Latest news with #TourismAuthority
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Zimbabwe want to host England at Victoria Falls
England will be offered the chance of a winter tour to Zimbabwe before 2031, with a new ground near Victoria Falls earmarked as the likely venue. Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) officials have used this week's one-off Test at Trent Bridge to strengthen relations with their counterparts at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The possibility of a bilateral series on Zimbabwean soil in the next cycle of the Future Tours Programme (FTP) from 2027 to 2031 has been raised during talks between senior figures of the two boards. England have not played in the country since four one-day internationals in 2004, after cricket ties were severed in 2008 for political reasons. Discussions are at a very early stage and there is no indication as to the format, or the number of matches, but sources have told BBC Sport they are "very optimistic" an agreement can be reached. A bilateral white-ball series would appear the most likely option, but a one-off Test - potentially as a precursor to a longer Test tour of nearby South Africa - might hold more appeal to travelling England supporters. The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has been present at Trent Bridge, where they have been actively promoting the country as a holiday destination. ZC is currently overseeing the construction of a new ground near Victoria Falls, named the Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium, which it hopes will be a draw to visiting fans because of its location close to the waterfalls and safari excursions. The 10,000-seater venue is being built with financial support from the International Cricket Council (ICC), at a cost between £4m and £8m, for the 2027 50-over World Cup which Zimbabwe is co-hosting with South Africa and Namibia. ECB chief executive Richard Gould was among the delegates at a recent ICC board meeting in Zimbabwe which included a visit to Victoria Falls. It is possible England could play in Zimbabwe at the 2027 World Cup, with the ICC yet to determine the schedule. Political unrest in Zimbabwe under the regime led of former president Robert Mugabe caused problems for England's men's team throughout the 2000s. England boycotted their fixture against Zimbabwe in Harare at the 2003 World Cup. England travelled to Zimbabwe for a one-day series in 2004, but were under pressure to cancel Zimbabwe's 2009 tour of England before the government intervened in June 2008 to sever cricketing ties. Zimbabwe withdrew from the 2009 T20 World Cup in England. England have played only three two-Test series against Zimbabwe, and the ECB is covering Zimbabwe's tour fee for the Trent Bridge Test. Get cricket news sent straight to your phone
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Zimbabwe want to host England at Victoria Falls
England will be offered the chance of a winter tour to Zimbabwe before 2031, with a new ground near Victoria Falls earmarked as the likely Cricket (ZC) officials have used this week's one-off Test at Trent Bridge to strengthen relations with their counterparts at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).The possibility of a bilateral series on Zimbabwean soil in the next cycle of the Future Tours Programme (FTP) from 2027 to 2031 has been raised during talks between senior figures of the two have not played in the country since four one-day internationals in 2004, after cricket ties were severed in 2008 for political are at a very early stage and there is no indication as to the format, or the number of matches, but sources have told BBC Sport they are "very optimistic" an agreement can be reached.A bilateral white-ball series would appear the most likely option, but a one-off Test - potentially as a precursor to a longer Test tour of nearby South Africa - might hold more appeal to travelling England Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has been present at Trent Bridge, where they have been actively promoting the country as a holiday is currently overseeing the construction of a new ground near Victoria Falls, named the Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium, which it hopes will be a draw to visiting fans because of its location close to the waterfalls and safari 10,000-seater venue is being built with financial support from the International Cricket Council (ICC), at a cost between £4m and £8m, for the 2027 50-over World Cup which Zimbabwe is co-hosting with South Africa and chief executive Richard Gould was among the delegates at a recent ICC board meeting in Zimbabwe which included a visit to Victoria is possible England could play in Zimbabwe at the 2027 World Cup, with the ICC yet to determine the schedule. Why have England not played Zimbabwe for so long? Political unrest in Zimbabwe under the regime led of former president Robert Mugabe caused problems for England's men's team throughout the boycotted their fixture against Zimbabwe in Harare at the 2003 World travelled to Zimbabwe for a one-day series in 2004, but were under pressure to cancel Zimbabwe's 2009 tour of England before the government intervened in June 2008 to sever cricketing withdrew from the 2009 T20 World Cup in have played only three two-Test series against Zimbabwe, and the ECB is covering Zimbabwe's tour fee for the Trent Bridge Test.
