“Birmingham’s profile is growing considerably on the global stage, with record international tourist numbers in 2014, including a 70 percent increase in visits from MENA over the past four years. […]
There were nearly 5,000 visits from UAE in 2014, while Saudi Arabians made 87 percent more trips to the city than in 2010,” said Emma Gray, director of marketing communications, Visit Birmingham.
With the city’s luxury shopping offer as well as heritage and family attractions all proving popular with visitors from the MENA market, the authority expects further surges from the region, Gray added.
Opening up new avenues for cooperation Qatar Airways is preparing to launch eight-times-weekly flights to the city from Doha on March 30.
“This additional route [the fourth in the UK for Qatar Airways] strengthens Qatar Airways’ commitment to the regions across the UK [...],” enthused Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways.
This month will also see an increase in capacity on the Birmingham – Dubai flight by Emirates, which will replace the currently used Boeing 777 aircraft with an Airbus A380 on March 27.
“The launch of the new service, combined with our ongoing investment into the region represents the huge significance we place on Birmingham […],” confirmed Laurie Berryman, vice president, UK, Emirates.
Furthermore, effective from May 30, Turkish Airlines will also step up its frequency to the city from Istanbul from 12 flights per week to double-daily, offering more than 600 additional seats on the itinerary.
ESSENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS
The Turkish carrier’s increased commitment to the UK also extends to Manchester, Edinburgh and London.
In a bid to boost traffic on these routes, Turkish Airlines recently formed a global marketing collaboration with VisitBritain to roll out a year-long international campaign, with the initial focus being on India and the GCC, especially Saudi Arabia.
“This partnership will also allow us to target our marketing to inspire more international visitors to come and explore all the nations and regions of Britain, so we can continue to create jobs and deliver our ambitious plans for growth,” enthused Sally Balcombe, CEO, VisitBritain.
At a later stage, the partnership may further evolve to include more promotional activities in Turkey itself, including familiarisation trips to the UK for trade professionals and media.
“The campaign showcases the very best of what the two countries have to offer in order to encourage visitors to explore the beautiful landscapes and the amazing places tourists can find on their travels from countryside, culture and heritage,” explained Sumathi Ramanathan, regional director, Asia Pacific and Middle East, VisitBritain
