound and government incentives for charter airlines operating international flights.

“Adding to this, we are witnessing this growth first hand at ATM with the total number of attendees coming from Egypt increasing 16% YoY.”

Taking advantage of this resurgence in tourists are some of Egypt’s most prominent tourism companies including Dana Tours, Nicolas Tours and Standard Tours who will exhibit at ATM 2019 – and of course the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board who will have a major presence too.

Egypt tourism capital investment is estimated to reach US$ 4.2billion (EGP 75bn) in 2019, up 25 per cent on 2018, as the country strives to keep pace with an ongoing leisure travel boom and GDP growth.

The data from Colliers revealed that Egypt’s total tourism revenue will increase at a CAGR of 16.5% between 2018 and 2022 – outperforming the business segment. During 2017 and 2018, the leisure spend was US$ 13.79billion (EGP 239bn) and US$ 16.67billion (EGP 289bn) respectively, while business totaled US$ 1.93billion (EGP 33.5bn) and US$ 2.36billion (EGP 41bn) over the same period.

“The overall revenue generated by the leisure segment in 2018 represented 87% of total tourism spend and we expect this growth to continue as a series of new government and private sector attractions and investments are unveiled – including the development of new airports and new luxury hotel resorts in Red Sea destinations Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada,” Curtis said.

Egypt has a diverse range of source markets – decreasing the risk of being over-reliant on one specific market. Germany, Russia, the UK and Italy are Egypt’s top four source markets, with the first and last in top gear – both growing 29% in 2018 – and showing the highest CAGR growth of 11%.

The UK, which recorded just a 4% increase in arrivals between 2017 and 2018, has traditionally been a long-standing major source market for the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh. However, an ongoing ban on direct flights between the two destinations has stifled visitor numbers.

Curtis added: “It is hoped the recent resumption of Serbian flights to Sharm El Sheikh after a six-year absence and the introduction of Turkish Airlines’ daily flight from Moscow to the Red Sea via Istanbul, will kick-start direct flights between the UK and Egypt, and of course Russia and Egypt.”

ATM, considered by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector, welcomed over 39,000 people to its 2018 event, showcasing the largest exhibition in the history of the show, with hotels comprising 20% of the floor area.

Brand new for this year’s show will be the launch of Arabian Travel Week, an umbrella brand comprising four co-located shows including ATM 2019, ILTM Arabia, CONNECT Middle East, India & Africa – a new route development forum and new consumer-led event ATM Holiday Shopper. Arabian Travel Week will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 27 April – 1 May 2019.

About Arabian Travel Market (ATM)

Arabian Travel Market is the leading, international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2018 attracted almost 40,000 industry professionals, with representation from 141 countries over the four days. The 25th edition of ATM showcased over 2,500 exhibiting companies across 12 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre.  Arabian Travel Market 2019 will take place in Dubai from Sunday, 28th April to Wednesday, 1st May 2019. To find out more, please visit: www.arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com.

About Arabian Travel Week

Arabian Travel Week is an umbrella brand comprising four co-located shows including Arabian Travel Market and ILTM Arabia as well as CONNECT Middle East, India and Africa – a new route development forum launching this year and ATM’s first ever consumer event – ATM Holiday Shopper. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector – under one roof over the course of one week – the inaugural Arabian Travel Week will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from Saturday 27th April – Wednesday 1st May 2019. For more information visit: arabiantravelweek.com

About CONNECT

CONNECT Route Development Forum delivers a total networking experience, bringing together airports, airlines and aviation suppliers in a format that offers formal one-to-one pre-arranged meetings, engaging industry seminars together with social opportunities to cement relationships with existing clients and engage with new ones. Created and organised by The Airport Agency-France, CONNECT is now in its 16th year and set to attract over 650 participants in June 2019 at its flagship event taking place in Cagliari, Sardinia. For more information, visit: www.connect-aviation.com

