Airlines and Aviation

Bonjour, Riyadh! Air France opens direct gateway to Paris from Saudi

Megha Paul Mar 18,2025

With Paris being a major gateway to Europe and a hub for connecting flights worldwide, the new Riyadh service will provide seamless connections to more than 190 destinations across Air France’s extensive network

Dubai

Riding the Wave of luxury travel: Wego expands into high-end yacht experiences

Megha Paul Mar 18,2025

Through this partnership, Wego users can now book yacht trips ranging from 2 to 6 hours, accommodating up to 25 guests for exclusive journeys across Dubai, Kuwait, Jeddah, and Qatar.

Airlines and Aviation

From Muscat to the Maasai: SalamAir’s first African route takes off with inaugural Nairobi flight

Megha Paul Mar 18,2025

Nairobi is expected to be the first of several destinations in East Africa as SalamAir expands its footprint across the region, offering affordable and accessible travel between the Gulf and Africa.

Airlines and Aviation

Ryanair holds off on digital-only boarding, new rollout set for winter 2025. Here’s why

Megha Paul Mar 07,2025

From November, passengers will no longer have the option to download and print physical boarding passes. Instead, all travelers will be required to check in and generate digital passes exclusively through the airline’s myRyanair app

Visa updates

No visa, no problem! UK rolls out mandatory ETA for European visitors

Megha Paul Mar 07,2025

The expansion marks the latest phase in the UK’s gradual rollout of the ETA, which was introduced in November 2023 and extended to over 50 countries, including the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore, earlier this year

Tourism Boards

Singapore hits record-breaking tourism receipts and 16.5 million visitor arrivals in 2024

Megha Paul Mar 05,2025

The strong performance, driven by a robust events calendar, growing air connectivity, and new attractions, reaffirmed Singapore’s position as a global tourism powerhouse

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia and TAT reveal Thailand’s hidden gems—You won’t believe these must-visit spots!

Megha Paul Mar 05,2025

AirAsia has partnered with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to promote 16 diverse destinations across the country, encouraging travelers to explore beyond Thailand’s major tourist hubs

Tourism Boards

Namibia introduces online visa-on-arrival to streamline entry for international travellers

Megha Paul Mar 05,2025

Under this new system, travelers can apply for a VoA online, at a Namibian consular post, or upon arrival at designated ports of entry

Tourism Boards

Saudi Arabia expands tourism push with ‘Ramadan Lights’ campaign

Megha Paul Mar 05,2025

The initiative, introduced by Saudi’s national tourism brand, ‘Saudi, Welcome to Arabia,’ is part of its ongoing global promotion under ‘This Land is Calling’ and highlights the country’s Ramadan experience across key destinations

Dubai

Middle East on a budget? Wizz Air targets Middle East expansion with new London-Dubai route

Megha Paul Mar 05,2025

The move aligns with Wizz Air’s broader strategy to challenge traditional full-service carriers by offering no-frills, cost-efficient flights on longer routes

UK

British travellers to get six-month grace period as new EU visa system nears launch

Megha Paul Mar 05,2025

The new system, aimed at enhancing border security and streamlining travel, will work alongside the Entry/Exit System (EES), which is set to introduce biometric checks at EU borders by late 2025

Airlines and Aviation

Loganair expands reach with new Southampton base

Megha Paul Mar 05,2025

The airline's decision mirrors a broader industry trend, with several other airlines ramping up regional operations in response to shifting travel patterns.

Tourism

Nigeria introduces 48-hour e-visa, eliminating embassy hassles for faster entry and tourism growth

Megha Paul Feb 27,2025

Under the new system, travelers applying for short-stay visas will be able to complete the entire process online, with approvals granted within 24 to 48 hours. Successful applicants will receive their e-visas directly via email, removing the need for physical visa stickers or in-person processing at airports or embassies

Dubai

flydubai expands seasonal destinations with daily Antalya route

Megha Paul Feb 27,2025

With the new Antalya route, flydubai expands its Türkiye network to six destinations, including Ankara, Bodrum, Istanbul Airport, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, and Trabzon

Reports

Sustainable travel, ‘seacations,’ and experiential tourism lead UAE’s 2025 travel preferences

