NEWS SPECIAL REPORT Clockwise from far left:


Dubai skyline; dhows anchored in Doha, Qatar; Louvre Museum, Abu Dhabi; Wadi Bani Khalid, Oman


mirrored in the Middle East region, which has taken one of the most balanced approaches to maintaining the health of its population while supporting industries including tourism and hospitality.” He added: “Nobody can or should underplay the seriousness of this virus, but rather than becoming paralysed by fear, we need to find a proportional response to ensure our societies and our businesses are sustainable beyond the pandemic.”


Serving and supporting Jacobs believes Connecting Travel will not only fill a gap for a dedicated travel and hospitality media brand in the Middle East, but will also help “lead the conversation” for two sectors that are becoming increasingly important drivers for destinations in the region. “I have been involved in every


facet of the travel and hospitality industries during my career, and I am passionate about the benefits they can bring to economies and the lives


travelweekly.co.uk


A brand for the


Middle East has been on our radar for some years, so it is exciting to turn that into a reality


of people whose opportunities may otherwise be limited,” he said. “Many countries, including the


UK, have grossly undervalued the contribution of both sectors and this has been particularly apparent during this dreadful crisis, when they have so often been the victims of inept decision making. “In contrast, destinations in this


region have managed to keep their sectors moving and recognised their importance to recovery.” Jacobs added: “A brand dedicated


to the Middle East has been on our radar for some years now, so it is exciting to turn that into a reality and inform and connect the travel and hospitality trade as The Caterer and


Travel Weekly have done in the UK for 143 and 52 years respectively. “We can also play a key role in


helping these destinations reach source markets around the world and develop the understanding of what they offer. “Dubai is often painted as only


offering a five-star product for an audience of influencers, but the reality and diversity of its tourism and hospitality product is so much more than that. “Elsewhere, the UAE capital,


Abu Dhabi, is a thriving cultural hub with world-class art and architecture, and neighbouring emirate Ras Al Khaimah is an adventure playground for explorers, while Sharjah hosts a groundbreaking biennial contemporary art exhibition. “Qatar is gearing up to host the


FIFA World Cup in 2022 and Saudi Arabia is developing unprecedented giga-projects as part of its Vision 2030 that will change the landscape of tourism in the Middle East forever. “We will have a key role to


play in education and training both in the region and beyond to support that growth.”


Fresh approach Key to Connecting Travel’s success will be its willingness to innovate and find new and impactful ways to deliver information and forge partnerships, Jacobs believes. He said: “As an entrepreneur, I


don’t like to do things in the way they have always been done. We want to be innovative and ensure our activity supports our readers and partners. “The past 18 months have been


a dreadful period for our industries, but we haven’t hibernated and have instead looked at ways to diversify and support the process of recovery and rebuilding in all the markets we serve.” He added: “It is going to take


some time for the global industry to rebuild and it will need a great deal of support, but we have positioned ourselves at the forefront of that process and relish the opportunity to play our part.”


6 MAY 2021 11


PICTURES: Shutterstock/Fitria Ramli/Oleg GawriloFF/Hamdan Yoshida/Rasto SK


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