Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

As winter sets in, DAMAC proudly announces the launch of its Night Golf facilities on the championship course at the renowned Trump International Golf Club Dubai, adding a touch of exhilaration to the overall golfing experience.Situated within the heart of DAMAC’s flagship master community, DAMAC Hills, the introduction of state-of-the-art LED floodlights ensures that the 18-hole Gil Hanse designed desert links style course remains open late into the evening, offering players an unparalleled golfing experience.The inaugural event, attended by esteemed guests and industry colleagues marked the official unveiling of the illuminated course. This development aligns with DAMAC’s commitment to providing world-class luxury sports facilities.Since its launch in 2017, the Trump International Golf Club has garnered acclaim, winning the Luxury Lifestyle Awards in Dubai twice for best Luxury golf course in the city. Notable accolades include the World’s best PAR 3 course in 2021 and the UAE’s best golf course in 2022 at the World Golf Awards.To commemorate the Night Golf facility’s launch, the club hosted an exclusive dinner, welcoming close associates, partners, and golf enthusiasts. The occasion showcased DAMAC and Trump International Golf Club’s dedication to delivering top-tier golfing services in the region and marking it as the first Trump golf course to offer night golf services. Nestled in DAMAC Hills, the luxury golf club offers more than just golfing excellence. Culinary enthusiasts can savour authentic Italian cuisine at PRATO, enjoy international flavours at the 71 Sports Bar with live sports on a mega screen, and experience community-style family dining at Caddy Shack.

Beyond golf and dining, the club boasts an open-air infinity swimming pool with stunning views, a well-equipped fitness centre, and an expansive Pro Shop offering the latest in golfing hardware equipment and exclusive lifestyle apparel.Dubai’s thriving golf community is further enriched by the Trump International Golf club’s two award-winning floodlit courses and two state-of-the-art swing studios and Dubai’s only TrackMan driving range, attracting top tier golfers and celebrities from around the world to the facilitiesDAMAC Hills, the community surrounding the expansive golf course, offers diverse living experiences, including the recently launched Golf Greens.

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Qatar Airways Becomes the Official Global Airline Partner of Italian Giants FC Internazionale Milano

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Global Travel & Tourism Partnership student conference in Dubai More

Due to its huge popularity with both local and international visitors, Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, have announced a 16,900 sqm expansion to Yas Island’s Yas Waterworld. Set for construction completion in 2025, the expansion will see the addition of 3.3 km of slide sections and is expected to grow guest capacity by 20% through the addition of 18 new thrilling rides and attractions, taking the park total to more than 60 rides and experiences.Once open, the park will include the UAE’s highest slide, as well as the GCC’s first amusement ride in a water park, that is integrated within a waterslide complex. This exhilarating ride promises an unparalleled adventure, with a 15-meter-high drop for up to 20 guests and water park enthusiasts, who can experience this adrenaline rush together.
Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO commented: “This expansion marks another addition to our world-class attractions and experiences on Yas Island, and a testament to achieving our vision of positioning it as a top global destination for entertainment and leisure. We are proud to be contributing to the development of Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem and economic diversification, while further enhancing its global appeal as a tourism hub.”
For the last decade, Yas Waterworld has immersed guests in ‘The Legend of the Lost Pearl’ story, which reflects the UAE’s rich pearl-diving heritage. Combining the coolest rides and thrilling attractions as well as shopping and dining options into a seamless, guest experience, the award-winning theme park is the ultimate water adventure.
Introducing a new chapter to the story, Yas Waterworld will bring a new adventure called the ‘Lost City’. Guests will embark on an exciting journey to discover hidden treasures and secret passages, intertwined with fun attractions. The expansion seamlessly blends with the park’s existing architectural style, rockwork features, and iconic characters, transporting guests to a whole new world.
Features of the new expansion includes a swim up bar, a high-thrill boat ride, racing and tube slides, family raft rides, and a duelling master blaster. The expansion caters for mini thrill seekers as well by providing smaller scaled versions of Yas Waterworld’s most iconic rides. These include a mini-Dawwama, which will be the region’s only kids’ mini blaster fusion ride with two blaster sections and a thrilling rattler end section, as well as a mini-Boomerango to give little guests that big ride sensation minus the fear, with a fantastic hero-shot photo opportunity.ADVERTISEMENTYas Waterworld is part of the wider offering of Yas Island that includes world-class attractions such as Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, CLYMB Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan, Yas Bay Waterfront which is home to the UAE’s largest indoor multi-purpose venue Etihad Arena, the world’s first-ever Warner Bros. themed hotel, and the newly opened SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.  The globally renowned offerings, cement the island’s position as a top global destination for entertainment and leisure. 
Guided by its ambition to be a customer-centric, progressive, and efficient organisation, Miral will continue to grow and develop Yas Island as a successful destination as well as delivering new leisure and entertainment destinations and ventures that generate sustainable value, while contributing to the diversification of Abu Dhabi’s economy.