Megha Paul Feb 27,2025

According to musafir.com report, there has been a shift in traveler priorities, with an increasing demand for immersive, off-the-beaten-path experiences that go beyond traditional luxury tourism

Airports

Saudi air travel soars: 128 million passengers recorded in 2024

Megha Paul Feb 27,2025

International travel witnessed the highest growth, with 69 million passengers on global routes compared to 59 million domestic travelers

Airlines and Aviation

Turkish Airlines expands holiday services to key markets, US launch ahead

Megha Paul Feb 27,2025

Previously available only for outbound flights from Türkiye, the newly extended Turkish Airlines Holidays service marks a strategic move to enhance travel planning for international passengers

Hotels

Campbell Gray expands in Middle East and Africa with luxury-focused growth strategy

Megha Paul Feb 13,2025

With the Middle East and Africa becoming key markets for luxury travel and property development, Campbell Gray Hotels is well-positioned to bring its distinctive approach to the region

Tourism Boards

Meet ‘Sara’: Saudi Arabia launches AI-powered smart tour guide

Megha Paul Feb 13,2025

Sara’s launch is expected to enhance the accessibility of Saudi Arabia’s diverse tourism offerings, ensuring that both first-time and returning visitors can navigate the Kingdom with ease

Dubai

Landmark Dubai opening: Cheval Maison to open in Expo City in March 2025

Megha Paul Feb 13,2025

This marks a key milestone in Cheval Collection’s expansion into the Middle East, following the success of Cheval Maison – The Palm Dubai

Hotels

Hyatt makes debut in Kenya with Nairobi property

Megha Paul Feb 13,2025

The 219-room hotel, located in Nairobi’s bustling Westlands district, marks a significant milestone for the hospitality giant as it expands its footprint in Africa.

Airlines and Aviation

Oman Air unveils ‘Oman Air Connect’ – All-economy fleet for affordable, quality travel

Megha Paul Feb 13,2025

The first aircraft from this five-plane fleet arrived earlier this month, set to expand connectivity to the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa

Tourism

Rwanda’s bold move: New tourism levy to fuel growth and sustainability

Megha Paul Feb 13,2025

The initiative, approved by the Cabinet this week, is designed to generate revenue for infrastructure development, conservation efforts, and hospitality sector enhancements.

Startups

Klook scores $100 million to supercharge expansion and AI-powered travel experiences

Megha Paul Feb 12,2025

The investment comes as Klook marks its 10th anniversary, setting its sights on scaling up operations across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond while tapping into the growing market of younger, experience-driven travelers

Startups

Exoticca unlocks €25 million to elevate AI-powered multi-day travel

Megha Paul Feb 12,2025

This fresh capital will accelerate the development of the Barcelona-based company's proprietary AI algorithms, designed to seamlessly sync trip components, personalize recommendations, optimize pricing strategies, and automate itinerary creation

Airlines and Aviation

Saudia charts new paths: 10 fresh routes to Vienna, Venice, Bali, Athens & Nice in 2025

Megha Paul Feb 11,2025

The expansion comes amid growing international travel demand, with Saudia recording a 16% increase in international passenger numbers last year

Airlines and Aviation

Revolutionizing aviation: Emirates implements Airbus Skywise tech

Megha Paul Feb 10,2025

The new tech allows Emirates Engineering teams to monitor real-time aircraft performance, detect potential issues mid-flight, and execute proactive maintenance actions during turnarounds, reducing unscheduled downtime

Abu Dhabi

Etihad goes daily to Atlanta, strengthening UAE-US travel ties

Megha Paul Feb 10,2025

The direct connection between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is the only non-stop link between the UAE and Atlanta, providing travelers with greater flexibility and convenience

Dubai

Dubai breaks tourism records with 18.72 million visitors in 2024

Megha Paul Feb 10,2025

Key contributing factors include increased international partnerships, high-profile events, and a growing hospitality sector, with Dubai’s hotel inventory expanding to 154,016 rooms across 832 establishments.

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi hotels lead global hospitality with 86% guest engagement

Megha Paul Feb 10,2025

Abu Dhabi’s hotels hosted 2.41 million guests in the first five months of last year, reflecting the sector’s continued growth. Industry leaders emphasize the importance of guest interaction, highlighting that timely responses to reviews play a key role in maintaining the emirate’s reputation as a world-class destination