Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that plans are afoot to facilitate tourism cooperation between Jamaica and Dubai.

This is following a meeting with H.E. Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary of Foreign Trade and Industry in the Ministry of Economy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

They met recently at the UAE’s Ministry of Economy, which has oversight for tourism in the UAE, where they discussed areas for cooperation in tourism that will redound to the benefit of both countries and their citizens.

Minister Bartlett outlined that Dubai will support us in terms of MICE market development, logistics and technology and we will reciprocate in terms of resilience and sustainability, the building out of human capital programs, product development and marketing.

In expressing his enthusiasm at the possibilities for collaboration in cruise tourism, Minister Bartlett noted that Dubai Ports, one of the largest in the world with enormous capacity, is looking for partnerships across the world and Jamaica is a good place to start.

A key matter that was also explored during the meeting was the possibility of establishing an outpost of the Jamaica-based Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) in the UAE.

This would mark the center’s latest satellite location, adding to its offices in countries including Kenya, Jordan and Canada.

The tourism minister indicated that further discussions will be held to formalize these arrangements through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) when both countries convene alongside other nations at COP 28 this November.

The Jamaica Ministry of Tourism and its agencies are on a mission to enhance and transform Jamaica’s tourism product, while ensuring that the benefits which flow from the tourism sector are increased for all Jamaicans.

To this end it has implemented policies and strategies that will provide further momentum for tourism as the engine of growth for the Jamaican economy.

The Ministry remains committed to ensuring that the tourism sector makes the fullest contribution possible to Jamaica’s economic development given its tremendous earning potential.

Source: Travel and Tour

The visitors in Q1 2023 were just two percentage points short of the pre-pandemic volume of 4.75 million tourists that arrived in Dubai in the first three months of 2019

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) said the city received 4.67 million international overnight visitors in the first quarter of 2023, up 17 per cent year-on-year (YoY) from 3.97 million the same period a year earlier.

The visitors in Q1 2023 were just two percentage points short of the pre-pandemic volume of 4.75 million tourists that arrived in Dubai in the first three months of 2019.

“The tourism sector is not only the strongest pillar of our economy but also a key enabler of Dubai’s distinctive role in the world as a bridge between markets, cultures and regions,” Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai said in a tweet.

The latest data from DET, which was announced at the Arabian Travel Market, positions Dubai as the fastest-recovering destination globally, achieving 98 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in Q1 2023.

The latest figures also exceed the projection made by the United Nations World Trade Organisation (UNWTO) that international tourist arrivals could reach between 80 to 95 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in 2023 – especially in Europe and the Middle East.

The growth, which sets the city on course to full tourism recovery, contributes to the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said the Middle East tourism and business hub will continue to introduce new initiatives to offer a distinctive proposition for travellers to achieve its goal of becoming the world’s best place to live, visit, work and invest in.

Dubai’s strong rebound

Dubai’s traditional source markets delivered solid tourism volumes in Q1 2023 with key regions continuing to make an impact on international visitation.

GCC and the MENA region combined was the top region, collectively contributing to 29 per cent of total volumes, Western Europe accounted for 22 per cent of tourism arrivals and South Asia 16 per cent.

Similarly, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe together contributed 15 per cent, the Americas accounted for 7 per cent, North Asia and South East Asia 6 per cent, Africa 4 per cent and lastly Australasia contributed 1 per cent.

The hotel sector saw a surge in performance in Q1 2023 with an average occupancy for the sector during the January-March period at an impressive 83 per cent, making it one of the highest in the world, almost on par with the 84 per cent occupancy recorded in Q1 2019.

Dubai hotels collectively provided 10.98 million Occupied Room Nights in the first three months of the year, 7 per cent YoY growth and a 27 per cent increase compared to the pre-pandemic period of Q1 2019.

The ADR of Dhs607 during the first three months of the year surpassed the ADR of 2019 (AED498), a 22 per cent YoY growth while RevPAR of DhsD504 in Q1 2023, surged by 21 per cent compared to the first three months of the pre-pandemic period of 2019 at Dhs417.

DET said it is ramping up its pursuit of non-traditional tourism avenues to attract more visitors and this approach will largely hinge on the pillars of sustainability, gastronomy, trade and technology.

Dubai plans to continue providing alternative growth avenues, driven by reforms and regulatory enablers including visa initiatives such as the golden visa, five-year multi-entry visa, virtual working, and retirement in the Dubai programmes that have eased barriers to entry.

