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Emirates ready to serve travellers and welcome tourists to Dubai

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  • Dubai to open for tourists from 7 July, Emirates launches destination Dubai ad
  • New protocols to open travel for UAE citizens, residents and international visitors, with clear measures to protect the health and safety of communities

Dubai, UAE, 22 June 2020 – Emirates welcomes the latest air travel protocols that will facilitate international travel for UAE citizens, residents and tourists, and open Dubai to business and leisure visitors from 7 July, while putting in place careful measures to ensure the health and safety of travellers and communities.

These protocols for travel into and out of Dubai airports were announced under the directives of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the follow-up of Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management headed by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Chairman and Chief Executive said: “I would like to thank HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed for their latest directives to reopen air travel which show their vision for Dubai as a world leader in business and tourism. This is a strong affirmation of Dubai’s readiness to resume aviation and economic activity after comprehensive planning, review, and preparation. We are confident that the multi-layered measures that have been put in place in the air, on the ground, and throughout our city, enables us to mitigate risks of infection spread and manage any required response effectively. We believe that cities around the world are conducting ongoing reviews and will soon follow suit to update their border entry requirements for international travellers.

“In the past weeks, Emirates has gradually expanded our network by offering services to a number of destinations, providing the means for customers to travel through Dubai while serving the global demand for air freight movement. We continue to work closely with all stakeholders and international organisations to ensure the highest levels of health and safety for our crew, our customers and our communities. Currently, Emirates connects Dubai to 40 cities, and with the latest directives, we have the opportunity to expand our network and offer additional destinations which will be communicated in the coming days. We look forward to serving and welcoming our customers, and to connecting many cities again through our hub in Dubai.

“The next few weeks will be a big test for the whole aviation industry in many ways. At Emirates we see a positive trend of traffic building up across our network over the past weeks, and we are ready to serve our customers.”

Emirates has also today launched an ad to tell the world that Dubai is open and ready to welcome international travellers, watch it here.

Health and safety first: Emirates has implemented a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the customer journey to ensure the safety of its customers and employees on the ground and in the air, including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes to all customers. For more information on these measures and the services available on each flight, visit: www.emirates.com/yoursafety

Travel restrictions: Customers are reminded that travel restrictions remain in place, and travellers will only be accepted on flights if they comply with the eligibility and entry criteria requirements of their destination countries. Visit: www.emirates.com/wherewefly.Visitors to Dubai should hold an international health insurance policy covering illness from Covid-19 for the duration of their stay. More information on entry requirements for international visitors to Dubai can be found here.

UAE citizens and residents: Residents returning to Dubai can check the latest requirements at: www.emirates.com/returntoDubai. 

Five key source markets to drive additional 1.4 million arrivals to UAE during Expo 2020

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An additional three million international visitors are expected to visit the UAE during Expo 2020, with arrivals from India, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, UK and Pakistan driving this influx, according to the latest data released ahead of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2020, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from Sunday 19 – Wednesday 22 April 2020.

The research from Colliers International, in partnership with ATM, predicts the number of Indian visitors travelling to the UAE will increase by 770,000 between 2020 and 2021, while arrivals from Saudi Arabia will increase 240,000, Philippines and UK both 150,000 and Pakistan 140,000, during the same time period.

Looking to acquire their share of these high-growth markets at ATM 2020, will be the tourism boards from the UAE’s seven emirates with major exhibits from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain as well as a variety of other UAE exhibitors including Emirates, Emaar Hospitality Group and Abu Dhabi Airports.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market (ATM), said: “Not only will Expo 2020 increase international arrivals to the UAE and showcase the country as a major global tourism hub – it has also provided the country with the opportunity to expand its world-class hospitality offerings; upgrade its airports and transport infrastructure; and develop an expansive array or new retail, leisure and entertainment facilities as well as diversifying its key source markets by reaching out to new and emerging markets.”

At present, the Middle East and Africa remains the overall top source market for the UAE, however, there appears to be a changing dynamic as we look ahead, with the Asia pacific market set to become the largest source of arrivals in the UAE – witnessing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.8% until 2024 – driven in large by the populous Indian subcontinent.

“The introduction of a new multi-entry five-year tourist visa will not only drive more frequent travel to the country and longer stays but it will also allow for a whole host of new airline routes, making the country more accessible to a host of first time tourists from emerging markets – providing a boost to overall tourist spend and further stimulating the UAE’s GDP impact,” Curtis added.

As the UAE gears up to welcome 25 million visitors for Expo 2020, the country’s hospitality sector will play a major role in ensuring the success of the global event, as well as securing a significant number of travellers who will be keen to return to the emirates for a visit post-Expo.

