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Israel using tourism to tighten control of Jerusalem

The Israeli government has been accused of secretly developing parks and tourist attractions in East Jerusalem in an attempt to extend its control of the city.

Under an eight-year plan, a series of nine national parks and tourist trains based on historical sites will be established, most will be under the control of settler groups working with the government.

But Ir Amin, a group working for a shared Jerusalem, has claimed the plan aims to link up areas surrounding the old city to strengthen Israel's claim to Jerusalem as its capital city, according to reports in the Guardian..

The claims come ahead of the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, who arrives in Jerusalem tomorrow for a week-long pilgrimage.

Daniel Seidemann, an Israeli lawyer and founder of Ir Amin, told the paper that the sites would link Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The parks would be built on public and private land and would be fenced in, he said.

"This act will limit the possibility of territorial compromise in Jerusalem to its northern and southern parts only, outside of areas surrounding the Old City.

"This policy fans the flames of the conflict and threatens to change it from a national conflict that can be controlled and solved, into a pointless regional confrontation."

Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital.

Daniel Seidemann, an Israeli lawyer and founder of Ir Amin, told the paper that the sites would link Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The parks would be built on public and private land and would be fenced in, he said.

"This act will limit the possibility of territorial compromise in Jerusalem to its northern and southern parts only, outside of areas surrounding the Old City.

"This policy fans the flames of the conflict and threatens to change it from a national conflict that can be controlled and solved, into a pointless regional confrontation."

Jerusalem is claimed as a capital by both Israelis and Palestinians.

Palestinians, who live in the east, make up a third of the city's population.

Source: palestine-pmc.com

Al Dhiafa Holding launches International Hotel Consultants in Abu Dhabi

Al Dhiafa Holding, one of the leading tourism and hospitality companies in the Gulf and the region, has announced the launch of the International Hotel Consultants Company (IHC) in the capital of Abu Dhabi. The new company is set to provide high quality and experienced consultancy services for hospitality projects.

Al Dhiafa revealed that the new company has, through its multinational team, more than 20 years experience in managing projects and hotels, developments, marketing, public relations, distribution processes, topographic analysis and IT management. In addition, the team brings with it a worldwide network of associates, partners, distribution channels and joint ventures.

Says H.E. Saeed Ahmed Mohammed bin Butti, Al Dhiafa Holding Chairman: "The launch of IHC is in line with the huge development in the tourism and hospitality sectors in the country and represents Al Dhiafa's ability to offer a well thought-out tourism product that is on par with other products by well-known international companies."

Al Dhiafa Holding and its subsidiaries, specifically Jinan Hotels & Resorts - the first company to specialize in the running of sustainable hotels - are leading the way with the implementation of various environmentally friendly initiatives, and have played a prominent role in establishing a strong foundation for the hospitality sector. This is in line with the government's approach towards environmentally friendly principles and sustainable development.

As is the case with all Al Dhiafa's subsidiaries, IHC will follow Estidamah standards, which are aimed at creating more sustainable communities, cities and global enterprises, and is intended to balance environmental, economic, cultural and social imperatives in pursuit of a higher quality of life for all living things.

"Work is running smoothly according to set strategies, and we are committed to continue achieving Al Dhiafa Holding's goals, especially after the huge success the company has achieved during the short period since its inception," adds Noel Massoud, CEO of the newly established IHC.

"We are confident of the path we drew for this new company, especially considering that IHC is being established during a time when the hospitality sector is making a huge recovery from the global financial crisis. IHC will play a vital part in the recovery process through solid strategies, an experienced team, and commitment towards supporting the hospitality sector."

IHC will provide a wide range of services, including hospitality consultancy, engineering consultancy and technical and IT services for developers and hotel owners. Tourism projects will be executed based on engineering, operational, commercial and profit elements, and project execution must be on par with the local and international standards. In addition, projects must contribute to the development of the hospitality and tourism sectors in the country. 

IHC will also seek to achieve high values in the long term by analyzing and guiding tourism and hospitality projects according to the nature of investments in these projects. In addition, IHC's marketing and public relations teams will work on promoting these projects according to agreed costs, and in a way that guarantees expansion, big profits for investors and vast growth possibilities for the hospitality and tourism sectors in the UAE, in line with Abu Dhabi's economic vision for 2030.

International Hotel Group, Kempinski takes steady outlook on its developments in Dubai

The last decade has seen immense growth in Dubai and huge investment in the creation of infrastructure in general and for the tourism industry in particular. While the recession has no doubt made a dent in tourism forecasts with a clear drop in holiday and corporate travel spending, one has to remember that in Dubai this drop comes from a very high level of spending, so it is more a reduction to a more moderate level than a decline.