Source: Gulf Business

Dubai’s Department for Economy and Tourism DET has continued with its efforts to make the middle eastern city, the global hospitality headquarters, with several awareness creation measures, including engaging African celebrities to preach its gospel.

Just recently DET brought on board the popular Kenyan artist, Bahati alongside South African investment banker-turned-singer-songwriter, Thabsie as part of its summer campaign.

According to the department, the objective of the campaign was to “explore the A to Z of Dubai and all the amazing sights and sounds that Africans can enjoy”.

The celebrities were treated to a week-long experience with all the fun and a host of exciting offers in Dubai set for this summer, leaving their fans with keen interest to share in their joy.

Speaking at a media welcome party, Thabsie told her fans; “Come here and experience it for yourself because a lot of our views of Dubai are off what we are told. The reality is even better”.

Bahati who came on the trip with his wife – Diana, has kept the internet engrossed with contents of their trip in Dubai.

The couple appreciated the team for trusting their brand to be part of the campaign. “Thank you, Dubai Tourism, for trusting we the Bahatis with this role. I cannot wait for the world to see the magic we have created”, the duo stated.

With a long list of African celebrities lining up to work with DET, Bahatis and Thabsie make their way to the stage as the newest Ambassadors, telling the story of beautiful Dubai to the rest of Africa.

In the past few years, DET had made deliberate efforts to ensure Dubai echoes in the ears of Africans around the world. Strategies like, on the ground ‘Road Shows’ in Africa, Media and Stakeholder FAM Trips to Dubai, Celebrity campaigns and general publicity, have boosted the global awareness of the Dubai brand, and place them as second to none in hospitality.

A key success of Dubai’s awareness strategies can be measured by the impressive ratings the middle eastern city has been getting across the global hospitality landscape. Earlier this year, Trip Advisor ranked Dubai as the Number One Destination in the world for a 2nd year running and just recently the Dubai Airport was ranked as the busiest airport in the world.

The aviation hub, which has consistently outranked all its global peers, including London Heathrow, logged 4.2 million seats in February 2023, according to the aviation consultancy firm, OAG.

A few projects carried out by DET to maintain this tempo include, the AfroZons Dubai Sound Off, the Dubai Girls trip, Kate and Nedu, Brodashaggi and many other activations, within and outside Dubai. But with the difficulties for Nigerians to go to Dubai, the popular tourist destination is looking elsewhere for passengers.

Source: Vanguard

Accor, a world-renowned hospitality group, has announced plans to open Mantis Soanambo Hotel & Spa on Nosy Boraha (Ile Sainte-Marie) in Madagascar, marking the first international hospitality brand on the island. The Mantis Collection, part of Accor, is a renowned conservation-led hospitality company that prioritizes the preservation of local communities, wildlife, and the environment. The 48-room oceanfront hotel, which plans to reopen in May 2023, will fly the Mantis flag and offer guests an exceptional hospitality experience.

Accor has partnered with the hotel’s owner to bring Mantis hotels, eco-lodges, and waterways to Madagascar, joining ibis Hotel and Spa Antananarivo and Novotel Convention and Spa Antananarivo as the third Accor hotel under the same ownership group in Madagascar’s capital city, diversifying the group’s brand offering in the country.

Guests at Mantis Soanambo Hotel & Spa will be warmly welcomed in the breezy, open-plan reception area and invited to relax at the delightful bar and restaurant. The hotel features two serene swimming pools with incomparable views of the ocean, just a few meters away. The tranquil beaches and laid-back atmosphere of Nosy Boraha make it an ideal spot for a secluded getaway.

Located in the Southwest part of the island, Mantis Soanambo Hotel & Spa enjoys calm seas and shelter from prevailing weather conditions, with the Island of Nosy Boraha just a 45-minute flight from Antananarivo via Tsaradia airlines, the domestic division of Air Madagascar.

Each Mantis property celebrates its unique destination, offering creatively curated experiences that introduce guests to the essence of the surrounding community’s culture, history, and people. Mantis follows a philosophy of responsible and ecologically sensitive development and operations, supporting the local environment while conserving and maintaining all natural resources.

Mantis Soanambo Hotel & Spa will operate in accordance with Accor’s environmental and energy efficiency reporting tools, internal carbon price monitoring, eco-certification programs, and brand standard sustainability criteria.

