Middle East

'It will help the ceasefire last': Palestine sets out tourism ambitions, including UK agent fam

Palestinian officials issue an urgent plea to the UK trade at WTM London, insisting tourism will 'help the ceasefire to last' following the Israel Gaza war

Celestyal's global sales chief invites agents to host their clients in new Guildford shop

The Greek specialist cruise launched a tour operator – called Celestyal Travel – in July before opening a shop premises to support the new brand in early September

Three ways to sell Al Ain, Abu Dhabi’s ‘Oasis City’

With a name translating to ‘the spring’, the sprawling desert oasis of Al Ain is just a 90-minute drive east from Abu Dhabi City, but it offers a lot more than abundant date palms.

The UAE’s only Unesco-designated heritage sites are found here, meaning cultural tourists can explore the remains of Neolithic, Iron and Bronze Age civilizations uncovered in archaeological digs.

'It is a bittersweet privilege to have Petra to ourselves'

Our writer observes just how badly peaceful Jordan's tourism industry has been rocked by its warring neighbours

Tui to open five hotels in future 'leading sun and beach destination' Oman

New hotels 'expected to welcome guests as early as winter 2028'

Jet2's Lloyd Cross to join Gulf Air Holidays as brand prepares to launch to the trade

Jet2holidays' general manager – trade last month announced his plans to move on after 13 years with the operator

I spotted my musical hero in Dubai – and the hotel was pretty impressive too

Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab is one of the most significant hotel openings in the emirate in recent years – and is already popular with locals, tourists and celebrities

British Airways to fly Bangkok year-round as it shakes up summer 2026 long-haul network

Extra flights to Bangkok, Jamaica, several major US destinations, Bahrain, Doha, Jeddah and Riyadh coming next summer

The top-selling experience in Dubai, according to a leading DMC

Demand is swelling for authentic, experience-led travel across the UAE and Oman, says Emirates Group’s Arabian Adventures

Virgin Atlantic debuts 'gamified' training modules for agents

Carrier has revamped its Sky High Club agents’ training modules and detailed capacity increases on key routes this winter

A&K Sanctuary unveils new luxury riverboat with ‘palace’ inspiration

Named after the Turkish word for ‘palace’, Nile Seray will make its debut in 2026

10 reasons to send your female solo travellers to Abu Dhabi

If you have an adventurous female client seeking her next great escape, there’s one destination that deserves a top spot on your recommendation list...

Jet2 takes aim at younger and less affluent segments to broaden its appeal

Jet2 is contracting cheaper accommodation – including hostels – in a bid to attract younger and less affluent clients, which it says are not its core demographic

Virgin Atlantic to remove economy seats in bet on premium travel uplift

Virgin Atlantic will add more premium economy and business class seats on over half its fleet, targeting what it says is higher demand for more comfort

Tui launches 2026/27 winter programme with new Lapland alternative and 'value' pledge

Three new concept hotels, new routes to Turkey and Egypt, extra short-, mid- and long-haul capacity and trips to Arctic Lakeland among additions

Poll: was bringing in a curfew the right move for Marmaris’s tourism sector?

A new set of nightlife rules in Marmaris, Turkey, have been introduced but former Anatolian Sky boss Akin Koc isn’t sure they will have the desired effect

Flights to the Middle East resume after Qatar missile crisis briefly pauses travel

New Foreign Office advise for several states in the region after Iran’s retaliatory strikes on a US airbase in the country triggered an airspace closure

Designer Travel to celebrate record-breaking year at Abu Dhabi conference

The luxury homeworking agency is welcoming more than 100 of its top-selling advisors in Abu Dhabi

Foreign Office advises against all travel to Israel as conflict with Iran escalates

FCDO upgrades advisory to caution against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Turkish Airlines ramps up UK and Ireland summer schedule

Turkish Airlines has added a raft of new frequencies to major UK and Ireland airports as demand spikes for Istanbul and destinations beyond the carrier’s home hub

Jet2 releases four million seats as part of largest-ever winter programme

It is launching two new winter routes – Bournemouth to Malaga and Luton to Majorca – while also expanding its Morocco, Malta and Madeira programmes

Atlantis shares plans to support UK agents ahead of ‘London takeover’

The luxury hotel brand has shared incentives for UK agents as it prepares to bank 20% of its 2026 bookings in just one month.

Value, culture and ‘destination dupes’: Advantage reveals the trends powering travel in 2025

Advantage Travel Partnership has highlighted the late booking trend among other issues in a state-of-the-nation update issued during its annual conference in Malta taking place this week

Disney to develop new theme park and resort on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island

Walt Disney has confirmed Abu Dhabi as the location of its seventh theme park, a destination it days is within four hours’ flying of a third of the world’s population