AlUla Becomes 1st Destination in Middle East to be Certified by Destinations International

The accomplishment is part of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). SPA
The accomplishment is part of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). SPA
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AlUla Becomes 1st Destination in Middle East to be Certified by Destinations International

The accomplishment is part of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). SPA
The accomplishment is part of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). SPA

Saudi Arabia’s AlUla has received accreditation from Destinations International, a US-based organization, making it the first destination in the Middle East to receive the certification.

The accomplishment is part of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), which serves as a benchmark for destination marketing organizations to measure quality and professionalism, AlUla announced Thursday.

The accreditation comes one year after AlUla successfully joined Destinations International as the first entity from the Middle East, it said.
Since opening its doors to visitors four years ago, AlUla has established itself as one of the most significant tourism sites in the Kingdom, especially with the introduction of a year-round events calendar.

"Completing the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program is a significant milestone for AlUla. We strive to develop AlUla's tourism industry and ecosystem to be best-in-class,” said Chief Tourism Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla Philip Jones.

Jones added: "This accreditation reaffirms our commitment to ensuring the highest standards in our destination and strengthening trust among visitors, stakeholders, and partners. We hope that being part of Destinations International, home to best practices, will enable us to share our unique approach with the world and highlight everything that makes AlUla one of the world's leading luxury destinations today."

To obtain Destination Marketing accreditation, over one hundred performance standards in areas including governance, stakeholder engagement, financial management, and destination development must be met. These standards are set by an independent committee of industry experts representing a wide range of destination organizations and are updated periodically to reflect the evolution of best practices in the sector.



Toxic Algae Killing Marine Life Off Australian Coast

This handout photo taken on March 29, 2025 and released on May 15, 2025 by OzFish shows a dead ornate cowfish washed ashore at Victor Harbor in South Australia. (Photo by Brad MARTIN / OZFISH / AFP)
This handout photo taken on March 29, 2025 and released on May 15, 2025 by OzFish shows a dead ornate cowfish washed ashore at Victor Harbor in South Australia. (Photo by Brad MARTIN / OZFISH / AFP)
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Toxic Algae Killing Marine Life Off Australian Coast

This handout photo taken on March 29, 2025 and released on May 15, 2025 by OzFish shows a dead ornate cowfish washed ashore at Victor Harbor in South Australia. (Photo by Brad MARTIN / OZFISH / AFP)
This handout photo taken on March 29, 2025 and released on May 15, 2025 by OzFish shows a dead ornate cowfish washed ashore at Victor Harbor in South Australia. (Photo by Brad MARTIN / OZFISH / AFP)

A vast bloom of toxic algae is killing more than 200 species of marine life off the southern coast of Australia, scientists and conservation groups say.

The algae -- Karenia mikimotoi -- appeared in waters around South Australia state in March, causing mass deaths in species including sharks, rays, crabs and octopuses.

"There are carcasses littering beaches," said Brad Martin, a manager of the non-profit fish conservation group Ozfish.

"It is common for our volunteers to say: 'We walked for one kilometer along the beach and saw 100 dead rays and other marine life'," he told AFP.

Beaches on wildlife-rich tourist draws such as Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and Fleurieu Peninsula have been affected.

The bloom stretches across 4,400 square kilometers (1,700 square miles), Martin said -- an area larger than Japan or Germany.

Karenia mikimotoi has been detected around the world since the 1930s, including off Japan, Norway, the United States and China where it has disrupted local tourism and fishery industries, causing millions of dollars worth of damage.

But Martin said South Australia had not previously experienced a toxic algae bloom of this scale or duration.

The South Australian government said the event is thought to have been driven by a marine heatwave, as well as relatively calm marine conditions.

Marine biologist Shauna Murray, who identified the algae species for the authorities, said it damages the gills of fish and prevents them from breathing.

"It is not pleasant," said Murray, from the University of Technology Sydney.

"It will probably take some time for the ecosystem to recuperate."

While conditions usually ease towards the end of April, there had been no relief yet, South Australian Environment Minister Susan Close said this month.

"We need a big change in weather to break this thing up -- there is nothing we can do to precipitate this," she told national broadcaster ABC.

In the meantime, South Australian authorities have urged beachgoers to avoid swimming in water that is discolored or foamy, warning that it can irritate the skin and affect breathing.

Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and duration of marine heatwaves across Australia, which significantly affects marine ecosystems.