Browsing: Travel

In July 2026, South Korea welcomed over 2 million international visitors, continuing to outperform pre-pandemic travel figures. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the country received a total of 2,093,223 foreign travelers during the month. This number represents a 20.8% increase from 1,733,199 visitors in July 2025. Additionally, it reached 144.6% of the July 2019 count, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global mobility.

Air Arabia is set to commence nonstop flights between Sharjah and Gdansk starting on Dec. 14, 2026. This new route will link Sharjah International Airport with Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport five times weekly. The flights are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This addition provides another direct connection from the UAE to northern Poland and broadens Air Arabia’s scheduled network within the country. Tickets for the new service are already available through the airline’s sales channels.

Etihad Airways is set to commence seasonal nonstop flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Gothenburg starting on December 17, 2026. The airline will operate this route four times weekly until March 21, 2027. This service will link the UAE’s capital with Sweden’s second-largest city during the winter travel season. Tickets for the new Abu Dhabi-Gothenburg route are already on sale. Flights will be scheduled between Zayed International Airport and Göteborg Landvetter Airport.

South Korea reported a tourism surplus of $596.6 million for June 2026, marking its most substantial monthly gain since the onset of COVID-19. This figure represents a $1.44 billion increase compared to June 2025, which saw an $846.8 million deficit. According to Korea Tourism Organization figures, June’s result ranks as the second-highest monthly tourism surplus ever recorded. The only month with a higher surplus was October 2008, at $661.5 million.

Spain has initiated temporary border inspections for passengers arriving from Italy by air and sea. These measures commenced at midnight on Aug. 8 and are expected to stay in effect until Sept. 7. The move comes as a response to Italy’s own temporary controls on arrivals from Spain. The new procedures add document verification to routes that typically operate within the European Union’s Schengen internal travel zone.

Dubai-based airline flydubai unveiled a significant increase in its European flight operations on Wednesday, aiming to meet rising international travel demand by adding more flights to major Italian hubs. According to reports from Emirates News Agency, flydubai is enhancing its presence in Italy by increasing frequencies to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, thereby strengthening direct connections between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Starting July 31, 2026, the airline will offer a double-daily service from Dubai International Airport to Milan-Bergamo Airport, while also expanding its flights to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule.

On Tuesday, Emirates, the flagship airline, introduced a new cryptocurrency checkout feature that allows qualified travelers to purchase flights using digital assets through its website and mobile application. The Emirates News Agency confirmed that Emirates and Crypto.com have partnered to provide travelers with an alternative payment method, following the signing of a strategic memorandum of understanding in July 2025. This digital asset payment platform is accessible to residents of the United Arab Emirates for both international and domestic flights paid for and settled in Emirati Dirhams (AED). Payments are processed via the checkout system managed by Crypto.com, granting users direct access to their digital wallets during the ticket purchasing process.

Exterior view of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi entrance plaza on Saadiyat Island. (Credit – WAM) Architecturally, the museum boasts 30 internal galleries totaling 11,600 square metres of exhibition space, complemented by 23,000 square metres of outdoor display zones. These are linked through a central atrium, with the skyline accentuated by ten sculptural cones, nine of which are clad in stainless steel mesh and one finished in onyx and glass. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these cones—rising up to 88 metres—serve functional purposes such as harnessing natural breezes and providing shade, employing passive cooling techniques suited to the desert environment. The complex also features a dedicated art and technology center, specialized educational facilities for children, archives, a research library, and a high-tech conservation lab. Since beginning its acquisition efforts in 2009, the museum has curated an extensive permanent collection that bridges local, regional, and international artistic trends. Rather than adhering to strict chronological sequencing, the exhibits revolve around thematic narratives, exploring cross-regional stories across geographies, generations, and media from the mid-twentieth century to today. The collection highlights the historical role of the Emirates at the crossroads of global trade and cultural exchange involving Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. By fostering relationships between diverse artistic voices, the museum offers visitors fresh perspectives on contemporary global art history. Connecting Global Modern and Contemporary Art Through Curatorial Vision Guggenheim Abu Dhabi joins

The Republic of Korea recorded nearly 2 million international visitors in June, marking a significant milestone as the total number of foreign travelers arriving during the first half of the year exceeded 10 million. Data released by the Emirates News Agency confirmed that Korea’s foreign tourist numbers topped 10 million in H1, supported by consistent double-digit growth across major regional source markets. Figures from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism show that June alone saw 1.99 million foreign visitors, a 23.1 percent rise compared to the same month last year. This strong monthly increase brought the total for the first six months to 10.71 million arrivals, which is a 21.3 percent increase from the 8.8 million recorded during the same period in 2025 and surpasses pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 26.9 percent. Regional tourist destinations report strong international visitor growth beyond capital hubs. Throughout the first half of the year, East Asian neighboring nations remained the leading contributors to South Korea’s tourism recovery. Visitor data shows that mainland China stayed the top source of international arrivals, with 650,000 visitors in June, and experienced the fastest year-on-year growth among major source markets. In total, Chinese visitors numbered 3.21 million during the first half of the year. Japan ranked second with 350,000 arrivals in June, bringing its six-month total to 1.95 million visitors. Taiwan held its position as the third-largest source, contributing

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..