Browsing: Travel

In July 2026, South Korea welcomed over 2 million international tourists, with the total reaching 2,093,223, as inbound tourism remained robust above pre-pandemic figures. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, this number represents a 20.8% increase from the 1,733,199 visitors recorded in July 2025. It also accounts for 144.6% of the foreign arrivals in July 2019, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak that disrupted global travel.

Air Arabia is set to commence nonstop flights connecting Sharjah and Gdansk starting December 14, 2026. The newly introduced route will link Sharjah International Airport with Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport five times weekly. Flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This addition provides a direct UAE connection for northern Poland and broadens Air Arabia’s scheduled flight network within the country. Reservations for the new service are currently available through the airline’s sales channels.

Etihad Airways is set to commence seasonal nonstop flights connecting Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg beginning December 17, 2026. The service will operate four times each week until March 21, 2027. This route will link the UAE capital with Sweden’s second largest city during the winter travel period. Tickets for the new flights from Abu Dhabi to Gothenburg are already available. The flights will operate between Zayed International Airport and Gothenburg Landvetter Airport.

South Korea saw a tourism surplus of $596.6 million in June 2026, marking its most robust monthly figure since the onset of COVID-19. This result represents a $1.44 billion increase compared to June 2025, which recorded an $846.8 million deficit. According to Korea Tourism Organization data, June’s surplus ranks as the second-largest monthly on record, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.

Starting from Aug. 8 at midnight, Spain has implemented temporary border inspections for travelers arriving from Italy by air and sea. These controls are set to stay in effect until Sept. 7. The measure was introduced following Italy’s own temporary border restrictions on arrivals from Spain. It involves additional document verification on routes that typically operate under the European Union’s Schengen area of free internal movement.

Starting July 31, 2026, flydubai will operate a twice-daily service between Dubai International Airport and Milan-Bergamo Airport, while also raising its flights to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule. The capacity increase aligns with broader trends in the aviation industry within the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger numbers are steadily rising post-pandemic. These additional frequencies support growing bilateral trade, investments, and tourism flows between the United Arab Emirates and Italy.

On Tuesday, Emirates, the flagship airline, announced the launch of a new cryptocurrency checkout feature, allowing qualified passengers to purchase flights using digital currencies on its website and mobile application. Confirmed by Emirates News Agency, the partnership between Emirates and Crypto.com introduces travelers to a fresh payment method, stemming from a strategic memorandum of understanding initially signed in July 2025. This digital asset payment gateway is accessible to residents of the United Arab Emirates for both international and domestic flights, with prices and settlements denominated in Emirati Dirhams (AED). Payments are processed through Crypto.com’s checkout system, providing users immediate access to their digital wallet balances during the ticketing process.

Exterior view of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi entrance plaza on Saadiyat Island. (Credit – WAM) The museum’s architecture includes 30 indoor galleries with a total of 11,600 square metres dedicated to exhibitions, complemented by 23,000 square metres of outdoor display zones. These spaces are linked through a central atrium, and the skyline is characterized by ten sculptural cones—nine clad in stainless steel mesh, and one finished in onyx and glass. Besides their visual appeal, these architectural features, reaching heights of up to 88 metres, are functional as well; they harness natural breezes and provide shade, utilizing passive cooling techniques suited for the desert climate. The facility also houses a dedicated art and technology center, specialized facilities for children’s education, archives, a research library, and a sophisticated conservation lab. Since 2009, the museum has been steadily building an extensive permanent collection that integrates local, regional, and international artistic expressions. The artworks are curated around thematic narratives rather than strict chronological order, exploring cross-regional stories across different geographies, generations, and mediums from the mid-twentieth century to today. The collection underscores the UAE’s strategic position at the crossroads of global trade and cultural exchange across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. By forging relationships between diverse artistic voices, the museum aims to offer visitors new insights into contemporary global art history. Curatorial Approach Connects International Modern and Contemporary Art Stories Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is

The Republic of Korea welcomed nearly 2 million international visitors in June, pushing the total number of foreign travelers entering the country during the first six months of the year past a major milestone. Official government data published by Emirates News Agency confirmed that Korea’s foreign tourist arrivals top 10 million in H1 following sustained double-digit growth across key regional source markets. Statistics compiled by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism show that 1.99 million foreign tourists arrived in June alone, representing a 23.1 percent increase compared to the same month last year.

New government data shows South Korea’s travel account posts surplus for 3rd consecutive month in May amid rising tourist arrivals. The post May foreign tourist arrivals drive South Korea travel surplus appeared first on Arabian Observer: Observe more. Understand Arabia..