Gulf Tourism and Aviation
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Hotel operators target Saudi Arabia for growth
A growing number of hotel operators are looking to capture a larger slice of the hospitality market in Saudi Arabia as the kingdom steps up its efforts to attract more domestic and religious tourists.
Etihad buys 3% stake in Aer Lingus
Abu Dhabi-based carrier Etihad Airways has taken another step to widen its foothold in the European market by buying a near 3% stake in Dublin-based carrier Aer Lingus.
United Airlines launches daily Washington-Doha flights
United Airlines has announced that it has launched daily flights from its Washington hub to Doha via Dubai, the airline said in a statement.
Middle East hotel sector sees varied recovery since Arab Spring
While the Middle East hotel market has begun to stabilise since the political unrest in the first half of 2011, growth in the hospitality sectors among the different countries in the region will be mixed this year, according to speakers at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference.
Mideast airlines recover from Arab Spring, but challenges remain
The Middle East's aviation industry has weathered the ill-effects from the Arab Spring, but the sector's recovery is fragile and it faces challenges on several fronts, said Tony Tyler, director-general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Qatar Airways CEO slams EU carbon tax scheme
The CEO of Qatar Airways said Middle East carriers will be hit hardest by the European Union's new emission trading scheme (ETS), which he referred to as an 'unnecessary' tax.
Mideast low-cost carrier growth slows, but opportunities remain
The explosive growth rate of low-cost carriers in the Middle East has slowed in recent years, but the market is still ripe for exploitation as LCC penetration remains very low in the region compared to many other parts of the world, according to a new report by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).
Not all Gulf carriers have rosy outlook
Although Gulf airlines are forecast to register a healthy profit in 2012, there is a wide disparity in their balance sheets, as some carriers across the region are among the most profitable in the world while others are at risk of being shut down.
Bahrain tourism looks to get back on track
After seeing tourist arrivals fall dramatically last year in the wake of the political unrest in the country, Bahrain is hoping that the return of the Formula One race will be a catalyst that will help revive the country's tourism sector.
Oman touts new initiatives aimed at boosting tourism
Oman is making a push to expand its tourism revenues as part of an effort to diversify the country's economy.
Rising oil prices to curb airline profits in 2012, says IATA
The International Air Transport Association has cut its global profit estimate for the industry to $3bn from $3.5bn due to rising oil prices, but raised its forecast for Middle Eastern carriers as regional differences widen.
Emirates adds fifth daily flight to Karachi
Emirates Airline has strengthened its commitment to Pakistan by announcing the addition of a fifth daily flight to and from the city of Karachi.
Jet Airways to launch Dammam-Delhi service
Jet Airways India, the country's top private-sector carrier, has announced that it will provide a direct connection between Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Delhi four times a week from March 17, 2012.
Muscat's hotel room rates top world list
Hotel performance varied widely in the Mena region last year in the wake of the Arab Spring, as it was home to the city with the highest average room rates in the world, as well as the five destinations where room rates dropped the most, according to a new survey by Hotels.com.
Etihad seeking more partnerships to fuel rapid growth
Etihad Airways is actively seeking to buy stakes in more carriers across the globe as part of an effort to expand its network and grow its customer base.
