Future-proofing hospitality asset value needs financial rigor with emotional intelligence
The GCC’s luxury hospitality sector has become a global benchmark, yet behind every polished facade lies an increasingly complex financial...
Opinion
81 percent of Saudi population attends cultural events, activities in 2024: GASTAT
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Nearly 81.6 percent of Saudi individuals visited at least one cultural event or activity in 2024, according...
Arts & Culture
Saudi bid to host 2034 World Cup positions Kingdom as global center for top sports events
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the Kingdom’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. He said this...
- Saudi topped the UNs’ list for highest growth in international tourist numbers in 2023
- FIFA is set to confirm Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 event in December
Jordan’s Umm al-Jimal added to UNESCO heritage list
Amman, Jordan - Jordan's Umm al-Jimal village has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List, in a move hailed on Sunday...
- The village is near the Jordanian-Syrian border, 86 kilometres north of Amman, and is known as "the black oasis" due to the prevalence of black volcanic rock in the area
- The village was first settled by the Nabataean peoples in the first century AD and later occupied by the Romans, becoming an important agricultural and commercial village
IOC creates historic Olympic Esports Games with 2025 launch in Saudi
History was made today when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to create Olympic Esports Games. The first edition will...
- Saudi already has over 23.5 million gamers, of whom almost half are females
- Saudi has hosted over 1,700 elite players from over 80 countries over the last two years
Paris prepares warm Olympics welcome — except for rats
While the Paris Olympics is set to be a festival of socializing and intermingling, city authorities are keen for visitors...
- Boulevards and squares have been thoroughly spruced up, with many historic buildings given a makeover
- "Where there were areas with lots of rats, we put traps in place ahead of the Games" - French Deputy Mayor
Moonlit scramble across the sand for Turkey’s booming baby turtle population
Manavgat, Turkey - The baby loggerhead sea turtles emerged from their eggshells and began their first challenge in life: a wobbly...
- It is a perilous journey into the unknown for the sea turtles as only about one in 1,000 hatchlings will survive to adulthood
- Despite grave threats from humans and predators such as birds, crabs and ants, protection measures are bearing fruit on Turkey's southern coast
Business
Saudi Arabia’s tourist spending reaches $40bn: minister
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb highlights the upcoming launch of a tourist visa aimed at drawing more international...
- Passenger air traffic in Saudi Arabia rose by 17 percent in the first half of 2024, reaching 62 million compared to 53 million in the same period last year
- This growth was aided by a 12 percent increase in flights, with 446,000 recorded compared to 399,000 in the first half of 2023
Al-Hada and Muhammadya Al-Shafa in Taif: A tapestry of tourism, nature
Taif, Saudi Arabia - Taif and its serene towering mountains, nestled deep within the majestic Sarawat Mountains, serve as a...
- The paved roads of Al-Hada and Al-Shafa mountains, such as Akabat Al-Kar and Akabat Al-Muhammadya, provide easy access to biodiversity
- Visitors can spend their days under the shade of abundant juniper trees and beside cool freshwater streams, allowing them to appreciate Taif's unique and pristine natural diversity
Business
Chinese company to build Saudi Arabia’s first ocean park
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Haichang Ocean Park Holdings, China's largest ocean theme park operator, announced plans on Thursday to build...
- Haichang, which has a history of marine-themed tourism spanning over two decades, has previously collaborated on tourism projects in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia
- Currently operating parks in cities such as Shanghai, Dalian, Zhengzhou, and Sanya, Haichang attracts more than 20 million visitors annually
Economy
Oregon leverages coastal adventures and diverse landscapes to expand its tourism market
Oregon's tourism strategy focuses on year-round visitation, sustainability, and regenerative travel, aiming to optimize economic impact while preserving natural beauty...
- Oregon is a destination where you can wander along stunning shorelines, trek volcanic peaks, and paddle serene lakes
- But it is not just natural beauty, the coastal gem also boasts some of the nation's finest breweries and restaurants
GCC tourism’s contribution to GDP expected to surge by 2030: Fitch
GCC tourism's GDP contribution will rise from $130 billion in 2023 to over $340 billion by 2030, driven by aviation...
- The GCC countries have set ambitious targets for their tourism sectors to diversify their economies away from oil dependence
- The aviation industry is anticipated to play a critical role in this expansion, with air passenger traffic projected to grow substantially
Future-proofing hospitality asset value needs financial rigor with emotional intelligence
The GCC’s luxury hospitality sector has become a global benchmark, yet behind every polished facade lies an increasingly complex financial...
Opinion
Company News
The Transformative Power of Travel
Geostrategy
Latest News
Saudi Arabia achieves 73 percent increase in international tourist arrivals: UN report
The kingdom welcomed 17.5 million international tourists in the first seven months of 2024, leading G20 nations in tourism growth...
Economy
GACA report: Riyadh’s King Khalid Airport ranked best for 15M+ passengers
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh secured the top spot in the category of airports with...
Business
‘Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector to achieve 150 million visitors by 2030’
Saudi Arabia isn't aiming to be the next Dubai but is forging its own unique path in tourism," Aradhana Khowala...
Most Read
Saudi Arabia leads GCC travel growth to India with a 40% rise in flight searches: report
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Wego, the leading travel app and largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North...
Saudi bid to host 2034 World Cup positions Kingdom as global center for top sports events
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the Kingdom’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. He said this...
- Saudi topped the UNs’ list for highest growth in international tourist numbers in 2023
- FIFA is set to confirm Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 event in December
Jordan’s Umm al-Jimal added to UNESCO heritage list
Amman, Jordan - Jordan's Umm al-Jimal village has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List, in a move hailed on Sunday...
- The village is near the Jordanian-Syrian border, 86 kilometres north of Amman, and is known as "the black oasis" due to the prevalence of black volcanic rock in the area
- The village was first settled by the Nabataean peoples in the first century AD and later occupied by the Romans, becoming an important agricultural and commercial village