According to new research commissioned by Arabian Travel Market (ATM), and conducted at the end of September of this year by hotel market intelligence and global benchmarking company STR, the GCC region now has over 170,000 hotel rooms under active development (planning, final planning and under construction).

A new survey conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kuwait has spotlighted the influence a company’s sustainability efforts can have on consumers’ behaviour and choice of brands.

Germany, the diverse travel destination, has launched its Autumn-Winter campaign, encouraging travellers to visit, explore, and experience its sustainable and diverse culture. From unspoilt landscapes to authentic cuisine, urban attractions to historical locales, Germany is the ultimate European destination to travel sustainably.

New figures released by the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) show the country’s strategic approach to attracting overseas travellers and recovering international tourism is proving a success.

Despite the pandemic headwinds that the global hospitality industry has had to contend with over the past two years, new hotel development in prime tourism destinations in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and the UAE, remains substantial even by global standards.

Germany’s diverse mix of cultural, naturistic, and family-focused leisure attractions are proving to be a big hit with GCC tourists, with the European country recording a rise from the region for the first nine months of this year.

European travellers are set to become a key source market for the Gulf region, especially Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which will help their post pandemic tourist industry recovery.

The nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of the six Gulf countries, which together constituted about 60 percent of the total Arab region’s GDP in 2020, is projected to return to positive growth this year.

Germany is firmly establishing its position as a leading destination for outdoor tourism, encouraging travellers to consider its nature and outdoor activities following the lift of post pandemic travel measures, with the German National Tourist Board leading the charge in presenting the country’s offering to GCC travellers.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has announced the addition of Riyadh to its regional network of destinations. KLM will operate a direct flight from Amsterdam to the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has also announced adjustments to the wider schedule of flights in the Gulf to integrate Riyadh into the network, for the convenience of customers. The first service operating to Riyadh will start on January 11.