Source: Zurulink Africa

UAE residents will enjoy a long weekend to celebrate the Islamic festival after the holy month of Ramadan

With the Eid Al Fitr 4-day long weekend just around the corner, many UAE residents are utilising the opportunity to take a quick trip. According to travel experts, most residents prefer budget and visa-friendly destinations.

“That’s why CIS countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia are quite popular, while Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are gaining momentum alongside Singapore, Kenya, Thailand and Malaysia,” said Raheesh Babu, COO, Musafir.com.

“Since receiving visas to Schengen countries, [as getting visas for] the UK, USA and Canada is still challenging, people are more skewed towards countries where obtaining visas is hassle-free. Holiday packages within the range of Dh3000-4000 are fancied, and are in great demand.”

The official Eid Al Fitr holiday in the UAE is from Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3 (Hijri Islamic calendar months) meaning UAE residents will get at least a 4-day break. As per Astronomical calculations, Eid will be most likely fall on Friday, April 21st. If so, the break will be from Thursday, April 20, to Sunday, April 23. If Eid falls on Saturday, April 22, residents will get an additional day of holiday on Monday, April 24.

Here are the top 6 destinations that residents prefer:

MAURITIUS

The island of Mauritius is lined with white-sand beaches and world-renowned luxury resorts on all sides. Its mountainous landscapes offer epic hiking paths, whilst its coral reefs and flourishing marine life offer world-class diving opportunities.

Known for being a tourist paradise, Mauritius has something to offer for every kind of traveler. While families can enjoy water activities or visit the island’s parks, couples can soak in the romantic vibes of the island with scenic strolls along the beach.

KENYA

Known for its natural beauty, open jungles and unique culture, Kenya is fast becoming popular among travellers from the UAE. The Masai Mara safari takes tourists through a reserve that is world-renowned for its exceptional populations of lions, African leopards, cheetahs, and elephants, and has the largest population of black rhinos in Africa.

It also has over 450 species of birds, with almost 60 species being raptors.

AZERBAIJAN

Whether you choose to explore the vibrant city of Baku, or head to Guba to learn about the timeless history of the country hidden in its villages; whether you decide to explore the forested slopes of Sheki, or sample the unique cuisine of Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan is a country of many faces.

Extremely popular among UAE residents, the country offers visa on arrival to UAE residents.

KYRGYZSTAN

A landlocked country in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites. Known as the land of celestial mountains and untouched nature, visitors can learn about the true nomadic lifestyle during a visit to the country.

The Tien Shan mountain range, historic Silk Road and crystal-clear mountain lakes all make the country a true hidden gem to visit.

GEORGIA

From skiing down the mountains of Bakuriani, to rafting down the Aragvi River, or stargazing at 4,000 metres high, the country offers a range of exciting activities for visitors to choose from.

Georgia has become a top travel destination since it began offering visa on arrival to UAE citizens and residents. No visit to the country would be complete without tasting the local delicacy Khachapuri – a unique bread, shaped like a boat and filled with cheese, into which an egg is cracked, before being baked to perfection.

JORDAN

With a mix of modernity and tradition, Jordan is well known for its World Heritage sites and beautiful sandy landscapes. From the enchanting starkness of Wadi Rum to the restless city centre of urban Amman, the country is home to countless wonders.

The Dead Sea, a natural wonder, is located 427 metres below sea level, and is a major tourist attraction that draws millions of visitors every year.

Source: Zwaya

Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), part of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism has launched the ‘Autism and Sensory Awareness’ course within the Dubai Way training platform.

The training course builds upon the ‘Inclusive Service’ training and ‘Dubai Way’ courses.

Many of Dubai’s hotels and attractions are now well underway in auditing their facilities, and staff can take the prerequisite training within the Dubai Way platform, promised DCT.

Dubai Tourism vision for inclusivity

Essa Bin Hadher, general manager of Dubai College of Tourism, commented: “At Dubai College of Tourism, we are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive destination for all travellers to Dubai. With the launch of our new ‘Autism and Sensory Awareness’ course, we are taking an important step towards achieving our goal of becoming a certified autism destination.

“By equipping our tourist-facing workforce with the knowledge and tools to better serve visitors with autism, we are ensuring that all travellers to Dubai have a positive and enjoyable experience. We are delighted to be launching this course in time for World Autism Awareness Day, as we continue to showcase Dubai as an inclusive destination.”

The autism and sensory awareness training course ensures that staff take a knowledge assessment, are provided an autism overview, understand autism identification, common needs, autism perspectives, sensory awareness, and basic safety protocols. The course then goes on to explain the nuances of travelling with autism, attraction to water and animals, and specific lessons for each traveller interaction, including hotels, attractions, and transportation.

