http://www.zawya.com/middle-east/tourismen-usCopyright 2013 Zawya Ltd. All rights reserved.Sun, 19 May 2013 09:27:47 GMT3114476http://www.zawya.com/middle-east/tourismhttp://www.zawya.com/images/newsletter_zawya_logo.gifhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Etihad_Airways_acquires_three_airport_service_companies-ZW20130519000041/Etihad Airways said on Sunday it had acquired three airport services companies from Abu Dhabi Airports Company as the airline looks to exploit cost and revenue synergies across ground handling, catering and cargo operations. Sun, 19 May 2013 09:49:10 GMTZawya Dow Jones News ZW20130519000041Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/120000_more_Arabian_nights_Hotel_rooms_pipeline_surges-ZAWYA20130519050942/Despite the ever-growing number of new hotel launches, there remains room for expansion, or so believe the 492 hotels that will soon be adding more than 100,000 rooms to the region's hospitality landscape. Sun, 19 May 2013 06:43:12 GMTEmirates 24|7 ZAWYA20130519050942Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/OneOnly_resort_planned_in_Jeddah-ZAWYA20130519034850/KERZNER International Holdings Limited has entered into an agreement with Al Khozama Management Company to develop and operate a new One&Only resort in Jeddah on the Red Sea.Sun, 19 May 2013 06:29:14 GMTThe Saudi Gazette ZAWYA20130519034850Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/UAE_top_tourism_destination_in_the_Arab_World-GN_18052013_190534/The UAE is the world’s 31st popular tourism destination and the most popular in the Arab World, ahead of Egypt — ranked 32nd and Saudi Arabia ranked 35 — in terms of tourism receipts, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) data shows.Sun, 19 May 2013 04:09:52 GMTGulf News GN_18052013_190534Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Abu_Dhabi_Sleeping_pods_now_available_at_airport-GN_18052013_190520/Exhausted travelers who are stuck in transit between flights at Abu Dhabi International Airport can now recharge their batteries courtesy of the airport’s newly-launched sleeping pods.Sun, 19 May 2013 04:08:20 GMTGulf News GN_18052013_190520Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/QE_2_may_be_moored_in_Dubai_if_UAE_wins_World_Expo_2020-ZAWYA20130519030921/One of the world's most iconic ships, the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE 2), post its transformation into a 5-star hotel, may once again be moored on the shores of Dubai if the UAE wins its bid to host the World Expo 2020, Emirates 24|7 can reveal.Sun, 19 May 2013 03:50:43 GMTEmirates 24|7 ZAWYA20130519030921Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Tourism_campaign_to_promote_Duqm-ZAWYA20130518043131/The Ministry of Tourism represented by the tourism department in Al Wusta and Al Dakhiliyah governorates yesterday launched a tourism campaign in the Wilayat of Al Duqm under the title 'Discover the Beauty.'Sat, 18 May 2013 04:47:32 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20130518043131Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Dnata_invests_further_in_flight_catering-GN_16052013_170532/Air services provider Dnata on Monday announced the acquisition of the remaining 50% of Servair Airchef in Italy, taking its total ownership to 100%.Fri, 17 May 2013 05:33:41 GMTGulf News GN_16052013_170532Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Cartoon_characters_new_mascots_of_Sharjah_Museums-GN_16052013_170546/Cartoon characters Hamdan and Alia are the new mascots of the Sharjah Museums Department (SMD).Fri, 17 May 2013 05:28:39 GMTGulf News GN_16052013_170546Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Hotel_reservations_up_2_compared_to_2012_Tourism_Minister-ZAWYA20130516093633/"From the beginning of the year until May 10, 2013, hotel reservations posted a 2% increase, compared to the same period of 2012," Minister of Tourism Jamel Gamra said.Thu, 16 May 2013 14:10:39 GMTTunis-Afrique Presse ZAWYA20130516093633Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/flydubai_CEO_Saudi_market_has_potential_to_add_more_capacity-ZAWYA20130516035221/Dubai's innovative low cost airline is looking forward to expand its operations to more airports in the Kingdom, a top official said.Thu, 16 May 2013 05:45:46 GMTThe Saudi Gazette ZAWYA20130516035221Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Palm_Jumeirah_gets_new_USD1bn_hotel_and_furnished_residences_project-ZAWYA20130516032311/Skai Holdings, the Dubai-based real estate investment firm, unveiled plans for its new USD 1 billion hotel and furnished residences project on the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.Thu, 16 May 2013 05:42:28 GMTEmirates 24|7 ZAWYA20130516032311Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Skai_Holdings_to_build_USD1bn_hotel_on_Palm_Jumeirah-GN_15052013_160556/Dubai-based Skai Holdings plans to build a USD 1 billion (AED 3.67 billion) hotel with over 200 serviced apartments on Palm Jumeirah, the real estate investment firm announced.Thu, 16 May 2013 05:10:39 GMTGulf News GN_15052013_160556Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Flydubai_doubles_number_of_destinations-ZAWYA20130515075720/Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer of flydubai relayed the airline's successful turnover, its latest innovations and future plans to a delegation of journalists at the Arabian Travel Market.Wed, 15 May 2013 13:23:58 GMTArab Times