SCTA chief stresses more public spending on domestic tourism

April 7, 2012
Tourism

Riyadh, April 7: Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), underscored the significance of further developing tourism infrastructure facilities and services in order to prevent Saudis visiting foreign destinations during their vacation.


“The momentum of Saudis leaving for foreign countries having advanced tourist facilities and top standard of services with reasonable prices for all sections of society would continue unless there is more government support for this vital sector,” Prince Sultan said.


“It is the government that can invest in building infrastructure facilities and improving services by attracting investors to the domestic tourism sector,” he added.


Prince Sultan was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the second session of the Travel and Tourism Investment Market 2012 (TTIM), which concluded here on Thursday evening.


About 140 companies and agencies participated in the high-profile event, organized by SCTA, at the Riyadh International Exhibition Center.


TTIM was held as part of the commission’s initiative to promote the Kingdom’s domestic tourism.


The four-day event, opened by Riyadh Gov. Prince Sattam on Monday, showcased various tourism agencies, hotels and transportation services displaying their products and services. This year’s event with the theme of “Tourism for everybody: Partnership toward a sustainable development” was part of SCTA’s initiative to promote domestic tourism in the Kingdom.


The SCTA chief noted that the private sector’s role in developing tourism sector comes only after that of the government. “The private sector has also been playing a great role in developing tourism projects, like in other economic sectors in the Kingdom,” he pointed out.


Prince Sultan said SCTA would announce the statistical figures about the number of Saudis who went abroad for vacationing during the recent second semester school vacation.


According to the prince, SCTA hopes that improving local tourist facilities and organizing various programs in addition to acquiring ability to compete with countries visited by Saudi holidaymakers would help realize enormous economic benefits and contain the outflow of wealth to foreign countries.


The SCTA chief noted that this would also be instrumental in creating more job opportunities for citizens in the tourism sector in addition to bringing forth great benefits so as to enable the citizens to spend their vacation within the Kingdom and know more about their country.


“The loss that surpasses the economic losses is the result of us missing opportunities to make the citizen stay in the Kingdom (to spend his vacation) and understand more (about the Kingdom), enjoy its beauty, know its history, and interact with fellow citizens,” Prince Sultan said.


“This would also leave sweet memories in their minds about their country rather than reliving memories of tourist spots outside the Kingdom,” he added.


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KT
June 30,2020

Dubai, Jun 30: The UAE Embassy in India on Tuesday urged expats stranded in India to procure travel approvals from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) in the UAE ahead of their travel to the UAE.

It has also assured UAE residence visa holders that a no-objection letter to travel would be issued on a humanitarian basis, as long as the resident meets all conditions set by the government of UAE.

The UAE Embassy in New Delhi tweeted Tuesday morning, "The @UAEembassyIndia would like to draw the attention of the valid UAE residence permit holders currently present in India, to the necessity of obtaining necessary approval from the @ICAUAE while ensuring that all conditions set by the UAE competent authorities are observed."

It added, "Please note that UAE will issue no objection letter to travel in some humanitarian cases only that meet all conditions and requirements."

The embassy also affirmed its commitment to the decisions of the Indian authorities regarding the continued closure of airports in India, and implementation of some restrictions that do not allow foreign airlines to carry passengers.

"We express our thank for your cooperation and your understanding of the current global situation, and in case there is any developments in this regard, we will publish it on the official platforms of embassy (sic)," the Embassy tweeted.

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News Network
February 24,2020

Dubai, Feb 24: Kuwait and Bahrain confirmed on Monday their first novel coronavirus cases, the countries' health ministries announced, adding all had come from Iran.

Kuwait reported three infections and Bahrain one in citizens who had returned home from the Islamic republic.

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News Network
June 26,2020

Dubai, Jun 26: As summers in Dubai bloom in its full glory, the most savoured summer fruit - Mongo - is getting the most special treatment in the city as it gets delivered to customers via an emperor like ride of a Lamborghini.

As per a video report by Gulf News, the Pakistan Supermarket in Dubai is delivering the king of fruits to the doorsteps of its customers in a green coloured Lamborghini to match the level of its supremacy among fruits.

"The king should travel like a king," says the managing director of the store, Mohammad Jehanzeb who delivers the pulpy fruit by himself and also takes the customers on a short ride in the luxury car.

In order to avail the offer rolled out on the Facebook page of the famous supermarket, customers are required to make a minimum order of Dh100, reports the Gulf News.

"The idea is to put a smile on people's faces and make them feel special," says Jehanzeb who has put a smile on the face of dozens of Dubai residents amidst the throes of a pandemic with his 'Mangoes in Lamborghini' campaign.

The delicacy this year has gone viral with videos of delighted mango lovers taking a joy ride in the supercar doing rounds over the internet.

"The joy ride was essentially meant for kids who have been sequestered at homes because of the coronavirus but adults are equally thrilled at the prospect of getting behind the wheels of my Lamborghini Huracan. I am happy to oblige them too," says Jehanzeb.

"Each order takes about an hour. We do about 7-8 home deliveries a day but are hoping to ramp up the numbers to 12," he adds.

Arshad Khan who hails from the Indian city of nawabs - Lucknow- ordered the 'nawabi' varieties - Sindhri and Anwar Ratol - and said that his children were exhilarated after hearing the roar of the Lamborghini outside their Falcon City villa.

"For someone who hails from Lucknow -- the land of the famous dussheri and landga mangoes -- I was a bit skeptical about the taste of Pakistani mangoes. I ordered them for the sheer experience of seeing them come to my place in a luxury supercar," Gulf News quoted Khan as saying.

"It was quite exhilarating and I must confess that the mangoes were as delicious as the ones back home," he added.

Mango fruit has been a delicacy in the 16th-century Hindustan sub-continent. It holds a fascinating narrative in Babur Nama which is an autobiography of the Mughal emperor Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur.

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