Middle East

WTM London sees record-breaking attendance figures

Boss Simon Press said the figures were "testament" to the event’s new three-day format

Abu Dhabi taps new potential

Heritage, cruise and priority markets are all focuses for Abu Dhabi, says Mubarak Al Nuaimi

Qatar promotes stopover option after visa change

Qatar is already generating more demand as a stopover destination just weeks after changing its transit visa rules

Bahrain opens seven new international tourist offices

Bahrain has opened seven international tourist offices in a bid to attract 15 million annual visitors by 2018

Dreaming big: Bucket list holidays from around the world

Asking clients about their bucket lists is an easy conversation starter. TTG seeks inspiration from the travel industry about their own dream holidays

Jordan upbeat as visitors grow

Jordan has shaken off the ongoing unrest around the Middle East to record a 5% rise in visitor numbers this year

Palestine plans to woo the travel trade in 2017

Palestine will host travel agents and press next year in a bid to show the world what it has to offer as a destination

Dubai sees growth with inclusivity a priority

Dubai is emphasising its inclusive nature after seeing an 8% growth in visitors from January-September

Abu Dhabi tempts tourists with experiences

The campaign will focus on selling the destination’s many attractions to the public

Israel prepares for a new tourism take-off

Israel has seen a 10% rise in visitors since January as it awaits the opening of a new airport

Dubai Parks and Resorts marks Legoland opening

The first parks to open this week were the Legoland Dubai theme park and Riverland Dubai

Jordan open for business despite Middle East 'turmoil', urges ambassador

Mazen Homoud asked the UK trade to consider the destination during a speech in London

Monarch

In June

Affordable luxury, cruise and Asian expansion: Travel 2's 2017 brochure highlights

Agents will see a stream of new product from both Travel 2 and Gold Medal next year. Director of sales and marketing Gordon McCreadie distils the key information for TTG

Emirates reports 10% growth at Manchester airport

The airline is set to hit a record one million passengers during the 2016 financial year

Dubai Parks and Resorts unveils prices

The attraction will comprise three theme parks - Bollywood Parks Dubai, Motiongate Dubai and Legoland Dubai

British Airways resumes direct flights to Iran after sanctions

BA became the first British carrier in four years to fly to the destination after a Boeing 777 bound for Tehran departed Heathrow yesterday

Hajj pilgrims warned about fraudster risk

A total of 25,000 people are estimated to be heading to Saudi Arabia from the UK for the five-day ritual

Meet the Rep: Travel 2 and Gold Medal's Colin Currie

He’s Batman, and his son is Spiderman. Meet Colin Currie, key account manager for Gold Medal and Travel 2, who cooks agents sausage rolls in a motorhome

Terrorism-hit destinations set for further fall in visitor numbers

Both France and Turkey will see slumps in foreign arrivals, flight booking data suggests

Cox & Kings puts Iran in destination spotlight

Cox & Kings has urged agents to consider Iran as an alternative to struggling North African destinations such as Egypt and Tunisia

Oman Air launches Iraq service

The four weekly services will operate out of Muscat

Transgender model detained at Dubai airport

Gigi Gorgeous described her experience as “one of the most scariest moments of my entire life” after she was detained and denied entry

Travel company boss hurt in Afghanistan attack

British tourists were among the six injured in Herat province after rebel insurgents opened fire on their convoy.