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NEOM announces Epicon – its luxury coastal tourism destination on the Gulf of Aqaba

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The Board of Directors of NEOM, the sustainable regional development taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia, have announced Epicon, its latest luxury coastal tourism destination, including a residential offering.Located on the Gulf of Aqaba, Epicon aims to set a new standard of hospitality and architecture. Rising from NEOM’s desert landscape like a glistening mirage, the property will feature two striking towers, one 225 meters tall and one reaching 275 meters. The towers will be home to an ultra-premium 41 key hotel and luxury residences that comprise of 14 suites and apartments. A short distance from the hotel is the Epicon resort, which blends tranquility with indulgence and features 120 rooms and 45 stunning residential beach villas.
Designed as a gateway to the future, Epicon provides an opportunity to escape the stresses of the everyday. Whether relaxing at the beach club, visiting the spa for bespoke wellness treatments, exploring the surrounding nature, participating in one of the many watersports on offer, or dining at destination restaurants for an unforgettable culinary experience, Epicon has been conceived to meet the full array of guest and resident needs.
A highly attractive visitor destination and an optimum place to live and thrive, Epicon’s guests and residents can expect a truly immersive and life-affirming experience. The luxurious residences and beach villas aim to deliver new levels of livability through cutting-edge innovations, world-class services and first-class experiences, positioning the resort as a benchmark for iconic living.
Guests and residents of Epicon will enjoy unrestricted access to world-class facilities, complemented by views of one of the most desirable shorelines in NEOM. Amenities include a state-of-the-art gym, library, workspaces, pools and lounges.
News of Epicon follows the recent announcement of Leyja, NEOM’s sustainable tourism destination set within a magnificent natural valley. The extensive range of experiences and activities offered in Epicon and Leyja will strengthen and enrich the NEOM ecotourism offering, aligned with the broader objectives of the Kingdom.ADVERTISEMENT

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EXPLORETECH’S PRODUCT LISTINGS GROW 95 PERCENT IN 2023

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Miral Announces Major Expansion to Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi More

Gothenburg is ranked one of the world’s 100 best cities in 2023* (the only non-capital in the Nordic Countries) and is also the winner of the Global Destination Sustainability Index Leadership Award 2023* for the 7th time in a row. Here are 7 reasons to visit in 2024. There’s also a selection of new restaurants, bars, and shops to discover in Sweden’s second city situated on Sweden’s west coast.Experience World of VolvoWorld of Volvo, run by Volvo Cars and Volvo Group, will be both a landmark and meeting place with space for the new Volvo Museum, exhibitions, concerts and dining experiences. The circular, five-storey, 22,000-square-metre building is inspired by the Scandinavian landscape and will be located just next to Liseberg Amusement Park. It opens April 2024.
Liseberg opens brand new water park – OceanaOceana, part of Liseberg Amusement Park, is inspired by the history of Gothenburg and will be unlike anything else available in Scandinavia today. Guests will be able to enjoy everything from quiet indoor sandy beaches to thrilling water slides. 14 attractions, a wave pool, family river and water play for various ages. Opens spring 2024.
Re-opening of the renovated Fish ChurchThe fish market hall The Fish Church “Feskekörka” will re-open after an almost 4-year renovation. This iconic temple of seafood from 1874 houses fishmongers, restaurants, and a bar. Vegetarian options are available. The Fish Church will be open all year round, with outdoor seating in the summertime. Opens in the beginning of 2024. Information only in Swedish
New hotel Clarion Hotel KarlatornetKarlatornet is now the tallest building in Scandinavia. 246 meters high and 74 storeys, it will have apartments, restaurants, a sky bar, and a lookout viewpoint as well as a photo exhibition about the project and the surrounding area. The new hotel Clarion Hotel Karlatornet will open spring 2024 with 300 rooms. The lookout viewpoint and sky bar will open late 2024 or spring 2025.
The re-opening of the public saunaThe public and free sauna in the Jubilee Park – Jubileumsparken – will re-open in spring 2024. The sauna, originally a prototype, will be replaced by a permanent sauna, retaining its unique appearance. It is also possible to swim all year round in the two recently opened saltwater pools, situated in the river beside the sauna, and during the warmer part of the year, you can also swim in a freshwater pool.ADVERTISEMENTClarion Hotel Draken opens its new SPAThe 33-storey Clarion Hotel Draken opened in October 2023 and is right now Gothenburg’s tallest hotel building with 474 hotel rooms, a cinema, several restaurants and a sky bar with a rooftop terrace boasting views that stretch for miles. In March 2024 the hotel will open its new SPA area, including a gym, and is promised to be something extra.
New exhibition Design storiesDesign Stories (“Designhistorier”), a new permanent exhibition at the Röhsska Museum of Design and Craft, is based on the question What is design? The exhibition will focus on Scandinavian design from the end of the 19th Century until today. Objects, sketches, films and interviews will be the starting point for different stories about design. Opens autumn 2024. Information only in Swedish.
https://www.goteborg.com/en– The official visitors guide to Gothenburg

