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MIDDLE EASTThe Middle East Lebanon conflict affects travel patterns With visitor arrivals in Lebanon up 49% January-April 2006, the hope was to attract 1.6mn over the whole year – which would have been 6% growth. But the conflict with Israel in the summer made this target almost impossible. Hotels in Beirut saw occupancies plummet from the high 90s to less than 10% after the start of major hostilities. Lebanon has been a favourite short-holiday destination, particularly for Gulf Arabs. For instance, Lebanon counted took 5-10% of outbound summer traffic from Oman; that business seems to have been diverted mostly to Australia (replacing America), Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, as well as the main summer destinations such as London and Paris. Emirates – still expanding, still fast Dubai-based Emirates continues with its almost-unbelievable expansion. Since the start of this year, the airline has added Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Beijing, Kolkata, Nagoya, and Thiruvananthapuram. For many flights, Emirates uses the B777-200, equipped with what it calls its ICE system (information, communication, entertainment), providing 500 channels of inflight entertainment. Libya gets back into tourism Libya, after 35 years of isolation, is moving to develop a tourism business. The oil-rich country has established the Libyan Tourism Development Authority and introduced new laws to encourage international investment on the country’s long Mediterranean coastline. Resorts in the UAE Among the resorts being built in the UAE. Anantara, the resort brand of Thailand’s Minor Group, is due to open the Anantara Jumeirah Lake resort in Dubai early 2008. Much larger than the company’s original plans for this brand, it will have 473 rooms, spa, etc. (Jumeirah is the name of the beach area, not the group.) Per Aquum plans to open its Desert Palm in Dubai early 2007. Originally created for owner Ali Albwardy, a UAE national, it is now billed as a boutique resort with villa accommodation. It is set amidst its own polo grounds – Albwardy’s passion. The estate features four polo fields, riding school, horse-stables, and more. Albwardy’s investments include other hotels - Kensington Plaza in London, Kilimanjaro Kempinski in Dar es Salaam, and Zamani Kempinski in Zanzibar. The 130-room Khatt Springs opened in Ras Al Khaimah earlier this year. It has outdoor pool, two indoor hydro-pools and two gyms (one male, one female).
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