The island paradise of Phuket is riding an extraordinary wave of tourism recovery in 2025, welcoming millions of travelers and generating remarkable revenue that underscores its position as Thailand’s premier tourist destination. Data from the Provincial Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Office in Phuket reveals that over 7.6 million tourists arrived between January and July alone, injecting an astonishing 290 billion baht into the island’s economy.

Governor Sophon Suwannarat highlighted the diverse mix of visitors fueling this resurgence. Russians, Chinese, and Indians topped the arrival charts for the seven-month period, while European tourists surged in July, accounting for nearly 43% of visitors in that month. July’s tourist count reached approximately 887,000, contributing 36 billion baht to the local economy, a vivid sign of the island’s enduring appeal.

Hotel occupancy rates reflect healthy demand, with an average of 76.61% from January to July and a July occupancy of 63.99%, which mirrors typical seasonal travel patterns. The bustling hospitality sector benefits from a steady flow of international travelers who continue to choose Phuket for leisure, business, and cultural experiences.

Phuket’s growing visitor numbers are strongly supported by increased air traffic. Phuket International Airport recorded 63,007 flights in the first seven months of the year—a 6% rise over the same period last year. July by itself saw 7,896 flights touching down, signaling robust connections and accessibility for global travelers.

Adding to the island’s global reach, three new international airlines launched direct routes to Phuket in 2025. AirAsia inaugurated a four-times-weekly Medan-Phuket route, Asiana Airlines increased connectivity with 14 weekly flights from Seoul, and Air France began operating a thrice-weekly Paris-Phuket service. These new links not only broaden Phuket’s market but also make the island more accessible to diverse audiences.

Maritime tourism is also thriving. From January to July, 154,217 visitors arrived via 55 tourist boats, complemented by 670 travelers onboard 527 yachts, reinforcing the importance of sea-based arrivals in Phuket’s tourism mosaic.

Last year, Phuket welcomed a record 13.1 million visitors and amassed staggering tourism revenue of 497 billion baht, securing its status as Thailand’s top-earning province for tourism, as reported by the Bangkok Post. Encouragingly, the current year’s figures suggest Phuket is well on pace to match or potentially surpass those high benchmarks by year-end.

With expanding flight routes, consistently strong hotel occupancy, and tourists arriving from all corners of the globe, Phuket’s tourism sector is not merely recovering—it’s booming. The island is poised to continue dazzling travelers and driving economic growth well into the future, reaffirming its crown jewel status in Thailand’s tourism landscape.

September 3, 2025 – Football fans around the globe can now start planning their journey to the world’s biggest sporting spectacle. FIFA has officially announced that exclusive travel packages for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, are now on sale.

The packages, designed to make the tournament experience seamless, include round-trip flights, premium accommodation options ranging from luxury hotels to high-end business stays, ground transportation, and guaranteed match tickets in Category 1 or Category 2 seating.

This early offering allows supporters to secure their seats well in advance, avoiding the uncertainty of the regular ticketing process. Organizers say this initiative is aimed at giving fans peace of mind while ensuring an unforgettable travel and match-day experience.

FIFA notes that Privilege Club members will also enjoy added perks, including earning Avios points on every package purchased. With the tournament expected to attract millions of visitors across three host nations, securing a travel package early could be the key to avoiding soaring prices and limited availability as the event draws nearer.

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams and an expanded format that promises more matches, more destinations, and more global excitement than ever before. Cities including New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Mexico City are preparing to host matches in some of the world’s most iconic stadiums.

FIFA and its partners emphasize that availability is limited and demand is expected to surge rapidly. Fans are encouraged to review all terms and conditions before booking.

With less than a year to go, the countdown has started—and for many supporters, these packages could be the golden ticket to football’s ultimate festival.

UAE’s low-cost carrier Air Arabia has launched a special promotion, offering one-way fares starting from as low as Dh149, just in time for the upcoming long weekend.

The discounted tickets cover a wide range of destinations, including Muscat, Salalah, Dammam, Riyadh, and Kuwait across the GCC, as well as popular routes to India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The offer is valid for travel between September 15 and November 30, 2025, giving budget-conscious passengers ample flexibility for short getaways or longer trips.

To secure these low fares, passengers must book their tickets between August 28 and September 5, 2025. Air Arabia has urged travellers to act quickly, as the special fares are available only for a limited time and subject to seat availability.

This promotion comes as a boost for residents planning last-minute travel during the holiday break, further cementing Air Arabia’s reputation for offering affordable travel options in the region.

Oman’s low-cost airline SalamAir has launched a series of major fare discounts this August, giving customers the chance to fly to domestic and international destinations at the most affordable prices in recent memory.

Breaking Fares Campaign

SalamAir’s latest “Breaking Fares” campaign runs from August 24 to August 28, 2025, with fares starting at just OMR 19.99 (about Dh191). This limited-time offer allows travelers to book flights for journeys between October 1 and November 30, 2025, across SalamAir’s regional and international network.

Destinations include major cities like Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, Alexandria, Dammam, and several in South Asia such as Hyderabad, Chennai, Jaipur, Islamabad, Karachi, and Sialkot.

Domestic Discounts for Cardholders

In addition to international deals, SalamAir is offering exclusive domestic flight discounts in partnership with Sohar International and Sohar Islamic banks. Customers booking from June 21 to August 10, 2025, for travel within Oman between July 1 and August 31, receive 15% off for debit card holders and 40% off for credit card holders (Gold, Platinum, Signature, Infinite)

The domestic deal covers routes between Muscat and locations like Salalah, Duqm, Masirah, and Sohar, and requires a promotional code from the issuing bank.