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Vietnam Airlines Confirms Daily Nonstop Flight Schedule from London Heathrow This Winter

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Mabrian, a leading travel intelligence company, has analyzed in a new study the low season opportunities for Croatia and the Mediterranean. The analysis was presented at the 7th edition of the Tourism 365 Conference that has taken place in Toplice, Croatia, this month. 
This forum brought together both public entities in the tourism sector and major private companies to discuss opportunities for maintaining sustainable tourism activity throughout the south-eastern Mediterranean region all year round. The conference also featured prominent international speakers, including Carlos Cendra, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mabrian, who presented forecasts and analyses of tourism strengths and opportunities for Croatia and other Mediterranean countries.
The main conclusions of the study are:
·      A Seasonal Context with Room for Improvement. Croatia still has room for improvement during the considered low season months. When compared to the context and its closest competitors, the data indicates that the Southeast Mediterranean region is 9 percentage points more dependent on the high season than the average in the nearby Mediterranean, while Croatia is 16% more. ·      Promising Prospects for the Low Season. One of the main takeaways from Mabrian’s analysis is the promising outlook for Croatia in the coming months. It forecasts a 10% increase in tourism from September to March 24, compared to last year. In terms of growth, Croatia is expected to outperform Italy and Turkey during these months, although it has not yet reached the levels seen in Greece.
·      Croatia Well Positioned for Travellers’ Motivations. According to the latest global travellers’ motivations study conducted by Mabrian, there is a consistent growth in experiential motivations for travel, substituting more conventional motivations. Analysis of travellers sentiment and preferences, based on over 400 million interactions on social media, reveals that interests in Active, Natural, Wellness, and Gastronomy experiences are gaining importance over Sunbathing, Family Travel, Shopping, and Nightlife. This positions Croatia with a great opportunity to solidify its leadership in Nature and Active tourism products during the low season, compared to Mediterranean competitors. Additionally, there is an interesting opportunity to further develop Gastronomy and Culture-related activities, which were among the main travellers interests from October to March during the Autumn-Winter 2022-2023 season. ADVERTISEMENTIvana Kolar, CEO at Julius Rose Consulting and Director of the Tourism 365 Conference, commented, “It is great to have confirmation that the Southeast Mediterranean region and Croatia are moving forward to achieve a more balanced tourism activity throughout the year. This has been the objective of this conference since its inception 7 years ago – bringing together governments and companies to align on vision and strategy”.
Carlos Cendra, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mabrian added, “There are no doubts about the development possibilities of the region and Croatia for the non-summer season. The data shows excellent security perception and a well-balanced tourism offering to generate sustainable activity throughout the year, thereby boosting local economies”.
Mabrian Technologies is an international data intelligence company specializing in travel and tourism. It provides updated information and trends to destinations and companies. Powered by proprietary technology based on Big Data and AI, and supported by a tourism advisory team, Mabrian aggregates data from over 30 global sources to advise destinations in more than 40 countries. The company has now begun working in the Southeast Mediterranean region, thanks to its partnership with New Deal Europe.

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SAUDI ARABIA SHOWCASES UNRIVALLED OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMITS TO STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