Gulf Business
14-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
DCTCM's Hoor Al Khaja on strategy, sustainability and Dubai's global appeal
Image: Supplied Dubai welcomed over 5.31 million visitors in Q1 2025, marking a 3 per cent increase over the previous year while reflecting the city's continued rise as a global tourism powerhouse and the successful efforts of the emirate's tourism authority. We caught up with Hoor Al Khaja, SVP of International Operations at Dubai Corporation of Tourism and Commerce Marketing ( The year 2024 was great for Dubai tourism, with Q1 2025 already showing a 3 per cent rise in visitors. What do you attribute this growth to? What has changed or paid off? We welcomed 5.31 million visitors in Q1 2025 — an increase of 3 per cent over the same period last year. What's working is a unified city-wide strategy, of which tourism is just one pillar. We're all aligned under the D33 strategy set by the leadership to make Dubai not just a great place to visit, but to live, work, and invest in. Tourism is often the first touchpoint for people who may eventually move, work, or invest here. What makes Dubai different is the strength of our public-private collaboration. That win-win mentality has always existed. We also stay ahead of global trends — whether it's adapting post-Covid, integrating AI, or catering to evolving traveller needs. Our agility and partnerships are major drivers. You mentioned technology and accessibility. What are some recent initiatives that support this. Connectivity is crucial. Dubai already prides itself on its world-class airlines and airports, but we have bigger goals. Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the busiest airports globally, handles 90 million passengers annually. When Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) reaches full capacity, that number will exceed 260 million. We're growing air capacity across Emirates, flydubai, and international charters. We also want Dubai to be accessible to all travellers. A big milestone was becoming the first certified autism-friendly destination in the Eastern Hemisphere, including the airlines and the airport. As the destination matures, we're focused on enhancing experiences for all segments. What are some of the challenges the department faces, and how are you working to address them? One challenge is global misconceptions — not just about Dubai, but the region. To counter this, we launched the 'If You Go, You Know' campaign. Instead of using actors, we filmed real Dubai residents from diverse nationalities to show what life here truly looks like. It's more genuine and trustworthy, especially for people who might relate more to peers from their own culture than a government spokesperson. What new campaigns can we expect this year? We always have 50-60 campaigns running globally, tailored to different markets. Earlier this year, we launched 'Live Your Story' with actress Millie Bobby Brown. She resonates with younger, global audiences and was a great fit for a fantasy-style narrative filmed in Dubai. We also have regional campaigns coming up. Our strategy is global but tailored. What emerging source markets are you focusing on more aggressively now? Our approach is highly diversified — we're currently active in 80 markets and have travel trade offices in over 30 of them. Recent additions include Vietnam and Turkey. Vietnam had an Emirates route before, but we entered as a tourism board only last year, and the market is growing healthily. Dubai's diplomatic reach allows us to continuously explore new markets and increase connectivity. Gastronomy and sustainability have become strong pillars of Dubai's identity. Tell us more about the focus on these. For years, we knew Dubai had a great food scene, but it wasn't globally recognised until recently. That's changed. Michelin, World's 50 Best, and others now recognise Dubai as a culinary hub. What's exciting is that we've gone from importing F&B brands to exporting them — like the homegrown brand Kinoya, which is at Harrods in London. We're also hosting Dubai Restaurant Week (May 9-25) this month, making top-tier dining experiences more accessible. On sustainability, we're aligned with the UAE's net zero 2050 goals. Our Dubai Sustainable Tourism Strategy is gaining traction — up from 70 certified hotels in the first edition to over 150 in the latest. The industry is embracing sustainability seriously. As a female leader, how do you view your role in shaping perceptions and progress? One misconception about the region is how women are perceived. Growing up in Dubai, I never felt it was a barrier to be a woman. The ecosystem — government, corporate, community — supports women across all levels. Women earn leadership roles based on merit. We don't even debate this anymore — we're already there. I'm proud to be in this role and even prouder that our leadership team is predominantly women, local and international. Read:
Skift
11-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
Thailand's Hotel Market in 2025: Fewer Deals
