VFS Global to promote Czechia's allure to Middle East travelers
VFS Global has been appointed as the destination representation partner for CzechTourism in Middle East to showcase Czechia's diverse travel experiences and unique attractions. Leveraging its extensive reach and expertise, VFS Global will drive marketing, public relations and trade engagement efforts to boost visitor numbers and enhance overall awareness of Czechia as a premier destination.
Travelers from Middle East can experience Czechia's exciting outdoor activities and rich cultural heritage — featuring majestic castles, chateaux, 17 UNESCO monuments, historic cities and Czech cuisine in traditional and modern form. With this strategic collaboration, CzechTourism and VFS Global are poised to elevate Czechia's presence on the global tourism map, inspiring more travelers to explore the country's beauty and cultural richness.
Jana Štumpová Konicarová, marketing director and director of foreign offices at CzechTourism, said: 'We are excited to continue our long-standing partnership with VFS Global to promote Czechia's rich cultural and natural attractions to travelers from the Middle East. In 2024, Czechia welcomed over 80,000 Middle East-based visitors, reflecting a growing interest in our vibrant cities, historic landmarks and serene countryside. Through this partnership, we aim to inspire even more travelers to explore and create lasting memories in one of Europe's most captivating destinations.'
Barbara Andelová, international marketing manager — new markets at CzechTourism, added: 'Partnering with VFS Global presents a tremendous opportunity to amplify Czechia's presence in the Middle East. With a strategic focus on PR and marketing initiatives, our goal is to showcase Czechia's deep-rooted heritage, diverse landscapes and unique travel experiences to a broader audience. Through this collaboration, we look forward to building stronger connections with the travel trade and media fraternity, inspiring more visitors to discover the charm of our country.'
G.B. Srithar, global head of tourism services at VFS Global, said: 'We are happy to partner with CzechTourism to promote its diverse and exciting offerings to Middle East-based travelers ... With Middle East-based travelers becoming more discerning in their travel needs — seeking rich gastronomy, immersive heritage and authentic local experiences — they will find Czechia a very appealing destination. At VFS Global, we are delighted to foster a long-term partnership, building on our strong travel trade partner-friendships across the Middle East.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia's first-quarter GDP grows by 3.4 percent, beating flash estimates
Saudi Arabia's economy grew by more than expected in the first quarter of 2025, according to government data estimates, with lower oil prices impacting the economy less than previously forecast. First-quarter GDP grew by 3.4 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year, beating flash estimates of 2.7 percent released in May by the Saudi General Authority for Statistics. Oil GDP shrank by 0.5 percent, while initial flash estimates had shown it contracting by 1.4 percent. Non-oil growth reached 4.9 percent compared to estimates last month pointing to a 4.2 percent increase. With Reuters
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
How Gulf ties became key focus of India's foreign policy over past decade
Ties with Gulf countries have become a key focus of India's foreign policy over the past 10 years, the latest report by the Council for Strategic and Defence Research shows, highlighting New Delhi's special focus on Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Headquartered in the Indian capital, the CSDR is a think tank specializing in research on geopolitics, foreign policy, and military strategy. Its report published last month, 'From Trees to Forests: The Evolution of India-Middle East Ties post 2014,' highlights India's investment in bilateral relations with Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which are independent of larger global frameworks. The effort to strengthen the connection started before Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, but it has gained momentum with his frequent visits to the six-member bloc comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. 'In the last 10 years, India has substantiated this effort by filling crucial gaps in political, economic, and military contact with key states, with a special focus on Saudi Arabia and the UAE,' Bashir Ali Abbas, senior research associate at CSDR and the report's author, told Arab News. 'In the last 10 years, the Middle East has also emerged as a strategic space for India, with new defense relationships, and economic visions which also fit with the Gulf's own focus on economic diversification.' While India's relations with the Gulf region span centuries, it currently has the largest concentration of the Indian diaspora — about 9.7 million people. 'And India's top oil suppliers at any point in time inevitably are at least three Gulf states. This alone necessitates that India pay close attention to the region,' Abbas said. 'In India, policy makers and official decision-making institutions have updated their understanding of the region, but more importantly its changing nature. This evolved understanding has enabled the rise of new strategic partnerships, and PM Narendra Modi is the only Indian PM to have officially visited all six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.' By 2018, the GCC became India's largest regional trading bloc, with an annual trade value of $104 billion in FY2017-2018. The volume that year surpassed India-ASEAN trade of $81 billion, and India-EU trade — $102 billion. Currently, it is even higher, with the Indian government estimating it at $162 billion in FY2023-24. In 2019, India became only the fourth state to establish a Strategic Partnership Council with Saudi Arabia, following Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to New Delhi. During the Kingdom's presidency of the Group of 20 largest economies in 2020, the two countries started to forge partnerships and bilateral programs that saw further development as India took the G20 presidency in 2023. Over the past four years, the countries have since also engaged in a series of bilateral navy, air force and army exercises. 'Today, India sees Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner, with political and economic ties robust enough to also substantial cooperation in defense and security,' Abbas said. 'Given both India's own Viksit Bharat 2047 development vision and (the crown prince's) Vision 2030, India and Saudi Arabia are now driven by shared economic and strategic goals.' With the UAE, India signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2022, following which their bilateral trade grew to $85 billion in just over a year. The number of multi-sectoral memoranda of understanding between Indian and Emirati public and private entities has since reached over 80, according to the CSDR report. 'India also sought to reframe other bilateral relationships where fresh opportunities had arisen,' it said, adding that New Delhi was 'closing the Gulf circle,' with strategic partnerships signed with Kuwait during Modi's visit in 2024, and with Qatar during Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's state trip to New Delhi in early 2025. The relations 'will certainly see a positive trajectory in the near and distant future — especially if it is backed up by greater avenues of intellectual contact,' Abbas said. 'Greater intellectual contact and an evolved popular understanding will enhance the strategic relationships between India and its Arab partners, through the injection of more ideas, perspectives, and actors who can work as champions for closer ties.'
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Al-Habtoor Group chairman to lead high-level delegation to Syria, exploring investment opportunities
RIYADH: The head of Dubai conglomerate Al-Habtoor Group is set to visit Syria with a delegation of senior executives to discuss potential investments and partnerships with the new government. According to a statement, the visit reflects the group's ongoing strategy to explore new avenues of cooperation with the Syrian government and to assess potential investment opportunities across multiple sectors. It added that the trip stems from 'a firm belief' in Syria's ability to recover its strength and regional standing and the importance of public-private partnerships in the country's rebuilding phase. The move comes as Syria's transitional government, led by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, pushes economic reforms to attract foreign investment, including privatizations, relaxed trade policies, and major infrastructure deals. Speaking ahead of the trip, the group's Chairman Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor said: 'Syria is a country rich in culture, history, and capable people. We believe in its future potential and are eager to play a role in its revival through meaningful projects that generate employment.' He added: 'We look to Syria with great confidence. Its people possess the energy and resilience needed to shape a strong and prosperous future. As an Arab group with deep regional roots, we consider it both a moral and economic responsibility to stand as a partner in rebuilding stable and thriving societies.' Al-Habtoor Group, a UAE-based multinational with a strong presence in the hospitality, real estate, and automotive industries, has a history of large-scale investments in the Middle East. The move follows the organization's recent withdrawal from Lebanon, where it cited instability as a barrier to business.
