Details of the speaker lineup have been revealed for this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD), to be held in Riyadh from 27th – 28th September. With more than 500 government officials, industry leaders and experts from across 120 countries set to descend on Riyadh for the event, the level of attendance demonstrates the significance of WTD 2023 in charting the future of the global tourism sector’s growth.
Saudi Arabia's Ancient City, AlUla Offers Otherworldly Star-Studded Dark Sky Experiences
19.09.2023 - 04:43 / matadornetwork.com
Stargazing is a time-honored tradition that has been an integral part of history in Saudi Arabia for millennia. The night sky was a crucial navigational tool in the vast and often featureless stretches of Saudi’s desert. Just as sailors use stars for navigation at sea, Bedouins relied on them to find their way across the sand. Those traditions are still honored today, and if you’re interested in learning more about the culture while enjoying the outdoors and vast star-studded sky, there are few locations in the country that can rival the natural beauty and vastness of AlUla.
Situated away from the bright city lights in Medina province of northwestern Saudi Arabia, AlUla’s dark skies, historic monuments, stunning rock formations at remotes sites such as Gharameel, make it one of the country’s top destinations for stargazing. AlUla is steeped in history, with evidence of human habitation dating back some 200,000 years. The city is known for its preserved tombs, sandstone outcrops, and beautiful murals. AlUla was once a thriving hub for commercial and cultural exchange, situated along the famous incense trade route and pilgrimage route to Makkah. Today, it has transformed into a vibrant cultural hub with endless outdoor desert activities, luxury eco-resorts, safari camps, and, of course, excellent stargazing tours.
Flying to AlUla is easy. Flydubai, a Dubai-based airline, offers two weekly direct flights from Dubai International Airport to AlUla International Airport, scheduled on Thursdays and Sundays. There are also routes from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Damman to AlUla with Saudia Airlines and flynas. From the airport, it’s about a 30-minute drive to AlUla’s town center.
Photo: Experience AlUla
The dry climate and clear skies of AlUla offer an unobstructed view of the cosmos, making it a prime destination for both amateur and professional astronomers alike. On a clear night, you can expect to see an array of celestial bodies, including various constellations, planets, and even meteor showers on occasion. The Milky Way, with its dense band of stars, is a common sight. Keep an eye out for Orion, Gemini, and Taurus, which are particularly prominent in the winter months.
There are multiple ways to experience stargazing in AlUla. For those who prefer a guided experience, there are tours led by knowledgeable guides who can point out significant celestial bodies and share interesting astronomical facts.
Photo: Experience AlUla
The Gharameel area offers some of the best views of the night sky. Stargazers are treated to a humbling experience surrounded by unique geological stone pillar formations in the remote desert. Tours begin at the Husaak Center at Winter Park. From there you’ll be transported by an expert guide to
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
euronews.com
22.09.2023 / 18:35
UNWTO General Assembly to be held in Uzbekistan for the first time in history
The 25th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is scheduled for October 16-20 this year in Samarkand. For the first time in history, Uzbekistan will host this important biennial gathering of member states and affiliate members of UNWTO.
skift.com
22.09.2023 / 18:21
Marriott Removes Job Ads Mentioning Alcohol in Saudi Arabia
The Luxury Collection NEOM, located in Saudi Arabia’s Sindalah Island, put out a call for mixologists and bartenders ahead of its opening next year – though the hotel’s operator, Marriott, says the job listings were a mistake and being removed.
breakingtravelnews.com
22.09.2023 / 14:13
Arabian Travel Market 2023 to make Net Zero pledge
Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the leading travel and tourism event for inbound and outbound tourism professionals throughout the Middle East, has announced that ‘Working Towards Net Zero’ will be its official theme for ATM 2023, which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 1-4 May.
forbes.com
20.09.2023 / 16:51
Thinking About The Roman Empire? Meet France’s New UNESCO Temple, Maison Carrée In Nîmes
How often do you think about the Roman Empire? If you are one of the many people who reportedly thinks about it all the time—the aqueducts, the colosseums, the gladiators, the togas—then la Maison Carrée (the Square House) in the center of Nîmes should be placed firmly on your next travel itinerary. It was just awarded a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
skift.com
20.09.2023 / 08:29
Dubai’s Summer of Tourism Was Red-Hot as Russians Fill the City
Dubai continues to pull ahead of its pre-pandemic tourism numbers. The emirate drew in 9.8 million international travelers up to July this year, according to the latest data from Dubai Tourism. For the same period in 2019, Dubai had 9.6 million international visitors, and in 2022, welcomed 8.1 million up to that point.
breakingtravelnews.com
20.09.2023 / 06:01
Bartlett Targeting Half a Million Visitors from Canada by 2025
In what he describes as an “ambitious but achievable” target, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has revealed that he is pushing for 500,000 visitors to Jamaica from Canada by 2025. Minister Bartlett made the disclosure today (September 19) ahead of his departure to the North American country, where he will be joined by senior tourism officials on a five-day ‘winter marketing blitz’ as Jamaica seeks to engage critical travel partners in the Greater Toronto Area.
nytimes.com
19.09.2023 / 17:03
Ancient Earthworks Trodden by Golfers Become a World Heritage Site
Nine months after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that a country club must sell its lease to the state historical society that owns the land containing Native American earthworks, golfers are still pushing carts over the mounds and whacking at them with 3-irons.
cntraveler.com
19.09.2023 / 13:03
UNESCO Just Added 27 New World Heritage Sites for 2023
On Monday, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) unveiled 27 new World Heritage Site designations. Among them are a diverse slate of culturally significant areas, including sacred temples in Cambodia, ancient tea forests in China, and historic European towns.
skift.com
19.09.2023 / 11:33
Indigo, Air India to Address Pilot Fatigue With New Tech Tools
IndiGo is developing a wrist device designed to gauge pilot fatigue and alertness levels before and after flights, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters The budget carrier will work in partnership with the French aerospace conglomerate, Thales Group, and also intends to appoint a consultant to improve its fatigue risk management procedures.
travelandleisure.com
18.09.2023 / 15:35
Venice Not Included on UNESCO List of Endangered Heritage Sites
UNESCO has once again spared Venice from its list of world heritage sites in danger, declining to add the famous Italian city after initially drawing the ire of the group due to the effects of climate change and over-tourism.
breakingtravelnews.com
17.09.2023 / 07:33
ITB China 2023 boasts over 17,000 Business Engagements
The fourth ITB China marked its grand live- return, concluding its 2023 edition with impressive achievements in business meetings and Chinese and international dialogues.