According to the latest data from STR, Dubai had more than 120,000 hotel rooms as of February 2020, with a goal of completing 160,000 hotel rooms by October 2020 to meet the anticipated demand generated by Expo 2020.

Despite average occupancy rates reaching 73% – one of the highest in the world – during the first nine months of 2019, Dubai Tourism reported a decline in RevPar from AED 337 in 2018 to AED 295 in 2019, primarily driven by softening ADR – which dropped from AED 451 in 2018 to AED 400 in 2019 – in response to increased competition from new hotel supply.

As we look ahead to the next 12 months, the outlook for the hospitality sector in the UAE is positive, with demand in the market strong – backed by an increasing number of arrivals from key and emerging markets as a result of Expo 2020 which is now a mere few months away and the imminent introduction of a new tourist visa.

“And, looking to ATM 2020, with exhibitors from the UAE occupying more than 45% of overall stand space on the show floor, we look forward to facilitating business opportunities that will drive the unprecedented level of development planned for the emirate’s hospitality and tourism market,” Curtis added.

ATM, considered by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector, welcomed almost 40,000 people to its 2019 event with representation from 150 countries. With over 100 exhibitors making their debut, ATM 2019 showcased the largest ever exhibition from Asia.

Adopting Events for Tourism Growth as the official show theme, ATM 2020 will build on the success of this year’s edition with a host of seminar sessions discussing the impact events have on tourism growth in the region while inspiring the travel and hospitality industry about the next generation of events.

For more news about ATM, please visit: https://arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com/media-centre/Press-Releases/

ATM 2020 visitor and media registration are open. To register as a visitor, please click here.

To apply for your media badge for ATM 2020, please click here.

About Arabian Travel Market (ATM)

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading, international travel and tourism event in the Middle East – introducing both inbound and outbound tourism professionals to over 2,500 of the most breath-taking destinations, attractions and brands as well as the very latest cutting-edge technologies. Attracting almost 40,000 industry professionals, with representation from 150 countries, ATM prides itself on being the hub of all travel and tourism ideas – providing a platform to discuss insights on the ever-changing industry, share innovations and unlock endless business opportunities over the four days.  New to ATM 2020 will be Travel Forward, a high-end travel and hospitality innovation event, dedicated conference summits and ATM buyer forums for key source markets India, Saudi Arabia and Russia as well as the inaugural Arival Dubai @ ATM – a dedicated in-destination forum. www.arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com.

Next event: Sunday 19 to Wednesday 22 April 2020 – Dubai #IdeasArriveHere

MEDIA CONTACT: NATHALIE VISELE, Director, Shamal Communications, Arjaan Office Tower, Dubai Media City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tel: +971 4 365 2711 | Mobile: +971 50 457 6525, E-mail: [email protected] , Website: www.shamalcomms.com

Seychelles sparkles at the Bride Show in Dubai

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The exotic, pristine destination was set to conquer the hearts of brides-to-be, as the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) participated in the Bride Show Dubai 2020 earlier this February, where the islands showcased its potential as a romantic wedding destination and the wide range of possibilities for couples and newly-weds.

The STB representative in Dubai Ahmed Fathallah and Marketing Executive Ms. Winnie Eliza from the STB Headquarters were present at the show on behalf of the destination to entice the various visitors to the romance in beautiful destination.  

Paradise-like Seychelles also dubbed the ‘islands of love’, where romance is as natural as all the physical attributes which conspire to provide tender and romantic experiences, is regarded as by many as simply  ‘out of this world’.

“It is a perfect opportunity for Seychelles to increase its visibility in the UAE through the Bride Show in Dubai as plenty of residents of the region dream of having their marriage and/or honeymoons in Seychelles. Using the STB’s participation, we make this dream become closer to reality; we have showcased more of what the islands can be for this segment in The Bride Show. The positive reception in the region continuously inspires the team to intensify our efforts in promoting the destination,” mentioned Mr. Fathallah.

He further stated that the Bride Show in Dubai is a popular event amongst residents of the UAE, expatriates and Emiratis alike, sees the participation of some 20, 000 participants annually.

Visitors to the STB enjoyed the picturesque booth that captured the essence of the islands; they were also treated to some gift bags containing exhaustive information regarding Seychelles as a wedding and honeymoon destination.

The STB representative in Dubai further mentioned there is an increasing number of Dubai residents who are choosing to celebrate their special moment in the Seychelles islands as it represents the ideal of romance in paradise.

After four fantastic days of fashion, jewelry, beauty, glamour and more at the Middle East’s leading wedding and lifestyle event, plenty of brides-to-be and couples definitely went with some great ideas and inspiration for their big day- hopefully heading to the Seychelles!

