Dammam Sheraton gears up for Eid Al-Fitr
DAMMAM: Sheraton Dammam Hotel and Towers, which is presenting special Ramadan activities on the poolside including iftar and sahur buffets, has started its preparations for the upcoming Eid Al-Fitr. “Our elegant restaurants including Fayrouz and the luxury tents by the poolside (Jar Al-Qamar, Amasi and Nakheel), as well as Da Vinci Ita0lian restaurant and Vienna Caffe welcome you in the true spirit of the holy month,” a spokesman for the hotel said yesterday. “Our special rooms promotion continues till the end of Ramadan. The hotel is preparing itself to welcome families and children to the Eid festivities. Fayrouz restaurant, especially, will provide a rich international buffet displaying a wide range of live BBQ choices, befitting the occasion. There is a special menu set for children who can also take part in activities including face painting, video games, music, helium balloons, candy floss, popcorn machine, etc.
Air India starts daily Kochi flights
DAMMAM: Air India began operating daily from Dammam to Kochi last week. In June 2007, Air India introduced twice-weekly direct services between Dammam and Chennai followed by India/Europe/India freighter services routed via Dammam in August 2007. To meet the long-standing demand of the people from Kerala, Air India will now offer additional capacity from Dammam and Riyadh to Kochi and Kozhikode. “With these additions, Air India will have stepped up its frequencies to Saudi Arabia from the current 33 flights to 47 flights weekly. Earlier this week, India’s national carrier upgraded its capacity from Riyadh to India by operating B747 aircraft in lieu of the current A310 flights thereby enhancing capacity by another 600 seats per week, said Deepak Anand, Air India’s regional manager for Saudi Arabia.
GNTB, Lufthansa stage contest for tour operators
DAMMAM: German National Tourist Board (GNTB) and Lufthansa Airlines have together announced a competition for travel tour operators across the Eastern Province. The competition phase began on Sept. 1 and will end on Oct. 31. In recent years, Germany has emerged as a major European tourist destination and there has been a discernible increase in the number of visitors from the GCC. Germany offers luxurious spas, wellness centers, nature and theme parks, stunning vistas, merry festivals, sightseeing trips, shopping excursions, fascinating art and engrossing activities like skiing and hiking. Lufthansa Airlines claims to be the only European carrier that covers the main international gateways across the Kingdom with daily flights from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to numerous German destinations, said Schaher Murad, regional manager for Lufthansa in Eastern Province and Bahrain.
Singapore & Malaysia ‘Twin City’ promotion
JEDDAH: The Singapore Tourism Board, Tourism Malaysia, and Singapore Airlines have offered travel package designed to jointly boost Middle East visitor traffic. Recent visitor arrival figures show that many Middle Eastern travelers heading Southeast Asia combine their trips with a stopover in both Malaysia and Singapore, as both destinations offer a family-friendly tourism offering and strong cultural links. The ‘Twin City’ promotion builds on the synergy and popularity of the two Southeast nations among Arab travelers, providing regional tourists with a combined package that allows them to enjoy both destinations. An ideal getaway, the convenient five-day, four-night package includes airfare and hotel accommodation in Singapore and either Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi or Penang, said Jason Ong, area director for Middle East and Africa, Singapore Tourism Board. The offer is valid till next month.