News

EaseMyTrip Launches International Retail Office In Dubai

EaseMyTrip is expanding its international presence by launching its first-ever retail office in Dubai, to cater to the growing B2C retail segment. The office is strategically located in the densely populated Bur Dubai area beside the metro station. The company's exclusive team of travel experts will be available at the retail office to guide customers in planning their holidays and provide a hassle-free booking experience and reassurance during such unprecedented times. The office will also be an avenue through which customers can better understand the holiday offerings and unique services offered by the company. Through the launch of this new retail office, EaseMyTrip aims to increase its penetration across a dynamic international travel market, and further strengthen its position as a global travel and tourism company. Additionally, the retail office has also been launched anticipating a huge pent up global demand for the travel and tourism sector in the coming months along with the new website EaseMyTrip.ae Speaking on the launch of the retail office, Nishant Pitti, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip said, "After starting initially in India as an online travel company, we are glad to introduce this model in Dubai, as a part of our new phase of global expansion. With the constant change in rules and current travel uncertainty across the world, we believe that a retail office and local website instils a positive travel sentiment for customers and provides them with the required guidance while planning their vacation. Apart from building brand awareness, the office also provides us with an opportunity to understand the market and pain points better, which will help us to serve our growing customer base in the country more efficiently. With international travel set to make a strong comeback this year, we see a wider global market open for travel and believe that our retail office and the new website will play a significant role in capturing a wider customer base."

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Yas Island Abu Dhabi Launches Bollywood-Themed Campaign With Ranveer Singh

Yas Island Abu Dhabi has launched yet another viral marketing campaign, ‘Yas Hai Khaas’ with Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh, targeting consumers from India. Translating as ‘Yas Is Special’, the video follows Ranveer on an electrifying journey throughout Yas Island, showcasing the destination’s plethora of attractions, diversity of offerings and the warm Yas Island welcome. An epic visual treat, the campaign draws the audience into Ranveer’s action-packed holiday to Yas Island as he visits the destination’s most iconic landmarks, from interacting with Batman at Warner Bros. The colourful modern Bollywood campaign is styled in the format of music video, with Ranveer singing and dancing his way across the island. Away from the high-speed adventures of driving racing cars on the Formula 1 track, Ranveer also has time to enjoy a shopping splurge at Yas Mall, dine at trendy restaurant Iris, summersaulting at Yas Marina Circuit, before squeezing in a round of golf at Yas Links. Liam Findlay, CEO of Experience Hub, Yas Island said, “We are proud of our partnership with Ranveer Singh as a brand ambassador as he exudes the dynamic attitude of Yas Island which we believe comes across in the ‘Yas Hai Khaas’ video. Our collaboration with Bollywood superstar, Ranveer Singh, enables us to highlight Yas Island as one of the world’s leading leisure and entertainment destinations, full of vibrancy and non-stop energy. With its entertaining depiction of Yas Island’s award-wining theme-parks, record-breaking attractions and legendary hospitality across hotels, dining and retail, we hope this campaign inspires viewers to visit Yas Island with family and friends very soon, because Yas truly is Khaas, just like Ranveer Singh.” Commenting on the collaboration, Ranveer Singh said, “Yas Island is such a spectacular destination, and I had a great time shooting the video! I am delighted to be the destination’s brand ambassador and I hope vacationers get to enjoy Yas Island as I have. Whether you travel as a family, with your friends or a significant other, get ready for one of the most exhilarating trips, only at Yas Island.”

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First cruise ship in three years docks in Tunisia

A cruise ship docked in a Tunisian port on Wednesday for the first time since 2019, carrying over 700 passengers and rare good news for tourism operators battered by the Covid pandemic. The Spirit of Discovery, run by UK operator Saga, landed at La Goulette port on the edge of Tunis where it was welcomed by camels and a band playing traditional Tunisian music. "We were not trading for about 18 months... but we've been back in business since last July and this is our first call here to northern Africa," said Captain Kim Tanner. British tourist John Hilton, 75, said he was "absolutely delighted" to be in Tunisia. "We're certainly pleased to get out and see some of the world and get to some of the places that we haven't seen," he said. The ship was carrying 724 passengers, mostly British but also German, Italian and Spanish, according to Tourism Minister, Moez Belhassen. He said the cruise liner was the first of at least 40 expected to dock in Tunis this year. "This is very important for many sectors... especially given the spending power of tourists," he said. After two disastrous seasons, Tunisian authorities are hoping to bring visitor numbers and spending back to 60 per cent of 2019 levels, the best season since the North African country's 2011 revolution. In normal years, tourism makes up around 14 per cent of Gross Domestic Product and provides a living for two million Tunisians, around a sixth of the population. But the sector has suffered several crises since the 2011 revolt, which inspired revolutions across the Arab world. In 2015, Islamic State group-linked militants waged a string of deadly attacks at key tourist hotspots. The sector had started to recover when the Coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns sent visitor numbers and revenues tumbling by some 80 per cent.