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Located one hour away by bullet train from Tokyo, the prefecture of Shizuoka boasts an array of seasonal delicacies during the autumn and winter months. Below Tourism Shizuoka Japan highlights some hands-on foodie experiences that can be enjoyed over this period, including kiwi and mandarin picking and oyster farming.A boost of vitamin C
The mandarin picking experience by Suzuki Farm is an ideal way for travellers to infuse their autumn days with a healthy dose of vitamin C, just as the temperatures start to cool down. The experience is available until the end of November and begins with a demonstration by the farmers on how to pick and distinguish different types of mandarin. After the demonstration, visitors are free to pluck mandarins at their own pace. Starting from JPY 1,100 (approx. £6) per person, this experience offers not only a hands-on adventure but also the chance for visitors to enjoy as many mandarins as they desire.
All-you-can-eat kiwi fruit
Located in Kakegawa, Kiwi Fruits Country Japan beckons visitors with its status as the country’s largest kiwi fruit farm, cultivating 80 different varieties. The facilities are open year-round and offer an unlimited kiwi fruit feast from JPY 1,500 (approx. £8) per person. The harvest season at the farm is from October until mid-January and during this period, visitors can also enjoy kiwi fruit picking at an additional cost. The facilities also boast a green tea farm and tranquil forest, the perfect setting for a leisurely post-feast stroll.
ADVERTISEMENTOyster galore
Surrounded by beautiful scenery and a popular destination for visitors, Lake Hamana is Japan’s second largest brackish lake, meaning its waters are a mix of salt water from the Pacific Ocean and freshwater that flows down from the Japanese Southern Alps. The Oyster Farm Experience is available from mid-February to March and offers participants the opportunity to sample Lake Hamana’s native oysters, which are mineral-rich, larger in size and an exclusive treat only found in this region. The experience starts from JPY 32,000 (approx. £176) per person inclusive of an overnight stay at a waterfront inn, an oyster farm tour departing from the inn’s private dock, oyster tasting and two meals. For those seeking further thrills, popular activities around the lake include an array of marine sports and cycling (there is a 67-kilometre cycle path along the lake) and adrenaline-pumping activities such as wakeboarding, parasailing and windsurfing.

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According to the World Economic Outlook (WEO) Report, the global economy will grow an estimated 3.0% in 2023 and 2.9% in 2024. While this is higher than previous forecasts, it is nevertheless below the 3.5% rate of growth recorded in 2022, pointing to the continued impacts of the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and from the cost-of-living crisis.
Tourism key sector for growthThe WEO report analyses economic growth in every global region, connecting performance with key sectors, including tourism. Notably, those economies with “large travel and tourism sectors” show strong economic resilience and robust levels of economic activity. More specifically, countries where tourism represents a high percentage of GDP   have recorded faster recovery from the impacts of the pandemic in comparison to economies where tourism is not a significant sector.
As the report Foreword notes: “Strong demand for services has supported service-oriented economies—including important tourism destinations such as France and Spain”.
Looking AheadThe latest outlook from the IMF comes on the back of UNWTO’s most recent analysis of the prospects for tourism, at the global and regional levels. Pending the release of the November 2023 World Tourism Barometer, international tourism is on track to reach 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Prospects for September-December 2023 point to continued recovery, driven by the still pent-up demand and increased air connectivity particularly in Asia and the Pacific where recovery is still subdued.

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Val Thorens in Les 3 Vallées Set to Open Early Due to Excellent Early Snow Fall With Passes Just €20

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The Association Les 3 Vallées announces today that, due to negative temperatures and significant early snowfall, Val Thorens will be open a week early with some select slopes skiable from November 18, 2023.These include the Funitel Péclet, the Cascade chairlift and all the magic carpets in the centre of the resort which will be available from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
For this pre-opening week only – up to Saturday November 25, 2023 – skiers and snowboarders will be able to hit the slopes at a discounted rate of just €20 per day, with Val Thorens’ mountain operation staff working hard to prepare the entire ski area for full operation in time for the La Grande Première.  This is Val Thorens’ big annual launch event– held over the weekend of November 25 & 26, 2023 – where top ski, clothing and accessory brands create a tent village in Place de Caron so that enthusiastic skiers and snowboarders can register and then test out the latest equipment for an hour or two.
Olivier Desaulty, the Association Les 3 Vallées’ executive director, explains, “Val Thorens is Europe’s highest ski resort at 2,300m and we’re super excited that they’re opening early, with passes at such a compelling rate.  Other resorts in Les 3 Vallées system have also had decent early snow. For example, 60 to 80 cm has fallen on Mont Saulire which links Courchevel to Méribel, so it’s looking like a very positive start for winter 2023/24.”
To kick off the season, other key events are also being held in Val Thorens: the Ski Mountaineering World Cup (November 24 to 26) as well as the Skicross World Cup (December 5 to 8).
For the specific opening and closing dates of all resorts – namely Courchevel, Méribel, Brides-les-Bains, Saint Martin de Belleville, Les Menuires and Orelle – click here .ADVERTISEMENTThe whole interconnected system is open from December 2, 2023 to April 21, 2024.
For a simple way to book holidays, visit the Les 3 Vallées Travel agency at https://booking.les3vallees.com

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