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The 100 million tourist goal that Saudi Arabia established as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 project will be increased.The figure was first established in 2016 when the Vision was originally presented, however by 2022, the Kingdom had received 77 million domestic visitors and 16.5 million foreign visitors, for a total of 93.5 million visitors. In 2022, Dubai, which has traditionally been the region’s tourism powerhouse, will welcome 14.5 million foreign tourists. The CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), Fahd Hamidaddin, predicted that after the 100 million milestone was nearly attained eight years early, the goalposts will be moved. At the Arabian Travel Market, he told reporters, “The target is too low and it will increase,” adding, “Today, that target no longer works. Domestic tourism was always an element of that aim from the beginning. We had no idea how strongly domestic tourism would react when it was set. We all anticipated a decline in numbers following Covid, yet the opposite has happened. Domestic viewers weren’t aware they had all of this at their doorstep a few years ago. Before, they concentrated on Jeddah and Riyadh, but nowadays, people are more daring. The same thing will occur when foreign tourists arrive. Hamidaddin stated that he wanted overseas travel to account for 60% of tourism. Saudi Arabia’s hotel supply exceeds Dubai’sAccording to projections from the international real estate consultant Knight Frank, Saudi Arabia is preparing for a significant development of its hospitality sector that would add up to 315,000 hotel rooms by 2030. According to Knight Frank’s research, this expansion will result in a hotel room inventory that is higher than the 140,000 rooms that are now available in Dubai. When asked if there are now too many hotels in Saudi Arabia, Hamidaddin responded, “My concern right now is a lack of airlift and lodging. Based on the current pace, we won’t be confronted with the overstock problem. According to Knight Frank, the country’s fast expansion of hospitality-related services has a substantial impact on domestic tourism, which the firm predicts will play a big role in the development of the Kingdom’s hospitality industry. The business will need to look more broadly and include establishments like upscale glamping sites and youth hostels in order to serve this growingly significant part of the market. With giant projects like NEOM driving the supply chain, Saudi Arabia is poised to become one of the world’s top tourism destinations. Kingdom’s employment economy has reached a turning point.The epidemic was a turning moment to highlight KSA’s new luxury supply, according to Hamidaddin in response to a query on the increase of luxury in the country and how that supply will affect the sector. The STA chief remarked, “We were fortunate to have Covid. Saudi Arabia was first discovered by force and afterwards by choice. Due of their limited alternatives under the Covid, wealthy people who had yachts and jets travelled to Saudi. Hamidaddin reminded the table, using data from the WTTC, that one out of every five new employment created over the previous ten years had come from tourism internationally. One in four employment will be like this in the upcoming ten years. “While so many industries are suffering from automation, tourism is not. Tourism benefits both our community and our economy. “The world came to Saudi Arabia for oil in the 1920s; in the 2020s, it will come for tourism. The new oil is tourism. Source: breakingtravelnews

Thailand – The Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2023, Thailand’s premier B2B travel industry show, will be held from May 31 to June 2 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok. Pre- and post-tour programmes will feature meaningful travel experiences from all five regions of Thailand. “This year, the TTM+ 2023 will continue to highlight the Thai tourism industry’s ongoing efforts towards a meaningful travel direction through the promotion and development of high value and sustainable tourism,” stated Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor. This year’s TTM+, the country’s top tourism exhibition, will demonstrate how we are improving demand and sustainability standards while utilising the 5F soft-power pillars of food, film, festivals, fights, and fashion to uphold travellers’ trust in Thailand as a top travel destination. The TTM+ 2023 has been designed to highlight travel goods, services, and experiences that advance Thai cultural values for a memorable travel experience in keeping with the marketing campaign “Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters.” It also fits with TAT’s plan to use innovation and technology to create value, turn Thai tourism into “Smart Tourism,” and hasten the transformation of Thailand’s tourist ecosystem into one that is high-quality and sustainable. Over 850 people are anticipated to attend this year’s TTM+, including 100 local and international media, 400 sellers from all five regions of Thailand, and 350 buyers from 50 different countries. Buyers come from both developed markets like Western Europe, the United States, Australia, and ASEAN as well as emerging countries like Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South America, and South Africa. Opening ceremony, Thailand product update, TTM Talk for buyers and media, onsite appointment session, welcome reception, and product update on the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) are among the scheduled events for TTM+ 2023, which runs from May 31 to June 2, 2023. Along with a networking lunch and a business networking happy hour, there are buyer/seller appointments. On May 30 and 31, there are three pre-tour programmes, and on June 3-5, there are six post-tour programmes. Additionally, all tour programmes are designed in accordance with the TAT’s meaningful travel direction, emphasising experience-based tourism activities and showcasing Thai cultural values through the 5F soft-power foundations of the monarchy. On the same dates and at the same location as TTM+ 2023, TAT is also sponsoring the Amazing Thailand Culinary City event. Source: traveldailynews

A swarm of bees decided to assemble on the end of one of the plane’s wings, delaying a Delta trip. Fog. Ice. Passengers indignant. You starting your vacation late is put above the airline’s financial interests… There are several factors that might cause a flight to be cancelled. However, a recent American news story is so outlandish that you might find it difficult to believe. Due to a bee colony that has established itself on one of the wing tips of the aeroplane, a Delta flight leaving Houston has been delayed. Anjali Enjeti, a traveller, recorded the story for the benefit of online viewers while she waited at the airport’s boarding gate. My aircraft departing Houston is delayed because bees have gathered on the tip of one of the wings, she said in the thread’s opening statement, which has had 2.6 million views as of this writing. Until the bees are taken out, they won’t let us board. But how in the world will this take place? When we take off, won’t they leave the wing?’” Ms. Enjeti stated: “Intel from other passengers confirms the plane pulled into the gate and suddenly a mass of bees congregates on the wing.” Despite the fact that you may assume the plane must have been there for a while for this to happen. As you may guess, when other travellers learned that their flight would be delayed, they weren’t exactly joyful. Ms. Enjeti said on Twitter that first they were informed a beekeeper had been contacted to remove the bees before learning he would not be coming because he “isn’t allowed to touch aeroplanes.” The same justification applies to “pest control is not allowed to spray planes.” Additionally, it appears that the airport lacked a hose to spray the bees with water, and the fire department was unable to respond. Ms Enjeti claims that airport staff attempted to get rid of the bees by blowing car exhaust on them. Apparently, the bees were “not impressed.” Different Twitter users who were following the thread expressed varying degrees of sympathy for the bees (and the patience of the airport authorities). “The bees have swarmed and need to be safely relocated,” one person remarked. They shouldn’t be pulled into a jet engine at all costs. You surely don’t see anything like that every day! I’m delighted they’re also concerned about the health of the bees. Another person commented: “This entire conversation is absurd! Total waste of time and resources for everyone. Not going to affect boarding, and they’re going to get off somewhere down the runway. And if they DO manage to lift off, full altitude will take care of the rest. The answer was ultimately fairly straightforward. The bees went away when the Delta crew chose to offer the gate to a different flight and the pilot switched on the aircraft to move it out of the way for a different flight. According to Ms. Enjeti, “Omg y’all. The whole flight crew left the plane. Delta made the decision to assign another flight our gate. THE BEES LEFT as soon as our plane’s engine started up! Delta only needed to turn the plane on. Eventually, their “bee plane” met the travellers at a new gate and made it safely to its intended destination. “I’ve arrived in Atlanta!” Informing her fans of her crazy day, Ms. Enjeti remarked. Happy to be at home and on solid footing. Our pilot was outstanding and did a fantastic job updating us. The crew was likewise outstanding. The bees must have had a great time mocking us all, in my opinion. Source: escape