Dubai's tourism infrastructure, natural position at the cross-roads between East and West, excellent international airlinks, exciting offerings in the form of unique marine habits, pristine beaches, world class cuisine, and its reputation as an exciting shopping and indulgent spa destination buoys the emirate's tourism potential and ability to continue to attract tourists. Additionally, its position as a regional business hub enables Dubai to continue to benefit from the busy and lucrative business travel trade.

Reto Wittwer, President and CEO of Kempinski Hotels, said:

"Kempinski entered the market in the UAE over 11 years ago with one property on the beaches of Ajman, followed by a theatrical entry to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi with the inauguration of the iconic Emirates Palace. However, Kempinski had been eyeing an opportunity to enter the Dubai market specifically to take part in this massive development of Dubai as a booming tourism destination and ride on the wave of hospitality excellence that developed under the wise direction of Dubai's visionary leader. We were, however, waiting for the right property at the right time to avoid being just another hotel brand coming to the market with yet just another hotel."

In 2006, Kempinski Hotels made a sound entry to Dubai with Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, the largest indoor ski resort in the world with unique alpine style ski chalets. Later on, Kempinski announced its second property - a hotel and residence development in Dubai on the crescent of the Palm Jumeirah, next to the Atlantis Hotel - developed by the Emerald Palace Group (EPG Hotels & Resorts).

Kempinski was one of the first hotel groups to announce properties on Palm Jumeirah, the spectacular man-made palm-shaped offshore development along the coast of Dubai, developed by Nakheel. Many announcements then followed, with big name hospitality brands and huge projects such as the iconic Atlantis Hotel which opened last year, generating impressive international media attention for the real estate and tourism hotspot.

Targeted at high-end residents, Kempinski Residences Palm Jumeriah, which is scheduled to open in early 2010, will be operated as private residences and luxury hotel apartments. "The property is Kempinski's first beach resort in Dubai and fits perfectly with our vision of having only unique properties in our portfolio, especially in a destination like Dubai where everything seems to be done par excellence. This project has been one of the most successful in the UAE achieving some of the best yield rates within properties on the Palm," Wittwer added.

Not unlike many projects around the Gulf area, Kempinski has experienced delays in some of its properties under development due to a number of reasons, the global situation being one of them. The entry of various new hotels and hotel brands in large sizes offered an opportunity for Kempinski to adopt a 'wait-and-see' approach to learn from their experiences; a strategy that Kempinski believes is best to adopt at certain stages in time to ascertain its future steps for the benefit and best interest of its stakeholders.

The Government of Dubai has always looked at tourism in terms of destination management and as a collaborative effort which means that in a tough global scenario, the equity of Brand Dubai has remained strong and distinct. Solid hospitality groups such as Kempinski that have grown with the city and understand the city's tourism positioning and potential have reaped the benefits of the heavy investment in tourism over the past few years and are expected to continue to do so in the future.

In this context, Kempinski continues to experience a robust festive period in Dubai which bodes well for the coming year, with a firm belief in the steady flourishing of Dubai as a key tourism and business destination that offers a broad and growing spectrum of facilities that sets it apart from other destinations in the world. "We are confident that our projects and business alliances in Dubai will develop to the satisfaction of our guests, clients, business partners and staff, and look forward to this coming year with a lot of optimism while preparing for the final development and opening of our second property in Dubai on Palm Jumeirah," concluded Wittwer.

Bahrain's Food & Hospitality Expo 2010 to feature renowned pastry maker Tariq Pastries

Tariq Pastries, the first Lebanese pastry shop in the Kingdom of Bahrain, will exhibit its handmade, high-quality cakes, Arabic sweets, and other food products at the second annual Food and Hospitality Expo 2010 to be held on 12 to 14 January 2010 at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre. Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority / BECA (Organisers) recently signed the agreement with Tariq Pastries to participate in Food and Hospitality Expo, Bahrain's largest gathering of food, beverage and hospitality industry professionals.

Most of the ingredients used in the products of Tariq Pastries are imported from Lebanon, as well fine chocolates, freshly roasted coffee beans and a variety of nuts like pistachios, almonds, cashews and walnuts that are carefully roasted to bring out their flavors. Owned by the Lebanese-Bahraini Mahmoud Family, Tariq Pastries currently has six branches in Bahrain.

Said Tariq Pastries owner Ms. May Mahmood , "When the family makes their regular trips to Lebanon throughout the year, they insist on tasting each batch of ingredients their suppliers send them to make sure the shop receives only the best quality products. That exercise paved the way for the success of Tariq Pastries, showing the importance of using fine ingredients and maintaining high standards of quality. Thus, not skimping on quality has greatly contributed to the success of Tariq Pastries."

"Following the success of last year's event, the Food and Hospitality Expo 2010 is already 40 per cent bigger than last year. We are bringing together some of the region's finest food and hospitality companies and it is important that they utilize this event as a strong networking tool, once again showing Bahrain's strength in this industry," said Mr Hassan Jaffer Mohammed, CEO - BECA.