Source: Hotelier

The country has been at the forefront of creating a reliable ecosystem favourable for medical travel to thrive again.

In light of the pandemic, the healthcare sector, like any other industry, had to reassess its priorities and make constant adjustments to suit the shifting patterns. Among the difficulties it faced was the complete shutdown of medical travel due to travel restrictions and patients’ fear of hospital visits.

Fortunately, as we slowly emerge from the pandemic, medical travel is again gaining traction. In the UAE, important decisions taken in the early days to curtail the virus and the effective preventive measures put in place have catalysed the comeback. The country has been at the forefront of creating a reliable ecosystem favourable for medical travel to thrive again.

Recent research has found that the global medical tourism industry is estimated between US$35 to US$55 billion, with 12-14 million travellers taking medical trips each year for treatments including cosmetic surgery, reproductive health, dental and orthopaedic, amongst others. Reportedly, the growth rates for medical travel remain stable between 7-9 per cent, with the wellness tourism market expected to grow much faster at 20 per cent per annum.

The Asia-Pacific’s medical tourism industry is expected to grow at the highest rate., boasting advanced healthcare infrastructure and a skilled workforce to cater to international patients. Furthermore, the rise in the number of international health insurance providers is another factor that has contributed significantly to the growth of the global medical tourism industry.

Spotlight on the UAE

The UAE is expected to witness the fastest growth in the Middle East, supported by mandatory insurance in Dubai, expanding medical travel, increasing population and medical inflation. The country’s medical travel industry is expected to reach US$53.5 billion by 2028, with Dubai having a majority share of the medical travel market. The influx of international patients is expected to grow by 20 per cent from 2022.

The country is renowned for offering state-of-the-art services in plastic surgery, orthopaedics and sports medicine, ophthalmology, preventative healthcare, dental surgery, wellness, dermatology, and aesthetic procedures, among others.

The UAE’s decision to make private hospitals COVID-19-free was one of the several factors instrumental in bringing about this much-needed change. Compared to other preferred medical tourism destinations, a clear difference can be seen between the UAE’s approach to handling the pandemic, which has given the country a unique advantage. The structured approach that the government took made it a leading example for the rest of the world.

Furthermore, these measures have been crucial in building confidence among international patients. Moreover, major global airlines have returned to business as usual, while the hospitality industry is continuing to implement stringent hygiene control.

Also, most shopping malls, F&B outlets and entertainment industries are back in full swing, creating a much-needed tourism ecosystem. All these factors are boosting medical travel and creating an environment conducive to industry growth.

Looking at the Northern Emirates, last year, RAK Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah won two prestigious awards from World Medical Council (WMC) at WMC Excellence Awards 2022 in Dubai. Bagging the ‘Medical Tourism Hospital of The Year’ award, the healthcare institution was recognised for its commendable efforts in promoting UAE as a medical tourism destination across the globe and establishing the hospital as a preferred medical tourism destination.

At RAK Hospital, we have always worked in line with the UAE’s vision. With a department exclusively dedicated to foreign patients, we have created a vast network that ensures a complete, holistic and satisfying experience for patients from start to finish, both in terms of a welcoming environment and world-class treatment. Over the years, RAK Hospital has represented UAE on international platforms to generate medical travel into the country successfully. Moreover, it has also gained a reputation for successfully handling critical emergency surgical cases flown into the country, further cementing UAE on the medical travel map. In fact, we witnessed an increasing number of medical tourists and inquiries at RAK Hospital last month.

Regulatory initiatives

A collaborative approach across private and public healthcare providers and the UAE government is increasing, which is expected to drive better health outcomes and ensure the sustainability of the health ecosystem. Regulatory authorities and governments are working towards increasing access to accurate real-time health information and services for better planning of healthcare infrastructure and workforce and increasing better health outcomes.

For instance, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has launched the “Dubai Health Experience” as the world’s first medical tourism portal to boost medical travel. The Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has also launched the Abu Dhabi Medical Tourism e-portal. These portals allow visitors to book medical procedures and take advantage of discounted airfares, visas, medical insurance, hotel stays, leisure activities and more.

Leveraging telemedicine

As a result of the increasing adoption of “connected care”, technological advances have changed from the traditional asset-heavy hospital-related developments to pioneering medtech devices; to new sector niches, such as digital health, including its subcategories mobile health, wearable devices, telehealth and telemedicine, and personalised medicine.

