News & Event

Thailand’s record-breaking visitor arrivals in 2013 helped it move into the list of the world’s top 10 tourism destinations in terms of both visitor numbers and visitor expenditure, according to a report by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). The UNWTO released its Tourism Report 2014, which is an overall assessment of international tourism in 2013. The report states, that …

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia’s government says a proposal presented by Vietnam that asked Cambodia to open airspace to allow planes to fly direct between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is under consideration. The State Secretariat of Civil Aviation air navigation director, Chhun Sivorn, told local media that the proposal gained provisional approval followed a meeting between deputy prime minister Sok An …

Hotels in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, performed nearly in sync during Ramadan 2014 compared with Ramadan 2013, according to STR Global. The shift of Ramadan impacts travel patterns which in turn affected overall hotel performance in Dubai. “As Ramadan occurs at different times each year, we are always curious to analyse any differences in performance during the fasting month to …

A Malaysian passenger jet which blew up over rebel-held east Ukraine with the loss of all 298 people on board was hit by numerous “high-energy objects”, according to a report Tuesday which could back up claims it was downed by a missile. While the preliminary report from Dutch investigators does not point the finger of blame over the July disaster, …

Qatar Airways will boost services to Thailand with the introduction of non-stop flights to Phuket, effective October 26th, 2014. The airline currently serves the Doha – Phuket route daily via a linked service through the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. Qatar Airways chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “The start of non-stop services from Doha to Phuket offers travellers from around …

A report into the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 has said the aircraft broke up in mid-air after being hit by “numerous objects”. Unidentified objects “pierced the plane at high velocity”, the report finds, with “no evidence of technical or human error”. The plane was flying from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed in rebel-held …

Saudi Arabia, which has barred pilgrims from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea from the haj due to Ebola concerns, will allow Nigerians to attend, an official was reported on Monday as saying, suggesting the smaller outbreak there was less worrying. Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have been worst hit by an outbreak of the disease in West Africa, with a …

The UAE is drafting a new law aimed at preserving and protecting its national heritage as part of the UAE Vision 2021 initiative. Mohammed Khamis Al Muhairi, director-general at National Council of Tourism and Antiquities, said in comments published by news agency WAM that the National Antiquities Protection Law will be issued by the Cabinet. He added that the law …

The Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has announced plans to install around 500 cameras to monitor its railway line from Riyadh to Dammam. The cameras are expected to be installed before the end of the year. Mohammed Al-Suwaiket, head of the SRO, said that the organization has opened the bidding process for the installation of the surveillance cameras, adding that they …

Syrians have applauded a Saudi government decision allowing their compatriots on visit visas to work in the Kingdom given the dire situation in their country, sabq.org electronic newspaper reported quoting a source. The source said the permission was given for a limited period, adding that the move would help private and public firms to make use of the services of …