The Indonesian government is considering imposing a possible “tourist tax” on tourists travelling to Bali as the island’s population continues to grow. The popular vacation spot will charge visitors up to $150 to enter, according to the Australian Financial Review. This week, the government and President Joko Widodo were debating the proposal, according to tourism minister Sandiaga Uno. The fee, according to Bali Tourism Board Chairman Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana, will prevent Bali from being perceived as a “cheap” vacation spot. However, opponents of the proposal argue that stronger enforcement of already-existing laws is necessary to keep law-breaking tourists in check. According to Komang Artana, vice-chairman of the Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association, foreigners travelling on tourist visas are not permitted to work for hire in Indonesia, yet some take co-nationals on spontaneous tours or rent out their motorcycles. The idea comes as Indonesia keeps up its crackdown on visitors who act badly. The Indonesian government had deported 93 foreign nationals from Bali as of mid-April, the majority as a result of visa or permission infractions. With 24 tourists sent home, Russians made up the largest contingent. Nigeria came in second with seven guests, followed by the US and Australia with six each. According to the AFR, there are currently 101 deportees scheduled for 2023, only six of whom are Australian citizens. Balinese tourism has also increased as a result of refugees from the continuing war in Europe. Source: 9news

After a wave of shark attacks, swimming has been prohibited at a popular tourist destination in the Pacific for a year.Swimming is not permitted within 300 metres of the Noumea shoreline, according to the municipal council of Noumea, New Caledonia.On one beach, swimmers are permitted in a monitored area while lifeguards are on duty. On Lemon Bay, swimming is permitted between 8.45 am and 4 pm, but only up to 20 metres from the shore.As the council gets ready to put shark nets on the beaches, the ban will still be in effect.After an Australian tourist drowned while swimming off Chateau-Royal beach in Noumea in February, there was a swimming ban imposed. Sydney father Chris Davis was attacked by a four-meter tiger shark while swimming around 150 metres offshore. Despite attempts to resuscitate him, he passed away at the site. It was the second assault in a short period of time at the same site. The council observes that even when swimming is prohibited, beachgoers are still welcome to enjoy the sand. On beaches outside of the Noumea council area, swimming is permitted. One of Australia’s closest neighbours is New Caledonia. The island, a former French colony, is currently a territory recognised as a part of Overseas France, and it has senators and members in the French parliament. Source: 9news

United Arab Emirates city of Dubai – In order to construct and franchise 18 hotels throughout second-tier cities in Saudi Arabia over the next 10 years, Accor and Amsa Hospitality, the Saudi startup firm that is revolutionising Arabian hospitality in both local and international markets, have inked a master development agreement. A variety of Accor’s midscale and economy brands, including ibis Styles, Mercure, Mercure Living, Novotel, Novotel Living, and the recently introduced Handwritten Collection, will be developed by Amsa Hospitality, the Hallmark of Arabian Hospitality, under the terms of the agreement. Amsa Hospitality will also serve as the third-party operator by leasing and franchising the assets. Mohammad Alathel, Chief Executive Officer of Amsa Hospitality, stated during a press conference at Arabian Travel Market: “Amsa Hospitality is dedicated to the success of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a vision that established the course for our development locally, regionally, and worldwide. As a result, we support the Kingdom’s ambitious strategy for the growth of the nation’s secondary cities. Such an ambitious plan has to be supported with top-notch hospitality that meets all international requirements. As devoted as we are, we think that Accor is the best hospitality provider to provide the high level of assured quality we seek. This, together with their extensive brand selection, allows us to suggest the best hospitality for each city’s atmosphere. This long-term partnership between Amsa Hospitality and Accor will combine the first-rate modern hospitality expertise that Accor is known for with Amsa Hospitality’s dedication to bringing centuries-old Arabian traditions of hospitality and generosity to the modern world, true to our motto, “Hallmark of Arabian Hospitality.” Amsa Hospitality will be in charge of hotels in a number of Saudi Arabian