ZAWYA20130515075720Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Elaf_Bakkah_Hotel_comes_under_spotlight_at_Arabian_Travel_Market__2013-ZAWYA20130515080050/The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries are setting the pace in global tourism. Tourism is rapidly growing into one of the Kingdom's major industries and a key contributor to the national economy. Wed, 15 May 2013 11:19:44 GMTPress Release ZAWYA20130515080050Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/10_new_hotels_to_double_number_of_rooms_in_Muscat-ZAWYA20130515042637/Recent research has shown that revenues and occupancy for four and five star hotels increased significantly in 2012, driven by Omani rather than foreign guests.Wed, 15 May 2013 07:52:12 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20130515042637Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/No_visa_changes_for_Saudis_traveling_to_Indonesia-ZAWYA20130515033014/The Indonesian Consulate in Jeddah has announced that there has been no change in the visa policy for Saudis and that they can still obtain their visas on arrival in Jakarta.Wed, 15 May 2013 06:14:01 GMTArab News ZAWYA20130515033014Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Saudi_Arabia_needs_more_threeand_fourstar_hotels-ZAWYA20130515031900/Onyx Hospitality Group, which aims to become one of Asia's leading hospitality providers within five years, has lined up a number of new hotel signings and openings for 2013 at locations, including the Gulf region.Wed, 15 May 2013 06:10:00 GMTArab News ZAWYA20130515031900Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/10_mega_projects_to_adorn_Dubai-GN_14052013_150531/In a major drive to further improve the infrastructure of the city, Dubai Municipality has launched 10 major projects to be completed at various dates in the next couple of years.Wed, 15 May 2013 04:55:45 GMTGulf News GN_14052013_150531Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Sultanates_hotel_revenue_occupancy_show_robust_growth-ZAWYA20130515043024/Revenue and occupancy of four and five-star hotels in the country increased significantly in 2012, driven by Omani rather than foreign guests.Wed, 15 May 2013 04:53:58 GMTTimes of Oman ZAWYA20130515043024Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Citymax_Hotels_plans_GCC_expansion-GN_14052013_150513/Landmark Group-owned budget hotel brand, Citymax Hotels, plans aggressive GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) expansion, according to its top executive.Wed, 15 May 2013 04:24:46 GMTGulf News GN_14052013_150513Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/NCB_Saudi_Business_Optimism_Index_Q22013-pdf_140513135717/- Composite BOI for the hydrocarbon sector declines marginally to 31 in Q2 2013 from 33 in the previous quarter - Composite BOI for the non-hydrocarbon sector remains constant at 55 in Q2 2013 - Majority of respondents in the non-hydrocarbon sector (51%) and hydrocarbon sector (48%) cite that there are no negative factors that will impact business in this quarterTue, 14 May 2013 13:50:00 GMTNational Commercial Bank pdf_140513135717Subscriptionhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Abu_Dhabi_among_100_busiest_MICE_destinations-ZAWYA20130514032726/Abu Dhabi has been named among the top 100 busiest global meetings destinations in the International Congress and Convention Association's (ICCA) 2012 global city rankings for the first time.Tue, 14 May 2013 07:34:38 GMTEmirates 24|7 ZAWYA20130514032726Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Dubai_plans_privilege_cards_for_tourists-ZAWYA20130514064937/Dubai plans to introduce a "privilege" program for tourists visiting the emirate, in the form of reward points on all purchases, a person involved in the initiative told Zawya.Tue, 14 May 2013 06:57:28 GMTZawya ZAWYA20130514064937Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Virtual_travel_portal_launched_in_Oman-ZAWYA20130514043148/Zahara has introduced a virtual travel portal, www.otalati.com where customers can purchase any service related to travel and holiday at the click of a mouse on a secure payment gateway.Tue, 14 May 2013 06:07:26 GMTOman Daily Observer ZAWYA20130514043148Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Tourism__hospitality_industry_to_debate_bridging_skills_gaps-ZAWYA20130514041548/Key industry professionals, government officials and academics will gather in Dubai this week to discuss the existing and emerging skills gaps within the UAE's tourism and hospitality industry. Tue, 14 May 2013 06:06:37 GMTThe Saudi Gazette ZAWYA20130514041548Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/GIS_to_guide_pilgrims_worshippers_in_Makkah-ZAWYA20130514033635/The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities branch in Makkah said that SCTA is developing an application for a geographic information system (GIS) to guide pilgrims to places of their lodging and how to move around to perform the religious rituals.Tue, 14 May 2013 05:32:01 GMTArab News ZAWYA20130514033635Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Madinah_needs_500_hotels_in_five_years-ZAWYA20130514033935/Authorities in Madinah are faced with the pressing issue of constructing 500 hotels within the span of five years to avoid a hospitality crisis.Tue, 14 May 2013 05:28:05 GMTArab News ZAWYA20130514033935Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story/Qatar_Switzerland_to_form_investment_fund-ZAWYA20130513061659/The two nations will set up a multi-million euro reserve to finance projects in the real estate, hospitality and banking sectors.Mon, 13 May 2013 06:21:42 GMTZawya ZAWYA20130513061659Open