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Middle East

Advantage boss confident current strong booking levels 'to continue into 2024'
Bookings departing between 18 and 28 December are up 44% year-on-year, according to Advantage’s chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said
Stansted and Manchester to gain new flights to Jordan next summer
Royal Jordanian has confirmed UK expansion, with two new airports added to its timetable in 2024
Celestyal to offer expanded 2024 programme based on trade feedback
The Three Continents sailing would normally be the line’s first departure of the season, but the Hamas-Israel conflict has forced it to change its plans
UK health officials to travel to Turkey after more than 20 medical tourist deaths
It comes after a coroner raised concerns that British health tourists were not being given enough information before travelling overseas for treatments
Emirates chief hints at growing ‘resilient’ UK operation and lowering fares
Sir Tim Clark told the Airlines 2023 conference in London the UK market has been ‘resilient to the fare levels’ the Gulf carrier currently has in place, adding: ‘I’m not saying they are going to last for ever’
Jet2 expands 2024 programme to meet demand for late summer sun
The airline has added extra capacity from eight UK airports including Belfast International, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford and Manchester
Inquest rules former Thomas Cook agent died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Egypt
The inquest heard how the room next to where Susan and John Cooper were staying in Hurghada had been fumigated with a pesticide following a report of a bedbug infestation
Ex-Cook agent died of carbon monoxide poisoning, inquest hears
Susan Cooper, 63, was on holiday with her husband John when the tragic incident occurred in August 2018
Jet2 makes five-year commitment to invest in Moroccan tourism development
As part of the partnership, the airline and tour operator will work alongside Morocco’s tourism office on widespread marketing campaigns
Dubai welcomes challenges to its tourism crown from Gulf neighbours
Competition with emerging tourist hotspots such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar will incentivise Dubai to up its game, the tourist board says
If Only reveals 'sexy' peaks plans and fam trip winners
The luxury tour operator ran a joint competition with Saadiyat Island in which agents could win fam trip places
Tourism professionals ‘to play increasingly important role as peacemakers’
Institute of Tourism webinar told travel and tourism will be instrumental in bringing peace and stability to the Middle East and Ukraine over the coming years
Oceania redraws 42 itineraries to remove Israel, Egypt and Jordan calls
President Frank A. Del Rio confirmed the line had removed calls to Israel, Egypt and Jordan to ensure passenger safety
Jordan 'safe for tourism' despite proximity to Israel-Hamas conflict
Travellers, though, are putting off holidays to the country due to perceived instability in the region, Institute of Tourism webinar told
NCLH credits ‘relentless’ focus on cost base for record quarterly revenue of $2.5bn
NCLH’s earnings for the year, though, are expected to be lower than anticipated due to the wildfires in Hawaii and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East
Etihad ups capacity on Heathrow-Abu Dhabi route with third daily A380 frequency
Three of Etihad four daily Heathrow-Abu Dhabi services will now be operated by larger ’superjumbos’
‘Without agents, Exodus probably wouldn't be a household name’
Sam Seward, managing director of Exodus Adventure Travels, talks trade relationships, travel trends and sustainability with TTG ahead of the brand’s 50th anniversary next year
Terrorist attacks in UAE and Kuwait ‘very likely’, says Foreign Office
Terrorists ‘continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region’, the FCDO said in a warning to British tourists
Airlines further push back plans to restart flights to Israel
BA won’t now resume flying until 14 November at the earliest, while Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair and easyJet are targeting a resumption in early November
Cruise lines draw up new winter programmes avoiding Israel
MSC Cruises has axed two upcoming Red Sea programmes, while Royal Caribbean International has pulled all remaining ex-Haifa itineraries this year
Windstar postpones Middle East programme amid Israel-Hamas conflict
The small-ship line is offering a series of European sailings instead
Long-term impact of Israel-Hamas conflict on travel ‘still unknown’, Virgin boss warns
Virgin Atlantic chief executive Shai Weiss, who is Israeli, said conflict in the Middle East is always a ‘dampener’ for travel
MSC pulls Red Sea programme as Middle East crisis deepens
The sailings were due to start next month and run until mid-April
British Airways to relaunch Heathrow-Abu Dhabi route next spring
The carrier said on Thursday (19 October) services operated by a Boeing 787-9 aircraft will resume in April