towns, including Ha’il, Jubail, Taif, Al-Ula, Tabuk, and Jazan, among others, as part of the arrangement. The target market will vary depending on the hotel brand. The ibis Styles brand is one of them; it caters to cost-conscious business and vacationers, and each of its hotels has a distinctive and creative design motif. While the Novotel brand was created to give all travellers the chance to unwind, the mid-range Mercure is inspired by the local surroundings, celebrating local people and genuine local cuisine. Intimate, fashionable hotels with distinct personalities will be offered by the Handwritten Collection. CEO of Accor’s MEA and Asia Pacific Premium, Midscale & Economy Division Duncan O’Rourke stated: “Our strategic partnership with Amsa Hospitality marks a significant milestone in our development strategy for Saudi Arabia, a burgeoning hospitality sector which offers a host of opportunities to leverage our portfolio of hospitality brands.Establishing a long-term partnership with Amsa Hospitality demonstrates our dedication to assisting the Kingdom’s tourism objectives while upholding Amsa Hospitality’s commitment to presenting Arabian traditions and Arab culture. Source: traveldailynews

A series of strikes might cause the cancellation of trains for passengers seeking to take the train to the FA Cup Final and the Eurovision Song Contest. More walkouts have been scheduled for May and June by the RMT, the main rail union, and Aslef, the union for train drivers. More than a dozen train operators, including all of the major long-distance and commuter rail companies, will suspend operations. On May 12, May 31, and June 3, drivers who work for more than a dozen railway operators will strike. There will also be a ban on overtime. On Saturday, May 13, members of the RMT who work for 14 railway operators are going on strike. Passengers trying to go to Liverpool for the Eurovision Song Contest’s grand finale on Saturday, May 13, will be affected by the walk-outs. Among the train companies impacted are Northern, TransPennine Express, and Avanti West Coast. The FA Cup Final between Manchester United and Manchester City, which will be held at Wembley in northwest London, will take place on June 3. Tens of thousands of spectators would often take the train to the game. It will also have an impact on visitors to the Epsom Derby. Tens of millions of train passengers have experienced issues as a result of nationwide rail strikes that began in June 2022 due to a tangle of disagreements about salary, job security, and working conditions. Stoppages have been called often, resulting in significant disruption and making it hard to plan ahead for travel. In the most recent round of strikes, the biggest rail union, the RMT, has called for walkouts on 24 days, while Aslef has previously called for eight such stops. These are the main inquiries and responses. Who and when are striking? All of Aslef’s train driver members who work for 16 railway operators have been told to go on strike on Friday, May 12, Wednesday, May 31, and Saturday, June 3. The Department of Transportation hired the railroad companies. They consist of the top intercity carriers: Avanti West Coast CrossCountry East Midlands Railway Great Western Railway LNER TransPennine Express Additionally impacted will be the vast majority of London’s commuter operators: Greater Anglia GTR (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink) Southeastern South Western Railway It will have an impact on operators serving the Midlands and northern England: Chiltern Railways Northern Trains West Midlands Trains Additionally, “non-contractual overtime” will be prohibited on Saturday, May 13, from Monday, May 15, to Saturday, May 20, inclusive, and on Thursday, June 1. On Saturday, May 13, members of the RMT union will go on strike. With the advent of the c2c, which travels from the City of London to south Essex, the same train operators will be engaged. What will happen as a result? Network train signalling employees have walked out throughout several of the RMT’s past strikes, shutting down at least half of the train network. The network’s infrastructure should be operational as usual now that they have settled. Nevertheless, thousands of trains will be cancelled on each of the strike days, ruining millions of passengers’ travel plans. The drivers’ and RMTs’ walkouts will have distinct effects. Some railroad companies, like Avanti West Coast and Southeastern, have cancelled every train during previous driver strikes. On essential lines, others have operated a skeleton service. For instance, GWR provides a minimal service between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central. It is anticipated that the RMT walkout will have less of an effect. GWR will likely operate a more thorough timetable, which will include travel