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Poland scraps most mask, quarantine rules

Poland will lift the requirement to wear masks in confined spaces, except for health care facilities, and remove quarantine rules for travellers and roommates of infected people, Poland's Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said on Thursday. "I have decided to introduce two changes as of March 28 - an end to the obligation to wear masks, stipulating that it does not apply to health care facilities", Niedzielski said. "The second decision is to abolish home isolation and home quarantine for roommates (of infected people) and all quarantines for people entering Poland." The minister said the migrant crisis, which erupted as a result has of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, did not translate into an increase in coronavirus infections, despite over 2 million refugees arriving in Poland since February 24.

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Australia announces additional USD 44mn to boost tourism

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday announced an additional AUD 60 million (USD 44 million) in funding aimed at luring international visitors back to the country following two years of Covid-related border closures. Of the funding, AUD 45 million will be spent on a Tourism Australia marketing campaign for regional destinations hit hardest by the loss of international tourism, with the remaining AUD 15 million to go towards promoting the iconic Great Barrier Reef, reports Xinhua news agency. February 21 about 700 days after they were closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19. "The return of our international tourism market will support hundreds of thousands of tourism jobs, strengthen our economy," Morrison said in a statement. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in the 2020-21 financial year, tourism gross domestic product (GDP) fell 37.9 per cent in chain volume terms, the contribution of which to the country's total GDP fell from 2.6 per cent to 1.6 per cent. Meanwhile, persons employed in the sector decreased by 20.3 per cent to 507,000 people. Due to border closures, the number of international arrivals in Australia fell from about 8.7 million in 2019 to 245,770 in 2021. Dan Tehan, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, flagged further future support for the industry. Australia on Tuesday reported more than 40,000 new Covid-19 cases and 20 deaths.

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Visit Finland launches new destination e-learning platform for travel trade

Visit Finland had launched its new destination e-learning 'Finland Travel Pro' for travel industry professionals and stakeholders. In the platform, tour operators and travel agents around the world can learn about Finnish touristic attractions, what to do during all four seasons and get an overview on Finnish tourism companies. Currently, the platform is available in English but will later be launched also in German, French, Spanish and Japanese. In addition to desktop version, Finland Travel Pro is also available as mobile application. The platform is targeted for international travel trade companies globally and it aims to increase the desire to promote and sell travel to Finland. The users of the platform are international tour operators, wholesalers, travel agencies and online travel agencies. The platform is divided into five sections: learn, retain, promote, sell and directory. The learn section consists of five interactive learning modules: Finland in general, Helsinki, Coast & Archipelago, Lakeland and Lapland. One will be granted access to the next module when the previous one is cleared. One module takes around 15 minutes to clear. Each module consists of several sections, introducing main attractions and activities of the region, local culture and cuisine, accommodation alternatives and events of each region. Between the articles, there are several short quizzes in each module. After completing all five modules, one is granted a Finland Travel Pro certificate. In the retain section, one can review the five learning modules freely according to their interests. The promote section includes materials and photos to be shared with clients and prospects to create more interest. Some examples of the materials are general handbook about Finland, guide to Finnish food culture, selected images from Visit Finland media bank and links to social media. In sell, one can find useful materials and links to support closing the deals, including itinerary suggestions, maps of Finland, regional sales brochures and contact information. Finally, in directory, one can easily look for information on individual tourism products available around Finland from hotels to restaurants to activities and unique experiences. The directory is directly linked to Visit Finland Datahub, meaning that the product information added to Datahub by Finnish travel industry companies can directly be browsed in Finland Travel Pro. The user can browse the contents using keywords and filters to find the kind of product and contents they are looking for.

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