A rare olive ridley sea turtle called Barnacle today checked out of Jumeirah Al Naseem's turtle rehabilitation lagoon with more than 70 critically endangered hawksbill turtles who headed back home into the waters of the Arabian Gulf.
Tourism can be a key driver of the growth and economic diversification for the Middle East and North Africa region concluded the 2017 Ministerial Forum organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) under the patronage of H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates. Yet, maximizing the power of the sector requires increased regional cooperation, prioritization of tourism in the national agendas and building resilience and sustainability (Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 24 April, 2017).
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are expected to welcome 195 million international tourists by 2030. Between 25 million and 50 million new jobs will be required in the region over the next decade. Over 20 Ministers and industry leaders will gather at the Ministerial Forum to discuss how tourism can play a role in the future of the MENA region.
HMH is progressing well on its ECO Vision 2020 with the aim of reducing energy and water consumption at the various hotels managed by the group by 20 per cent year on year. In doing so, the pioneer among local hotel chains from the Middle East, is leading the way in sustainability programmes.
Marking a major milestone in its long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability, Rotana today announced that 16 of its hotels in the United Arab Emirates, representing nearly 50% of the company's portfolio in the country, have obtained the ISO 14001 environmental management certification. ISO 14001 is an international standard that provides a set of standardised requirements for environmental management systems.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by UNWTO and the Petra National Trust (PNT) with the aim to promote sustainable tourism policies in cultural tourism, to develop capacity building and knowledge sharing, and to conduct educational actions. The agreement was signed in Beijing, on the occasion of the recent First World Conference on Tourism for Development.
The case for developing more sustainable hotel industry practices is complex and subject to ongoing debate. Many hotel owners are still reluctant to embrace green initiatives, deterred by the associated increase in capital costs and what they deem an ambiguous return on investment. In Dubai the sustainability concept was initially considered impractical given the lack of supporting facilities and the belief that the high investment cost of green practices would impact bottom-line profits.
Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay Aqaba is a 5-star contemporary resort located on the shores of the southern Red Sea in Jordan. The resort has its own private beach where guests can enjoy water sports or go diving and marvel at glorious coral reefs, teeming with spectacular marine life. There are more than 3,000 square meters of pool space at the property that features a water slide, kids' pools and Jacuzzis. Cultural and historical sites including the ancient city of Petra are situated nearby. And visitors can explore shops and venues offering the best of Jordanian traditional arts and crafts including Taybeh Village with its Nabataean pottery and the Wadi Mousa Silver Production Centre.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC today unveils its global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, 'Community Footprints', in the region, exercising the guiding principles to engage, contribute and inspire. Reaffirming its commitment Global Citizenship, Community Footprints focuses the company's CSR efforts across the Middle East and around the world on making a meaningful difference in the local communities where the company's hotels and resorts are located.
The event saw 236 runners ascending Jumeirah Emirates Towers for the annual fundraising event, with participants raising a total of AED 177,000 for MSF. This brings the total amount raised for MSF through this popular event to AED 1.083 million to date.
The event saw 236 runners ascending Jumeirah Emirates Towers for the annual fundraising event, with participants raising a total of AED 177,000 for MSF. This brings the total amount raised for MSF through this popular event to AED 1.083 million to date.