The inaugural CONNECT Middle East, India & Africa event will be the first and only networking forum in the Middle East. Ideally located in Dubai to address the booming aviation market of the Middle East, it will bring together the aviation and the tourism industry which are the backbone and catalyst to economic development. For more information, visit: www.connect-aviation.com/2019-meia/

About ATM Holiday Shopper

ATM Holiday Shopper is the brand-new travel event for consumers offering the very best travel and tourism discounts and deals plus the chance to learn about a range of emerging and unexplored destinations and activities from destinations around the world.  The inaugural event will take place in Hall 1 of the Dubai World Trade Centre on Saturday, 27th April 2019 from 12:00 – 20:00. For more information, visit: www.atmholidayshopper.com

About ILTM Arabia

International Luxury Travel Market Arabia is an exclusive event for those looking to attract HNW travellers from the Middle East to their destination. Returning for its third year, ILTM will allow international luxury suppliers and key luxury buyers to connect via one-to-one pre-scheduled appointments and networking opportunities. ILTM will take place on Sunday 28th April and Monday 29th April 2019. For more information, visit: www.iltm.com/arabia/

Travel News | eTurboNews

Seychelles participates in 23rd Edition of Borsa Mediterranea del Turismo in Naples, Italy

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The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), together with its partner and Italian representative, Tsogo Sun, provided destination Seychelles with more visibility at the Borsa Mediterranea del Turismo (BMT), in Naples, Italy.

The 23rd edition of BMT took place from March 22, 2019 to March 24, 2019; was the perfect platform and a great opportunity for our STB team meet with the visiting travel agencies and reinforce the tourism board’s partnerships with tour operators.

Representing STB was Director for Italy, Turkey, Greece and the Mediterranean, Ms. Monette Rose and STB Marketing Executive, Ms. Yasmine Pocetti. The STB team accompanied by the Italian representative of Tsogo Sun, and Paradise Sun Hotel and Maia, Ms. Simona Bonetti.

BMT saw the participation of the most important tourism players in Italy, including tour operators such as Nicolaus, Idee per Viaggiare, Naar, I Viaggi dell’Airone or Alidays and airlines such as Turkish Airlines. Top tour operators and travel agencies official association, Uvet and Astoi, were present as well.

Further establishing itself, Seychelles was also featured on the stand of I Viaggi dell’Airone, launching a dedicated brochure, and giving visibility to the archipelago through the mega screen of the stand displaying STB promotional video.

The Naples based tour operator organized a dinner with the top partners including STB at famous Ristorante Stella on the Gulf of Naples.

STB Director for Italy, Turkey, Greece and the Mediterranean, Ms. Monette Rose mentioned that the STB presence at the BMT in Naples contributed not only in showcasing Seychelles as a destination but also reaffirmed the relationship with various partners.

“BMT featured very many important players on the Italian market and in tourism world, partnership is crucial. It was a good time for us to be present and build our networks and most importantly ensure the good position of the destination and what it has to offer to our partners and their clients,” said Ms. Rose.

Several workshops were also organized during the event including with 120 international buyers, incentive, wellness tourism and others.

The media had a strong presence with many journalists from the trade and consumer magazines and newspapers.

Naples is a key hub for Southern Italy with great potential and with many international flights and airlines departing from Capodichino airport. For Seychelles, the most important is Flydubai, connecting the city to the UAE, and Turkish Airlines with its direct flights to Istanbul.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Václav Havel Airport Prague: Here comes summer

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Spring may have just officially sprung on March 20, but in Prague, summer is starting in just 2 days, and tourists are ready to travel.

On Sunday, March 31, 2019, the summer schedule comes into effect at Václav Havel Airport Prague. For the duration of the season, a total of 69 airlines will be operating regular scheduled direct flights from Prague, heading to 162 destinations in 54 countries. There will also be direct flights to 16 long-haul destinations, which is the largest number in the airport’s modern history.

