Following a request from the government of the United Arab Emirates to reschedule Expo 2020 Dubai, the Executive Committee of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which oversees world expo events, has voted unanimously to recommend that the event be postponed until 2021. The final decision is now up to the BIE’s General Assembly, consisting […]
Millions of tourism sector jobs in jeopardy as COVID-19 proliferates globally
The annual global summit of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) had been planned for 21-23 April in Cancun, Mexico, but that too has now been postponed amid worldwide travel bans, border closures, and mass flight cancellations due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The council’s 20th anniversary event will now be rescheduled for […]
Bahrain Grand Prix will still take place, but without spectators
Organizers of the Bahrain Grand Prix Formula One race decided not to cancel the event this year in light of the burgeoning Covid-19 pandemic, but opted instead to proceed without the thousands of spectators that would normally attend to watch. In a statement about the decision, officials explained, “Given the continued spread of Covid-19 globally, […]
Egypt reopens the interior of the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Sakkara to the public
The Step Pyramid at Sakkara, built in the 27th century BC as the final resting place for the Third Dynasty Pharaoh Djoser, has had its interior reopened to the public after a 14-year, USD 6-million restoration project. The restorations, which began in 2006, were carried out to shore up the monument’s structural integrity after damage […]
Saudi Arabia has 350,000 reasons to celebrate the success of its tourism decision
Saudi Arabia is experiencing a relative tourism boom in response to opening its borders to secular international visitors in September of 2019. A little more than three months later, the chairman of the the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, Ahmed Al Khatib, said that the country had issued 350,000 tourist visas in Q4 […]
Egypt’s Almasa Royal Palace property to become a St. Regis
Marriott International has announced plans to take over and operate the Almasa Royal Palace hotel property as a St. Regis in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital east of Cairo. The announcement was made at a joint press event with the National Authority for Management and Investment (NAMI), which was attended by the advisor to the president […]
Sharjah unveils new eco-park
The UAE’s Sharjah emirate opened a new eco-park today in an effort to boost eco-friendly and sustainable tourism in the area. Officially named the Buhais Geology Park, the new attraction is located just off Highway E55 between Meleha and Al Madam near the country’s border with Oman. The park showcases the history of plant, animal, […]
UAE offers new five-year tourist visa
The United Arab Emirates has approved the creation of a new five-year, multiple-entry visa for tourists who wish to visit the country repeatedly without having to apply for a new visa every three months. The new option was announced on Twitter by UAE Prime Minister, Vice President, and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin […]
New data show increasing global interest in Saudi tourism market
A new report from market research firm YouGov has shown that international tourists are gaining interest in visiting Saudi Arabia following the kingdom’s decision last year to begin offering tourist visas en mass and the country’s efforts to promote itself as an emerging tourism destination. The YouGov data revealed that about one out of every […]
Egyptian officials eye world records as new promotion strategy for Grand Egyptian Museum
When it opens, Egypt’s new billion-dollar Grand Egyptian Museum is already set to be the world’s largest archaeological museum and the largest museum dedicated to a single civilization. However, Egyptian officials are hoping to sprinkle the lead-up to the museum’s grand opening with some publicity derived from a few other “firsts.” The Egypt Independent reports […]