Middle East and North Africa Edition
INVESTIGATION: CRUISES The global cruising industry has made a concerted effort to alter its image in recent years by introducing a range of family friendly options, adventure-based itineraries and high adrenaline activities. The Middle East has responded to the new wave of cruise holidays with strong sales and a governmental focus on boosting the local industry.
The United Arab Emirates has evolved rapidly from a society of fishing villages and nomadic Bedouin tribes to a vibrant hub of international business and luxury leisure tourism. The past two years of economic decline and uncertainty have taken their toll on the region, but the tourism industry remains resilient and development continues. Now that high revenues and strong demand can no longer be taken for granted, the focus is on savvy management and promotional strategies to capture tourists in an increasingly competitive market.
4 ONSITE: INDIA Inexpensive, exotic and scintillatingly diverse, India has spawned a whole genre of semimystical self-discovery travel literature. But the clichés of snake charmers and spiritual awakenings are only one of India’s many faces; the country’s economy has exploded in recent years and India is ready to take its place as a sophisticated, modern destination.
20 In This Issue MARKET UPDATE INVESTIGATION: Cruises VISIT: UAE EXCLUSIVE: Overnight Travel EXPLORE: Iran & Iraq ONSITE: India TRAVEL TALK TRAVEL TIPS TOUR: Portugal RENDEZVOUS WHO’S MOVED LONG HAUL: Brazil NEWS & EVENTS NOVEMBER 2010
ISSUE 13
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