“As part of the summer timetable, a total of four new airlines will be launching services from Václav Havel Airport Prague, two of them on long-haul routes. This proves our long-term success in motivating an ever-increasing number of airlines to open new routes from Prague, which ultimately means a wider choice of flights for our passengers,” says Vaclav Rehor, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Prague Airport. In comparison with the previous summer season, the total number of airlines running direct flights from Prague this summer will increase by two. Four new airlines, Air Arabia, SCAT Airlines, SunExpress, and United Airlines, will be operating their flights from Prague for the first time.

“The forthcoming summer timetable also confirms our long-term success in implementing a strategy to develop long-haul routes. During the summer, direct flights will be available from Václav Havel Airport Prague to a total of 16 long-haul destinations, which is the most in the airport’s modern history. In addition to new destinations such as Astana in Kazakhstan or Newark in New York, USA. Passengers flying during the summer season will also have the opportunity to fly to New York’s JFK Airport, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Montreal just like last year,” adds Vaclav Rehor.

In total, the summer timetable will see flights to 14 new destinations, alongside regular flights to Newark Airport in New York, which United Airlines will run from Prague daily, and flights to Astana, departing twice a week with SCAT Airlines. There will also be flights heading to Casablanca (twice a week with Air Arabia), Florence (offered 4 times a week by Vueling) and Billund (3 flights a week operated by Ryanair). Brand-new routes include two holiday destinations – Pescara in Italy and Zadar in Croatia. Thanks to these new summer routes operated by Ryanair, passengers can take advantage of faster and more comfortable way to destinations which until recently were mostly only accessible by road.

Some direct flights that were already available during the winter flight season will continue also during the summer season. These include, for example, flights to Amman, Marrakesh, Sharjah, Paris Beauvais and Moscow/Zhukovsky.

The most frequent flights this summer season will be those departing to Italy (17 destinations), Great Britain (16 destinations), Spain, and Greece (both with 12 destinations).

Among the most popular destinations with the highest number of flights from Václav Havel Airport Prague will be London (up to 93 flights a week), Moscow (up to 63 flights a week), Paris (up to 58 flights a week), Amsterdam (up to 54 flights a week), and Warsaw (up to 52 flights a week).

Long-haul routes: 16 direct flights offered by 19 airlines:

Astana                             SCAT Airlines

Chengdu                         Sichuan Airlines

Doha                               Qatar Airways

Dubai                              Emirates, flydubai, Smartwings

Philadelphia                    American Airlines

Montreal                         Air Transat

New York                        Delta Air Lines

New York (Newark)        United Airlines

Novosibirsk                     S7 Airlines

Beijing                             Hainan Airlines

Riyadh                             Czech Airlines

Seoul                               Czech Airlines, Korean Air

Xi’an                                China Eastern Airlines

Shanghai                         China Eastern Airlines

Sharjah                           Air Arabia

Toronto                           Air Canada Rouge

Overview of new offers:

14 new destinations with regular transit (compared to the same period in 2018):

Amman                           Ryanair

Astana                             SCAT Airlines

Billund                             Ryanair

Bournemouth                 Ryanair

Casablanca                      Air Arabia Maroc

Florence                          Vueling

Marrakesh                      Ryanair

Moscow (Zhukovsky)      Ural Airlines

New York (Newark)        United Airlines

Paris (Beauvais)              Ryanair

Pescara                           Ryanair

Stockholm (Skavsta)       Ryanair

Sharjah                            Air Arabia

Zadar                               Ryanair

4 new airlines:  Air Arabia, SCAT Airlines, SunExpress, United Airlines

Follow us on Prague Airport’s Twitter @PragueAirport.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Wizz Air: Now flying from Krakow to Tel Aviv

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Wizz Air is set to launch new direct flights between Krakow, Poland, and Tel Aviv, Israel, in September 2019.

The new flight route is set to begin operating on September 16, 2019, offering 4 weekly flights operated on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Wizz Air is the largest low-cost company in Central and Eastern Europe and also offers other direct flights to Tel Aviv from European cities, including Budapest, Varna, London-Luton, Kosice, Lublin, and Craiova.

Travel News | eTurboNews