Many local and regional companies have already confirmed their participation in this event, which will feature everything related to food and beverage, catering equipment, food processing technology and packaging products.

Tariq Pastries joins Coca-Cola, Babasons, Bahrain Modern Mills, Noor Al Bahrain, Chinese Centre for Kitchen Equipment Co., The Diplomat Radisson BLU Hotel, Gulf Hotel, Moevenpick Hotel Regency Inter.Continental Hotel, Tamkeen (Labour Fund), Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, TUV (Middle East) and Bahrain Airport Services in showcasing the latest innovations in the industry. Gulf Air is the Official Carrier.

In addition, BECA and Tamkeen are co-financing a showcase for Bahraini food industry Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with Tamkeen's pavilion being organised in co-operation with the Bahrain Business Women's Society.

Debt crisis means Dubai is a winner

YOU'D think that a nation's economic collapse might cause a little wobble in its tourist industry.

Not the mighty Dubai. This is the destination whose dazzling PR machine convinced the rich and famous that it was not the biggest building site since the boom years on the Costa Brava, but a glitzy playground.

We told earlier this month how Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson has taken an early bath on property investments there since the economic collapse.

And he's not the only one. Plenty of hard-working Scots have been tying granny knots in their intestines, having sunk their life savings into flats there in the hope of enjoying breaks there until they can retire to its year-round sunshine.

But it looks very much like business as usual in the Shopping Emirate. Malls have been heaving with pleasure- and present-seekers in the last few weeks - some hotels claiming 100 per cent occupancy.

Searches by Brits on hotels.com for Dubai digs have risen by a staggering 570 per cent since Dubai World said it needed to delay repayment of its £16billion debts.

In the first half of 2009, the average five-star hotel room was £174 per night.

For January 2010, it will cost on average £144 - but can be as low as £74, despite a £6.2billion bail-out from neighbour Abu Dhabi.

Maybe it's because Dubai celebrates the festive season in style. The way things are going, they'll be rolling out Santa and decking the malls with boughs of holly long after the last council here bans all references to Christmas.

I bet the PC brigade don't check if the folk they are trying not to offend are bothered. Coz all the signs are that Muslims in Dubai are cool with it.

Outdoor Christmas trees are green skyscrapers covered in a pattern of baubles so thoughtfully placed that you suspect the architect had them drawn on the plans.

Santa sits in malls with queuing kids while the usual compilation CDs jingle through the muzak system. It's just like home, but more festive. And sunnier. About 25°C right now.

There's a great deal of chat about how Dubai is a shopping paradise and it's true that the malls have raised women's favourite pastime above even an art form, into full-on entertainment, with ski slopes in malls and malls in hotel resorts.

There are interesting stores that we don't have here, which is always exciting - but prices are similar.

The currency, the dirham, is pegged to the US dollar, so keep an eye on that to see how far your holiday pound will go.

Maybe the crunch will drive down more than hotel prices - let's hope so, since a five-star hotel can rush you a tenner for a plate of chips. Not much is likely to change about the cost of booze but you have to expect that in a culture that doesn't down it like we do.

Dubai's shopping Unique Selling Point is the old-fashioned gold souk. Prices are based on the weight of the gold - and it's all pretty heavy.

At any one point there's 25 tons of gold on sale. Ratners it ain't.

Here, big bling is best. You'd need reinforced lobes with scaffolding on your shoulders to hang some of these trinkets from your ears.

Necklaces range from beautiful, to hideous, some are encrusted with jewels, others intricately woven into complex body armour starting under the chin and draping down to the cleavage. Many are bought as the marriage deal. Sell that kind of thing if you get divorced and it'd keep you solvent for years.

And that's another bizarre thing... there were gold chainmail vests. How to wear? And to where? Especially in such a modest culture.

It put me in mind of my daughter when she was five and was given a belly dancing outfit but insisted on wearing a vest underneath. Some similar arrangement must surely be required under the modesty rules.

Some bargains can be found in the market alleys and the spice souk which surrounds it.

Those superfine pashminas that they can pass through a wedding band can be found for £15-£30.

Depends if you can be bothered haggling. It's so stressful if you really want something but don't have much dosh. And so tiresome if you do have the cash but just don't want to be ripped off.

Perfume shops take bargaining to a whole different level. No matter how much coffee they give you to sip or sniff to clear your nasal passages, your head spins as they cover you with exotically pungent daubs of rose, musk, gardenia, jasmine, lotus, sandalwood - you name it, they have the oil.

You can end up with a mix 'n' match selection to play with at home, or get them to make up a vat of signature scent. They may throw in some pretty little coloured glass bottles but on no account allow them to add the stuff that makes perfume vaporise - it makes everything stink like your ancient Auntie Betty.

