AME Info, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, tourism and hospitality briefs

Source: AME Info, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesAug.迷你倉 05--THE EXCLUSIVE TRAVEL GROUP EXPANDS TO GCC: New Zealand-based The Exclusive Travel Group has announced its expansion into the GCC, to meet the needs of discerning travellers across the region. The company is an inbound destination management firm, designing personalised travel experiences to New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific. It has partnered with New Zealand's top luxury accommodation providers and is also the exclusive representative for Laucala Island in Fiji, rated among the top three luxury island resorts in the world, it said.SAUDI ARABIA CUTS NUMBER OF INLAND PILGRIMS BY 50 percent: The Saudi Haj ministry has said the number of inland pilgrims hailing from different parts of the country is to reduced by 50 percent this year to ensure the safety of pilgrims and to allow them to perform the rituals smoothly, Arab News has reported. The number of Haj operator firms allowed to provide services to inland pilgrims stands at 248 firms, catering to 337,500 pilgrims, said the ministry undersecretary for Haj affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Nifaie.OMAN TENDERS TOURISM CONSULTANCY CONTRACT: Omani tourism ministry has said some 30 firms have so far evinced interest in prequalifying for a contract to provide consultancy services to develop major tourism pro文件倉ects in the sultanate, Oman Daily Observer has reported. The selected consultant is to be responsible for the complete development of one or more tourism projects, from inception through construction completion, business establishment, and ongoing monitoring and business support, the ministry said. This includes initial evaluation of the tourism potential a site selected by the ministry, completing further study as required, making recommendations on options for tourism development, completing detailed design, overseeing tendering, and business establishment.US TO SHUTDOWN EMBASSIES IN MIDEAST ON AUGUST 4: The US State Department has said embassies in Abu Dhabi, Baghdad and Cairo are to be closed tomorrow because of unspecified security concerns, Reuters has reported. "The Department of State has instructed certain US embassies and consulates to remain closed or to suspend operations on Sunday, August 4," State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters at her daily briefing. CBS News said US embassies would also be closed in Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 AME Info (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) Visit AME Info (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) at .ameinfo.com Distributed by MCT Information Services存倉