NEWS


9


TRAVELPORT MOBI LAUNCHES APP


Travelport has become the first GDS to launch a mobile phone application that allows users to book and pay for travel in the Middle East. Launched


that allows the user to pay online securely." Travelport partnered with South


and demonstrated at Arabian Travel Market, Travel-


port Mobi is a travel booking app that can be downloaded to all smartphones. Travelport presi- dent and managing director Middle East & Africa Rabih Saab said it was a third-party product that integrated with the user's chosen travel agency. "So travel agents can still earn


commission because it's just like any other booking," he said. "What is important to note is that it is a booking solution


African based IT company Real Time Travel Connections (RTTC) to develop this mobile booking solu- tion, which was launched in South Africa a few months ago. "It worked in South Africa and


so we are bringing it to the Middle East," said Saab. "It is not available in any other market." Travelport Mobi allows travel-


lers to book and pay for flight, car and hotel bookings around the clock, as well as view travel itin- eraries on their smartphones. Saab said he expected the


software to be popular with corporate travellers.


Visit stand TT210


AL KHOZAMA SIGNS MANAGEMENT DEAL TO FOCUS ON RELIGIOUS TOURISM


Saudi Arabian commercial development, investment and management firm, Al Khozama Management Company (AKMC), has signed a management agreement for its first five-star hotel in the holy city of Madina. In a move to become even


more focused on KSA’s boom- ing religious tourism sector, the company, which already operates the five-star AKMC-Al Shohada Hotel in Makkah, will open the Al Khozama Hotel- Madina by the end of 2011. The agreement between AKMC


and Saudi Arabian real estate firm Al Aqeeq was announced this week at Arabian Travel Market. AKMC’s activities and invest-


ments in the Kingdom reflect the continued growth of its business and religious travel sectors with


the latter accounting for 47.1 percent of all trips to the KSA. Last year, almost 1 million Ramadan visas for foreign pilgrims were issued by the Ministry of Haj, an increase of 16 percent on the previous year. “One of the key aspects of


AKMC’s business and develop- ment strategy is to expand its hospitality portfolio into the significant religious and business cities in the Kingdom,” said AKMC CEO Masaed Al Said. “Under the leadership of


H.H. Prince Bandar Bin Saud Bin Khalid, AKMC has been at the forefront of the hospitality indus- try’s development in the country since 1995, and continues to set the benchmark for impeccable service and luxury in all the cities in which it operates.”


Conveniently located within


close proximity to the Mosque of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, Al Faisaliah Hotel Madinah comprises 495 rooms and suites, a number of restaurant and dining options, and the first spa and wellness studio in Madina.


The five-star property


complements the services and amenities being offered at the company’s boutique Al Khozama Hotel-Madinah located on the western periphery of the Proph- et’s Mosque. The luxury property is scheduled to open in 2011.


Visit stand HC980


Number of passengers through Dubai International Airport in 2010


47.2 million Source: Dubai International Airport


UAE AND KSA TO SEE TOURISM SURGE


The UAE and Saudi Arabia will experience some of the world’s strongest inbound tourism growth over the next five years, according to research revealed at the World Travel Market Vision Conference – Dubai, at Arabian Travel Market. In her Travel and Tourism Global Over-


view report, Euromonitor International’s Nadejda Popova tipped Saudi Arabia to have one of the largest compound annual growth rates in the world of 12.3 percent for arrivals between 2010 and 2015. This will result in an additional 9.3 million


visitors to the country making Saudi Arabia the fifth largest country in terms of absolute arrivals growth over the forecast review. This growth is driven mainly by the


religious tourism to Mecca and Medinah, supported by infrastructure developments in air transportation and travel accommodation. Euromonitor’s report said the UAE would


witness an annual increase in arrivals during the forecast review period of 6.9 percent, resulting in 3.6 million new arrivals. Significant infrastructure developments


are taking place in the UAE, which are expected to contribute significantly to the growing number of arrivals to the country.


Visit stand UAE2300 Dubai is also set to seal its position as


a global air transportation hub upon the opening of the world’s largest airport, Al Maktoum Airport, with a capacity of 160 million passengers a year. Popova said that in a climate of regional


political and economic uncertainty, Saudi Arabia and the UAE had both been capable of dealing with challenging external events. Positives for the region, she said, were


its strong air transportation sector and the 2022 FIFA World Cup taking place in Qatar. World Travel Market exhibition director


Simon Press said: “The Middle Eastern tour- ism industry should take heart from these generally positive findings.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28