What's missing in Dubai is a proper cultural centre. With all those spanking new skyscrapers, it's a bit soulless. Its "old quarter" around a creek that worms through the city to the sea is mostly less than 100 years old.

The inlet first brought traders to this virtually empty desert land in the years BO (Before Oil).

The river is humming with modern and ancient life here - battered wooden boats zigzag across it against a backdrop of gleaming mirror-fronted skyscrapers. It's like two slices of time spliced together in Photoshop. Dusty coffee shops are from a forgotten time. Maybe they'll escape the crushing jaws of the modern building monster if the economic problems slow down the march of the architects.

Inside the swish hotels, there is no dust. At all. And because the climate is humid as well as hot - 120 in summer - everything except the actual outdoors has superwizzily efficient aircon.

You can even do a desert rollercoaster safari in a 4x4 which is kept cool - temperature-wise and in every other way. Drivers have to be trained for months to surf the dunes, swinging heavy vehicles filled with guests off the ridges to swoop down the sides often at angles that feel more precarious than 45 degrees. There are very few straight lines on this ride, it's all about thrashing the engine as it heaves the car up the hill then swinging the front round at just the right moment to swoosh back down.

With everyone flung over to one side and the sand sinking beneath the tyres, you're never sure that they won't roll it.

As our grinning driver explained: "If you do that the party's over. That vehicle is not going to start again so we have to get another out and take guests home. Besides, they don't really feel like carrying on after that."

You don't say? Apparently it doesn't happen often after they've done the training and been rigorously tested by cops. He was joking. I think.

After taking sunset snaps, they throw in a bit of belly dancing from some Russian lass - the locals wouldn't dream of it - but it's a tough act to follow. Even young men look like they've had enough excitment for one day.

Back in the city, the jaggy-edged skyscrapers doing battle with the cranes and scaffolding are a stark contrast to the soft sand skyline at sunset. There is one - count 'em - public beach in Dubai, a thin strip called Jumeirah, because the rest of the sands are owned by hotels.

And in a superb bit of irony, Jumeirah is right beside Burj Al Arab - the super-luxury sail- shaped hotel where Tiger Woods was paid millions to smack a golf ball off the helipad tee. If only they'd known, they could have supplied an under-appreciated belly dancer.

Frankly, it's unimpressive from the outside. And you'd have to be mad to pay £30 to see inside. I'd rather be mugged in the street by someone who needs the cash.

The Palm is the other much-hyped complex. Great from the sky, pointless from street level. It looks so un-palm like that you're not sure you've arrived.

But other super-hotels deliver as much as they promise - like the £750million Atlantis, which is reached through a six-lane underwater tunnel and boasts the Middle East's biggest water park.

But still. Dubai was born on Eastern promise, and it does hold some magic - not least in the form of Dubailand, the bigger- and-better hotel resort that includes a Universal Studios theme park amongst other things.

For the sake of those ordinary folk who invested their futures in the place, it seems like a good time to grab the chance to see it for ourselves.

THE OUTLOOK: Barrhead Travel's Caroline Donaldson says: "Hoteliers are starting to reduce prices to attract more customers so we see this as a great opportunity to get premium holidays at reduced prices."

THE DEAL: Five nights B&B at the five-star Meridian Mina Seyahi Beach Resort, including direct flights from Glasgow in June from £799. Call 0871 423 2439 or see barrheadtravel.co.uk

THE OUTLOOK: Terry Fisher of tour operator netflights.com says: "The UK market will play a huge role in bringing Dubai through this mini crisis and we expect to see some great deals."

THE DEAL: Netflights.com has three nights half board at Jumeirah Beach Hotel from £489, flying with Royal Brunei Airlines from Edinburgh or Glasgow from May 9 to July 9, 2010. See netflights.com or call 0844 493 4944.

THE OUTLOOK: Sport Abroad spokeswoman Lynsey Devon says: "Over the past 15 years, Dubai has grown from an ancient port to a centre for tourism and sport that is out of this world. With the opening of the brand new Sports City in 2009, there are even more fantastic sporting facilities on offer."

THE DEALS: The 15th Dubai World Cup, highlight of a seven-race card with purses totalling more than £15million, takes place in March 2010 at the stunning new Medyan Racecourse. Register now to receive your package details including direct flights from Glasgow with Emirates. Official hospitality packages to be released in January.

From September to May, the UAE enjoys unlimited sunshine which means golfers improve their game and their families love it for all the activities liked dune buggying and balloon safaris. A week of bed and breakfast at the Metropolitan Deira Hotel and four rounds of golf - two on Wadi by Faldo, one on Majlis Golf Course, one on Dubai Creek - is from £975. Call 08456 803 086 or see sportabroad.co.uk

By Kay Cox

Source: News of the World