New flights to Turkey and India, Fujairah resort plan and popular Paris
Etihad Airways is adding more destinations to its network, with new flights to India and Turkey, and Fujairah has a brand new coastal resort.
Here’s a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.
Etihad adds flights to Antalya and Jaipur
Etihad is adding new flights to its 2024 network. The national airline of the UAE will begin flying to Antalya, the Turkish resort city, and Jaipur, the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan in June.
From June 15, Etihad will fly three times a week to Antalya. On June 16, it will commence four weekly flights to Jaipur. Known for its rich cultural heritage and pink-hued buildings, Jaipur’s addition to Etihad’s network means the airline will be operating to 11 destinations across India. Three additional weekly flights to Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram are also part of Etihad’s summer plans. The airline is also increasing the frequency of flights to Amman, Cairo, Karachi and Colombo.
Naama Beach Villas & Spa to open in Fujairah
A new all-villa luxury resort is set for Fujairah. Naama Beach Villas & Spa will open on the UAE’s east coast by the end of this month. Located opposite Snoopy Island, the resort is near the sea and Hajar Mountains. It has 44 villas, including the largest private luxury villas in Fujairah, and each comes with butler service.
Aseelah restaurant will serve freshly caught fish from Fujairah’s waters and charcoal-grilled meats, while Amara Bar will cater to guests enjoying the resort’s infinity pool. Travellers looking to indulge in wellness will be able to visit Espa for holistic treatments.
The resort will also make the most of its coastal location with a private beach, water sports and snorkelling tours. Bespoke excursions are an option for guests, including trips to Al Bidya, one of the UAE’s oldest mosques, and hikes in the desert and Hajar Mountains, where travellers can see about 300 species of wildflowers.
France to get even busier ahead of 2024 Summer Olympics
France is the most visited country in the world and it’s about to get even more popular as travellers look to flock to Paris for the Olympic Games.
Six months before the Games, flight searches to France for the dates just before and after the Olympics are already surging by 25 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to data from Amadeus, a global travel technology company.
German travellers top the leader board when it comes to seeking flights to the French capital, with searches for airfares from Germany to Paris up 144 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Travellers from the UAE are also keen to head to Paris during the Games, with flight
searches up 60 per cent for travel between July 23 and August 15, the dates of the sporting spectacle. The Mena region as a whole has seen an increase of 10 per cent in flight searches to Paris, compared with the same period last year.