Click here to Book Now!

Terms and Availability

All discounts are available exclusively through SalamAir’s website or authorized sales channels. Seats are limited, so early booking is highly encouraged. Add-on options like seat selection and additional baggage remain available, allowing passengers to customize their travel.

Industry Impact

Marketing head Khadija Al Kindi highlights the initiative as part of SalamAir’s goal to make travel accessible despite rising global airfares. The campaign also coincides with the airline’s fleet expansion, positioning SalamAir as a key driver of affordable air travel in Oman and the wider region.

Travelers in Oman are now presented with a unique window to explore more for less, whether for business, leisure, or student travel.

Passengers flying out of Hamad International Airport (HIA) can now enjoy added convenience with Qatar Duty Free’s newly introduced ‘Collect on Return’ service, which allows travelers to shop duty-free before departure and collect their purchases upon their return to Doha.

The service, launched as part of Qatar Duty Free’s strategy to enhance customer experience, caters especially to Qatar residents, frequent travelers, and business passengers who may want to take advantage of duty-free pricing without carrying extra bags or fragile goods abroad.

How the Service Works

Travelers departing Doha can browse and purchase items from Qatar Duty Free’s wide retail portfolio, which includes luxury fashion, perfumes, cosmetics, electronics, watches, jewelry, confectionery, and premium liquors. Once customers select their goods, they can request that the purchase be stored.

• The items are securely packaged and labeled with the passenger’s details.

• Qatar Duty Free then stores them in designated, climate-controlled facilities to protect sensitive products such as fine chocolates, skincare, and beverages.

• Travelers receive a claim voucher or digital receipt, which they present when they return through HIA.

• On arrival back in Doha, passengers can collect their purchases at special ‘Collect on Return’ counters located within the arrivals area.

This process ensures that travelers avoid carrying unnecessary weight, dealing with customs concerns abroad, or transporting delicate products during their trips.

Benefits for Passengers

1. Hassle-Free Travel – Passengers can shop without worrying about space in their luggage.

2. Security & Preservation – Goods are stored safely under proper conditions.

3. Convenience for Short Trips – Particularly useful for weekend trips, business travel, or families with children.

4. Opportunity to Secure Promotions – If there are limited-time offers or exclusive products available on departure day, passengers can still purchase them without needing to carry them away immediately.

Strategic Importance

Qatar Duty Free operates in one of the fastest-growing hubs in the world, and the rollout of this service is seen as another step to match and surpass global standards in travel retail.

Hamad International Airport, which has repeatedly been ranked “World’s Best Airport” by Skytrax (2021, 2022, 2024), positions itself as a premium global gateway. It already boasts more than 90 boutiques and retail outlets, alongside 30 restaurants and cafés, offering both international luxury brands and local Qatari products.

By introducing ‘Collect on Return,’ QDF joins a select group of major duty-free retailers worldwide — such as those in Singapore, Dubai, and Heathrow — who offer similar services. Industry experts argue that this innovation is becoming increasingly important as passengers look for greater flexibility in how they shop, especially in the post-pandemic era where smooth, contact-minimized, and tailored services are in demand.

Official Position

QDF officials have emphasized that the service reinforces their passenger-first philosophy. “This initiative is built around convenience and peace of mind,” a Qatar Duty Free spokesperson noted in earlier statements, highlighting that the program reflects QDF’s ambition to provide not just products, but also premium after-purchase services.

Looking Ahead

Aviation analysts suggest that value-added retail services like ‘Collect on Return’ could boost non-aeronautical revenues for airports, which now account for a growing share of global airport income. It also enhances customer loyalty, as passengers are more likely to shop again if the process is streamlined and worry-free.

Travel insiders point out that this concept also reflects a wider luxury shopping trend in the Gulf region, where airports are increasingly expected to act as lifestyle destinations as much as transit hubs.

In a festive gesture to celebrate India's Independence Day, Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national carrier, has launched an exclusive discount campaign for passengers booking from India. Operating from its hub at Zayed International Airport, Etihad is offering a generous 30 percent discount on Economy class tickets to a wide array of popular destinations across Europe and the United States.

Travellers booking now can secure flights at significantly reduced rates to iconic cities such as Chicago (Dh3,273), Toronto (Dh3,599), Washington DC (Dh3,149), Barcelona (Dh2,036), and Dublin (Dh2,149). The offer also extends to flights headed to Brussels, Prague, Warsaw, Sochi, New York, Rome, Atlanta, Madrid, Boston, Paris, Munich, and Frankfurt, making it easier than ever for Indian passengers to explore these global hubs.

The special fares are available for booking up until August 15, with a travel window stretching from September 2025 through March 2026. This promotion follows on the heels of Etihad’s recent start-of-summer campaign, which included discounts of up to 25% on both business and economy class tickets.
As the 2025 summer travel season approaches its end, airlines based in the UAE, neighboring regions, and India have launched a series of competitive fare offers, heating up the market for travelers seeking value deals.

In other exciting news, Etihad recently inaugurated commercial operations of its new Airbus A321LR, with Flight EY414 marking the first journey from Zayed International Airport to the beautiful island destination of Phuket. The addition of the A321LR to its fleet underscores Etihad’s commitment to delivering premium cabin experiences on short and medium-haul flights, mirroring the attention to detail and service excellence featured on its acclaimed widebody aircraft.

With these strategic offers and fleet enhancements, Etihad Airways continues to strengthen its position as a preferred carrier for Indian travelers seeking quality and affordability on international flights.