More news about Seychelles.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected]  www.seychelles.travel

Seychelles represented at a Corporate Travel Planners Roadshow in Abu Dhabi

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Maximizing its exposure in the Middle East, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) participated in a Corporate Travel Planners Roadshow held at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

The roadshow, which took place on November 20, 2019 was organised by dnata Abu Dhabi with the objective of connecting the corporate travel bookers to the key service facilitators.

The event saw the participation of over 90 key travel planners/bookers from dnata’s prestigious corporate account and 20 exhibitors providing various travel services including airlines, hotel chains and tourism boards. This involved the STB featuring Seychelles as a versatile destination of choice in the Indian Ocean.

The Corporate Travel Planner Roadshow attracted mainly frequent travellers from the corporate world such as travel managers, procurement managers and travel officers all keen to keep abreast with the services available on the market.

The destination was represented by Ms. Aliette Esther, Tourism Attaché based in Abu Dhabi, and was assisted in promoting the Seychelles in the roadshow by Cerf Island Resort representative Mrs. Foram Varsani.  Both were working in unison to provide information about the destination. Mrs. Varsani also used the opportunity to explain about the facilities and activities available to potential clients at the Cerf Island Resort.  

Commenting on the STB’s participation at the event Ms. Esther explained that it falls in line with STB’s strategy for visibility as well as educating its partners.

 ‘It is important to be constantly on the road to promote the destination especially in this day and age where the competition is tough. It is important also to keep managing our relationship vis-à-vis our travel trades partners and update their knowledge of our destination. This can be achieved by reminding partners that Seychelles is a versatile destination, which also includes services for the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) segments,” said Ms. Esther. 

 “I had a fruitful visit to Abu Dhabi to attend two events which took place on 20th & 21st November. I am pleasantly surprised to see the marketing & awareness, which is done by STB  as I found great number of corporate and tourism establishments interested in the destination.

I am very grateful for all the help and support I received during my visit from Aliette to draw more business to our shores.” Mrs Foram Varsani said.

‘At the moment, the UAE is the 5th biggest market for the Seychelles.’ Ms Esther said. ‘Roadshows such as this one will certainly help in getting the UAE to climb a notch higher on the ladder.  At the end of the day, the more visitors we get, whether it be from the UAE or any other parts of the world, the ultimate benefactors are the Seychellois people.  In the process, we will be sharing some of the beauty and culture of our islands with the visitors. It is a win-win situation all around. We look forward to participating in similar events in the future.’

According to the latest Knight Frank’s 2018 City Wealth Index, Abu Dhabi is the richest city in the GCC.

Ms. Esther further mentioned that the affluence in Abu Dhabi and the regular daily flights availability -3 times a day from the two UAE hubs (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), a 4-hour flying time make the city an excellent place to market the destination. 

With the five-day long National Day holiday coming up at the end of November early December, the roadshow was well timed and Ms. Esther and Mrs. Varsani at the STB and Cerf Island Resort were kept busy answering questions about attractions and activities on the islands of Seychelles.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected]  www.seychelles.travel

Top-selling agents of Emirates Holidays visit Seychelles on a FAM trip

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The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) through its office in Dubai, in partnership with Emirates Holidays and with the support of local partners in Seychelles organized a familiarization (FAM) trip to the paradise destination for top travel agents across Dubai.

The visit was organised in line with the STB strategy to increase Seychelles’ visibility through the education of its close partners.

As part of their visit in the destination, the small group of agents were given the opportunity to experience and be inspired by the beauty of the islands, partaking in activities such as touring of the capital, Victoria and its cultural landmarks, ziplinging and cruising the islands.

During their visit, the Dubai agents received a warm Seychellois welcome from the various hotel partners including Constance Ephelia, Four Seasons Resort, Constance Lemuria, Hilton Northolme Resort, Raffles Seychelles, Kempinski Resort Seychelles, Banyan Tree Resort, and Avani Seychelles Barbarons Resort & Spa and were able to familiarize themselves with the products and services offered by these establishments.

The Account manager for STB office in Dubai, Mr. Ahmed Fathallah commented on the FAM trip, stating “The entire experience enhanced their knowledge to better promote and sell the destination and they can impart their personal experience to their clients, which can help them entice travelers to visit the beautiful Seychelles. We will definitely be working on having more FAM Trips in the future as incentive to the hardest working agents. These FAM Trips serves not only as a motivation but as well as an educational experience to provide edge and added knowledge about the destination.”

Prior to the FAM trip, Emirates Holidays ran a campaign among their agents – the top sellers of Seychelles will get the chance to win a place on a FAM trip to the destination.

Compared to the previous year, market performance in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has seen positive increases; the UAE to 22%, Kuwait to 14%, and Saudi Arabia to 18%, making the region increasingly significant to the Seychelles.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected]  www.seychelles.travel