to and from Exeter and Plymouth. A rudimentary service will be provided by Avanti West Coast, with one train departing from Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, and Glasgow every hour for travel to London Euston. The LNER is projected to focus on the London King’s Cross–York–Newcastle–Edinburgh axis, running up to 40% of regular trains on the East Coast main line. The great majority of services in Scotland and Wales will run regularly on all strike days since ScotRail and Transport for Wales are not parties to the dispute with Aslef. On lines that are typically shared with railway operators whose employees are on strike, notably London-York-Newcastle-Edinburgh and Swansea-Cardiff-Newport, trains operated by these firms are expected to be more packed than usual. Normal service is also available to passengers on: Caledonian Sleeper Grand Central Heathrow Express Hull Trains London Overground Lumo Merseyrail The last of these, Merseyrail, will run more trains throughout the weekend of the Eurovision, however the network is only available inside the Liverpool region as far as Southport and Ormskirk, as well as the Wirral and Chester. The restriction on drivers working overtime is anticipated to have an especially negative impact on long-distance train companies such Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express. There will also be some cancellations of overnight services before to the strikes and early morning trains after the walkouts. How will this impact Eurostar? No, although getting to and from the train operator’s major hub at London St. Pancras International may be challenging due to the walkout of union members employed by all three domestic train operators serving the station (East Midlands Railway, Southeastern, and Thameslink). Why is Aslef engaging in labour unrest? The general secretary of Aslef, Mick Whelan, declared: “We do not want to go on strike. We don’t want to bother travellers; we have relatives and friends who also travel by train, and we think that securing the nation’s rail infrastructure is important. “However, the employers are to responsible for this action, fairly and squarely, as they compelled us to take this step due to their obstinacy. The plan, which would have increased wages by just 4%, was obviously not intended to be approved because inflation is still above 10% and our members haven’t received raises at these firms in the past four years. The firms involved, according to Mr. Whelan, are “letting down passengers, and taxpayers,” and “proposals to modernise Britain’s railways and help them run more efficiently”

Sun Outdoors, a pioneer in outdoor hospitality, said today that its much-anticipated resort in the Florida Keys, Sun Outdoors Islamorada, has started taking reservations. Sun Outdoors Islamorada provides tropical seas, outdoor adventures, and unmatched amenities for RVers and vacation homes seeking laid-back living in the sport fishing centre of the world. It has everything for tourists of all ages. With 82 full hookup RV sites for both short- and long-term stays, 48 vacation houses for sale, 47 boat docks in three distinct marinas, private poolside cabanas, and a heated pool, Sun Outdoors Islamorada is a 12-acre resort. A new resort that offers contemporary amenities like a clubhouse, on-site food and beverages, planned events, a second level ocean view lounge, a dog walk, community fire pits, laundry, billiards, watersport rentals, and much more is the result of rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Irma in 2017. The resort combines two historic RV resorts, San Pedro and Sea Breeze. Nick DiBella, senior vice president, operations and sales, stated, “We are happy to formally launch our newest store, Sun Outdoors Islamorada, in the lovely, sunny Florida Keys. The Islamorada resort is an exciting addition to our portfolio, satisfying the ongoing demand for luxury facilities coupled with Sun Outdoors’ award-winning quality of service, as we continue to give our guests enjoyable and transformational outdoor experiences. The RV Industry Association estimates that RV travel has a roughly $3 billion economic impact on Florida each year as Americans continue to enjoy the flexibility of RV travel and the great outdoors. Florida is still a popular destination for RV travellers. The 59th Sun Outdoors resort in Florida will be Sun Outdoors Islamorada. With more than 175 locations in the US and Canada, Sun Outdoors provides RV, hotel, tent camping, seasonal, and long-term stay sites. Travellers’ happier selves are unlocked by a combination of excellent personnel, extensive family-friendly programming, and specially designed local activities. Comfortable outdoor amenities include on-site dining options, heated swimming pools, an arcade, and nearby general stores. Source: breakingtravelnews

