If you are to go by what studies suggest, football matches are not the only reason why millions of fans travel from all over the world to watch the World Cup…  Millions of fans arriving for the FIFA World Cup, which takes place every 4 years look to explore tourist attractions and learn about the cultures of the host country and the region. Winning the world’s most popular sporting championship can only be surpassed by the privileged experiences that the “football fans” have in and outside the stadiums, in activities directly related to football in the fan zones, or indirectly by getting to know the landmarks and cultures of the region and geographically close countries, their tours not being limited to the cities where the World Cup is held. In less than a month, the FIFA World Cup finals will begin in Qatar, for the first time in the GCC region. Preliminary estimates are that more than 1.2 million international visitors will travel to watch the tournament. In addition, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has announced that some three million tickets have been sold for the matches so far. A large proportion of these has been bought by locals and people from the region, with international ticket purchases not limited to the 32 countries whose national teams have qualified for the finals. FIFA fever extends beyond the host country, as most of its neighbours in the GCC region have made extensive preparations to support the State of Qatar in hosting the World Cup. The Sultanate of Oman’s capital Muscat is among the accredited cities to host fans, and has developed an integrated programme to welcome World Cup fans …

The Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal is going to introduce exclusive Tourist Pick-up and Drop Points across the city of joy. Tour Operators in Kolkata often faced difficulties due to the traffic restrictions in and around the city while dropping off or picking up tourists in front of places of tourist interest or hotels. To address this issue and to facilitate the free movement of tourist vehicles across the city of joy, the Indian Association of Tour Operators – IATO recommended introducing pre-specified Pickup- Drop points in different strategic locations across Kolkata with specific signage where only commercially registered tourist vehicles operated by ATSP should be allowed to pick-up-drop tourists. Considering the above the Department of Tourism – Government of West Bengal has initiated a joint inspection to finalize the proposed Tourist Pickup and Drop Points along with the representatives from Kolkata Traffic Police Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Department of Transport, and Chairman IATO on 26th July 2022 and 4th August 2022 respectively. It has been proposed that the commercially registered tourist vehicles with a seating capacity of up to 10+1 will be allowed for 05 minutes and vehicles above will be allowed to stop for 10 minutes at the respective TP&D points for operations. The Department of Tourism – Government of West Bengal has already initiated the required action with the competent state government departments and a notification has been issued on 3rd November 2022 to implement this at the earliest. The idea is to facilitate the recognized tour operators and tourist transport operators to ensure seamless movement of tourists across the city of joy and position Kolkata as a Tourist-friendly City. Super happy to be a part of this …

Bird Group’s burgeoning hospitality vertical, Roseate Hotels& Resorts has acquired The Dunstane Houses, a luxury five-star boutique hotel in the heart ofEdinburgh, Scotland, a fascinating addition to the unique collection of hotels in the UnitedKingdom. The Dunstane Houses, winner of ‘Best Boutique Hotel Experience in Scotland 2020’, is dated circa 1851 and is situated in Edinburgh’s West End. The property is set across two villas and offers 35bespoke guest bedrooms and suites, a bar & restaurant, lounge, garden conservatory and private gardens. Refined, relaxed, luxurious and intimate, The Dunstane Houses, spreads across two newly refurbished, heritage Victorian townhouses. It is a relaxing sanctuary that seamlessly blends the story of the Scottish capital city, its history and lineage with contemporary, modern luxury and comfort. The Dunstane Houses have stood at the gateway to old-town Edinburgh since the 1860s.They have witnessed the evolution of modern-day Edinburgh, offering a stylish and welcoming city retreat with an authentic Scottish soul. “Edinburgh is a renowned tourist and business destination for guests from across the globe. We are delighted to expand our footprint beyond London, Reading and Bath to Scotland, adding to our spectacular collection of boutique hotels in the United Kingdom. Roseate Hotels & Resorts is committed to offer an outstanding stay and dining experience to its guests and look forward to contributing meaningfully to the vast repertoire of tourism in Scotland,” said the Official Statement from The BirdGroup. Characterful, evocative interiors, inspired by the neoclassical design of old-town Edinburgh, the Dunstane Houses’ promise to offer an experience, unimagined. Roseate Hotels & Resorts known for their understated charm, elegant interiors and a mindful restoration of heritage properties promise to add their signature touch to The …

Union Minister of State of Civil Aviation General (Dr.) Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd.) stated that though the industry suffered heavily during pandemic, domestic recovery across the world is now improving. In India, the aviation industry has reached almost 95% of pre-covid passenger traffic. 

Rajeev Jain Founder & MD, Rashi Entertainment said, “The global wedding market size valued at $160 billion in 2020 is expected to reach $414 billion by 2030”. The Indian Wedding Industry is the second best in the United States. 

ATOAI wrote to Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, requesting all state and UT governments and Regional Directors Tourism to hold a video conference with all state and UT tourism departments to discuss key issues in the adventure segment. 

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has unveiled its latest campaign: Experience Abu Dhabi. Find Your Pace. The campaign shares the variety of experiences that inspire, excite and restore, welcoming the world to come and enjoy memorable moments that matter – in their own way, and at their own pace. Experience Abu Dhabi shows the seamless connections between a wealth of cultural heritage, alongside exciting experiences. Yas Island welcomes the world with year-round theme park action and waterfront attractions, with events and entertainment for families and all ages. Only 15 minutes away, Saadiyat Island is filled with living culture, home to Louvre Abu Dhabi’s timeless inspiration and unforgettable architecture. Located at the heart of the island, Saadiyat Cultural District hosts community events and exhibitions at Manarat Al Saadiyat, alongside Berklee Abu Dhabi, the pre-eminent institute of contemporary music and the performing arts. The district is also the future home of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, and the immersive art of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. Nearby, pristine beaches and coastal avenues are lined with cafes and dining options at Mamsha Al Saadiyat, to enjoy over a breathtaking sunset. Just over an hour from these remarkable island experiences, Abu Dhabi invites visitors to ignite their curiosity by visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites in Al Ain, experience adventure and tranquillity among the desert dunes, and embrace Abu Dhabi’s fascinating past with iconic museums and ancient forts. Enriching experiences throughout the year The campaign welcomes the world to enjoy Abu Dhabi’s enriching experiences at their own pace, with: Cultural inspiration: past, present and future  Explore the nation’s living memorial and the …

Airbus Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Executive Vice-President, Christian Scherer said, “India is the largest market in the world for our flagship commercial product, the Airbus A320, and on average we will deliver to India more than one aircraft every week for the next ten years.”

Highlighting some of the common practices followed by hotels to ensure transparency and price parity Arif Patel CCO, ITC Hotels said that when clients approach them via different wedding planners, they maintain price parity with all wedding planners. 

Tour-activity-attraction is the third largest component of the tour industry claims Farshid Rahimkhani, CEO & Co-Founder, Turpal. “Majorly 70-80 per cent of this segment is handled by local travel agencies and online operators”, he said.