A new forecast from hotel broker JLL hits a note of optimism at a time when some critics worry Thai tourism is hitting the skids. Expect people to do fewer hotel deals in Thailand this year, but for those deals to be bigger. Thailand's hotel investment market is returning to normal after last year's post-pandemic surge. Hotel brokerage JLL projects that total deal volume will reach 13 billion Thai baht ($385 million) in 2025 — about 40% below 2024's record from a one-time rush of delayed deals. A JLL report issued Thursday said investors are now focused on fewer but larger acquisitions. The average deal size is expected to reach THB1.8 billion ($53.2 million) in 2025. That would be 80% higher than the THB1 billion ($29.5 million) 10-year average. JLL believes that single-asset transactions will likely remain the norm, following notable deals like the 273-room Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit, which in 2024 became Thailand's largest-ever single hotel transaction. Key Drivers of Hotel Investing There are growing concerns that Thailand's tourism recovery may be losing steam. Earlier this month, the Tourism Authority of Thailand signaled it may lower its 2025 forecast for international arrivals to 35 million, still short of the 2019 peak of roughly 40 million. Yet when it comes to hotel investing, Thailand remains a relatively strong market. JLL remains optimistic that Thailand will benefit from pent-up demand from group travelers and mass tourism, especially from markets like Australia. It points to several other key drivers: Interest rates holding steady or dropping should help with deal flow. Thailand's anticipated lower interest rates in 2025, combined with continued positive sentiment in the tourism sector, should support further investment, albeit in a more focused and strategic manner than the investment boom of 2024, JLL believes. "In an inflationary and high-interest rate environment, Thailand has stood out as one of the few Asian countries offering a positive yield spread over borrowing costs," the report notes. Luxury demand drives investment growth. For 2025, upper-tier hotels are expected to see stabilized occupancy rates with gradual growth in average daily rates. Economy to mid-tier hotels may see both rising average daily rate and occupancy levels, potentially narrowing the performance gap with upscale properties, if inbound tourism recovers as hoped. Geographical diversification expected. While the capital city, along with Phuket and Samui, will remain prime investment destinations, the report anticipates interest spreading to other markets within Thailand this year. The Thai government has signaled interest in supporting the development of potential new tourism hotspots, similar to how Mexico invented Cancun as a resort city. That said, Bangkok will continue to dominate the landscape, accounting for nearly 60% of national transaction volume this year. Financing Landscape Evolves Greater access to capital. More Thai hotel deals involve leasing because of increased access to non-traditional forms of lending. A notable shift in 2024 was investors' increased willingness to consider leasehold properties, moving away from the pre-pandemic focus almost exclusively on freehold opportunities, partly thanks to the new types of financing available from next-gen firms. Non-bank financial institutions, including leasing companies and specialized lenders, are gaining market share by providing more flexible financing solutions for smaller or unique projects, albeit at higher interest rates, JLL said. Sustainable financing options continue to become more common. Major Thai banks and international lenders now offer so-called green loans specifically for financing environmentally friendly hotel projects, as well as sustainability-linked loans with interest rates tied to predetermined sustainability performance targets. JLL believes the new financing could help attract new players to the market.
The Star
26-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Thailand woos rich European tourists as Chinese arrivals slump
BANGKOK: Thailand plans to step up a campaign to attract high-spending European tourists as the Chinese, the dominant group of holidaymakers to the Southeast Asian country before the Covid pandemic, shun it on safety concerns. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is working with major airlines to increase the frequency of flights to European cities and launch new routes to build on the increase in tourist arrivals seen in the first quarter, the state-run agency said in a statement on Friday (April 25). The strategy has seen arrivals jump more than 20% from the UK, France and Italy so far this year, while visitors from Germany, Spain and the Netherlands increased by 10% or more, it said. "Forward bookings from long-haul markets remain strong for April to June, with continued momentum expected from the UK, Italy, Spain, Israel, and Russia,' the agency said. The surge in visitors from the long-haul markets, who tend to stay longer and spend more, is in sharp contrast to the decline in tourist arrivals from China. The ability to pull more non-Chinese travellers will be key to Thailand meeting its goal of 39 million visitors and 2.23 trillion baht ($66.5 billion) in revenue this year, according to the agency. Safety concerns triggered by a series of high-profile human trafficking to scam centers in Myanmar via Thailand and a massive earthquake that shook buildings in Bangkok last month led to a decline in Chinese arrivals. The Chinese tourist arrivals plunged 34% to 53,863 in the week ending April 20, taking the cumulative number this year through April 20 to 1.5 million. Thai officials now seeing risk to the goal of attracting as many as 9 million tourists this year from its neighbour. Japan has beaten Thailand as the top destination for Chinese travelers even as Beijing is encouraging local travel to boost the economy. Thai authorities are betting on an improved tourism performance to cushion the blow to its economy from a threatened 36% US tariff on its goods. The tourism industry employs one in five of the country's workforce and accounts for about 13% of gross domestic product. Thailand, popular among tourists for its tropical climate, pristine beaches, a vibrant nightlife and Buddhist temples, has welcomed 11.4 million tourists since the start of the year, little changed from a year earlier, according to latest official data. Tourism promotions centred around health and wellness, sports and entertainment will be organised to bring in more visitors during the lean season, the authority said. "We're not just chasing numbers - we're shaping the future of Thai tourism,' Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority said. - Bloomberg