Edmund Bartlett, Minister of tourist, has emphasised the need of involving stakeholders of all sizes in the tourist value chain in order to increase the industry’s resilience and sustainability. As a model, Minister Bartlett described a number of efforts being carried out by the Ministry of tourist and its governmental organisations to assist small and medium-sized tourist businesses (SMTEs) while “holding them accountable to sustainable business practises aligned with industry standards.” The tourism minister remarked, “The essence of tourism as we know it is the small and medium enterprises,” during a panel discussion on the fringes of the Arabian Travel Market with the theme: “Strategic Sustainability Planning – Where Does the Supply Chain Start?” When tourists visit the place, they make up 80% of the experiences and services they receive.Minister Bartlett also discussed how the Ministry’s strategy and policy direction have been set up to support Jamaican SMTEs. “We invest a lot of money in educating and building the skills of little players so they can, first, be more inventive and creative, and second, have financial resources. As a result, we opened a JM$1 billion window for financing to small and medium-sized businesses through the Jamaican EXIM bank, according to the minister of tourism.The Ministry of Tourism was also commended for using technology as a key instrument in its efforts to strengthen the industry’s resilience and viability and link its smaller participants to its more established businesses. Minister Bartlett emphasised the accomplishment of the Agri-Linkages Exchange (ALEX) project of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), and he continued: “We established a platform called ALEX which connects the small farmers of 1 to 5 acres in deep-rural regions to purveyors and procurement officers in the hotels all across Jamaica. They can thus figure out costs and delivery schedules on their iPhones so that vegetables may be delivered straight from the farm gate to the hotel. Minister Bartlett reiterated his request for the creation of a global tourist resilience fund and emphasised the need of all tourism stakeholders working together to safeguard the environment.“Net zero cannot be our goal in the travel industry; net positive must. At COP 28, tourism must now assert that it has a strategy to reduce impact, adapt, and facilitate recovery. Therefore, a funding proposal is crucial, and there is a need for the creation of a tourism resilience fund that is voluntarily funded by each traveller, Minister Bartlett noted. For the sixteenth consecutive year, Jamaica has been voted the Caribbean’s Leading Destination for 2022 by the World Travel Awards. Additionally, Jamaica was recognised as the Caribbean’s Leading Nature Destination 2022, Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board 2022, and Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2022. Source: breakingtravelnews

The private aircraft of FIVE Hotels & Resorts is in the air. The aircraft, 9H-FIVE, is a brand-new ACJ TwoTwenty jet with 16 seats, a master bedroom, a kitchen, and a dining table that can accommodate up to eight people.The jet, which can fly continuously for 12 hours, is now available for charter. There is no information on how much a charter would cost, but a plane of a comparable size would cost between US$9,000 and $13,000 per hour. Aloki Batra, CEO of FIVE Hospitality, remarked that this aeroplane represents an amazing new chapter for the company. “An internationally recognised pioneer in entertainment-driven hospitality, FIVE now diversifies its award-winning portfolio with a FIVE-styled experience that extends the distinctive and unrivalled ‘Vibe at FIVE’ from our hotels on the ground to a luxurious immersive experience among the clouds. “By building the next level in private aviation, we will now be able to provide a faultless and customised experience. We are thrilled to welcome our guests on board Fly FIVE, the FIVE Hotel & Resort’s newest home in the air. Along with offering food from establishments like The Penthouse, Maiden Shanghai, Cinque, and Soul Street, the jet, according to FIVE, may also feature DJ music. Kabir Mulchandani, the chairman and creator of FIVE, withheld the price of the plane when it was originally revealed, however the typical cost of this type of aircraft is $70 million. One of Comlux’s first ACJ TwoTwenty aircraft, it is. Comlux’s executive chairman and CEO, Richard Gaona, declared: “Today is a remarkable day. I want to start by saying thank you to our client FIVE for their confidence. I also want to express my gratitude to the Comlux and Airbus Teams for their tireless efforts in bringing this spectacular place to reality. The first of many incredible ACJ TwoTwenty cabins we will create is this one. Source: breakingtravelnews