The emergence of telemedicine as an essential communication tool has been a further boon for the medical travel industry. With the world shifting to virtual platforms due to the tough travel restrictions, telemedicine emerged as one of the most important means to establish regular contact between patients and healthcare professionals.

There are two primary areas of telemedicine:

• Teleconsultation enables patients (alone or accompanied by healthcare professionals) to consult a doctor remotely by means of technological tools.
• Telemonitoring enables a medical professional to interpret data collected in the patient’s living environment remotely and in real time.

I have always strongly felt that most medical tourists could opt for telemedicine for the first few initial consultations and procedures. To achieve this, we offer free teleconsultation to familiarise medical tourists with this route. At RAK hospital, our doctors actively engage with telemedicine patients worldwide and offer them best-in-class consultations, further cementing confidence in the tool. With immense growth opportunities available, telemedicine is already on the path to becoming a profit-making prospect.

Source: Omnia Health

Dubai: After a bustling events season with occupancy rates of 85 to 90 per cent from January to mid-March, UAE hotels are launching attractive staycation deals for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan and the long Eid Al Fitr weekend. And as international travel gets more expensive, staycations are becoming all the more popular among UAE residents.

Hotels across the UAE have slashed their prices on staycation deals by 30-40 per cent compared to the January-March peak demand. According to a recent survey, 35 per cent of UAE residents are opting to celebrate the upcoming holiday season locally. by 

Amongst the ones planning to celebrate in the country, a significant majority are planning for staycations in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, and Abu Dhabi.

Book early for the best deals

From complimentary upgrades to spa treatments and free night stays, hotels across categories – luxury, four-star, three-star, and budget properties – have launched attractive packages for Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr.

Deals at five-star hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are currently priced between Dh600 to Dh1,250 per room per night. And prices will increase closer to Eid, so hoteliers advise staycation seekers to book well in advance. For example, Anantara The Palm is offering a 25 per cent discount to UAE residents in any room or villa, and rates start at Dh950.

UAE residents can enjoy special rates and early check-in and late check-out at Legoland Hotel with complimentary access to either Legoland Dubai or Legoland Water Park for Dh850 for two adults and one child. Palazzo Versace Dubai offers staycation deals for Dh1,250 until April 30, including a whole array of benefits for UAE residents.

Five Palm Jumeirah’s ‘pay three and stay four’ and ‘pay six and stay eight’ deals are hugely popular and are priced between Dh1,544 to Dh1,755 for a family of four.

Properties in Ras Al Khaimah are more affordable, with staycation deals at Dh1,065 at the Marjan Island Resort and Dh1,099 at Cove Rotana. The offers are for a one-night weekend stay. Weekday stays are at least 20 per cent cheaper.

Staycations back in demand

Laura Eggleton, General Manager of Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown, said: “In 2021, 4 per cent of the business was driven through staycation, which reduced to one per cent in 2022. Our Q4 long weekend did better than expected, although the major driver was the leisure travel than through staycations.” However, demand is picking up again this season.

“We’re seeing interest, but with all Eid periods, our lead time for bookings is very last minute,” said Eggleton. The hotel has launched a special Ramadan Kareem Room Package, including Iftar and Suhoor, starting at Dh549 (excluding taxes).

Anoop Dhondoo, Cluster General Manager, Novotel and Ibis World Trade Centre and Ibis One Central, told Gulf News: “Our hotels have been operating at a high occupancy rate of 75-80 per cent during the festive season, and we have even been fully booked at times. Some of the demand is being driven by staycation guests.” Ibis One Central and Novotel Hotels, part of the Accor Group of Hotels, offer their loyalty programme members (Accor Live Limitless) a 15 per cent discount with several perks.

What are ‘workcations’?

There’s a growing trend among UAE residents to indulge in ‘workcations’, where residents choose to stay in hotel properties with their families while logging into work from a remote location. According to Marriott Bonvoy’s 2023 Travel Trends research, which analysed the 2023 travel plans of 14,000 travellers across Europe and the Middle East, hybrid and remote working has significantly impacted travel plans in 2023.

“Nearly a third of those from the UAE (31 per cent) and 23 per cent from Saudi Arabia plan to take a ‘work-away holiday’ – where they will continue to log on and work whilst travelling, thus allowing them to experience a new place without taking annual leave,” said Neal Jones, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Marriott International – Europe, Middle East and Africa. And a lot of these residents would opt for these workcations in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain

Source: Gulf News