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Arab Tourism Organization Recognizes Marbella as Top Destination for Arab Tourists, Honors its Mayor

During a meeting Al-Fuhaid and Munoz discussed various aspects of mutual cooperation. SPA
During a meeting Al-Fuhaid and Munoz discussed various aspects of mutual cooperation. SPA
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Arab Tourism Organization Recognizes Marbella as Top Destination for Arab Tourists, Honors its Mayor

During a meeting Al-Fuhaid and Munoz discussed various aspects of mutual cooperation. SPA
During a meeting Al-Fuhaid and Munoz discussed various aspects of mutual cooperation. SPA

President of the Arab Tourism Organization Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid has recognized Spain’s Marbella city as a top destination for Arab visitors and honored its Mayor, Angeles Munoz, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Sunday.

During a meeting, Al-Fuhaid and Munoz discussed various aspects of mutual cooperation, including the exchange of expertise in the quality of tourism services, the training and qualification of tourism sector workers, and the increase of tourism investments, SPA said.

Al-Fuhaid said the organization is mulling, in partnership with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), to establish a training and development academy in Marbella.

The goal is to enhance the skills and qualifications of Arab youth for careers in tourism by leveraging Spain's extensive experience, which is recognized as one of the world's leading countries in the tourism sector, SPA added.

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Coffee Lovers Find Grounds for Complaint at Australian Open

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 15, 2025 General view of people buying coffee outside the courts. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 15, 2025 General view of people buying coffee outside the courts. (Reuters)
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Coffee Lovers Find Grounds for Complaint at Australian Open

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 15, 2025 General view of people buying coffee outside the courts. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 15, 2025 General view of people buying coffee outside the courts. (Reuters)

Melbourne prides itself on serving up the world's best coffee, but finding a hot brew at the Australian Open has proved a challenge for some of the tens of thousands of fans attending this year's Grand Slam tennis tournament.

Organizers have worked hard over the last decade to improve options for refreshment and an array of outlets at the Melbourne Park precinct.

Yet long queues face fans looking to indulge their passion for the city's favorite beverage at the 15 coffee stores Tennis Australia says dot the 40-hectare (99-acre) site.

"We need more coffee places open," said Katherine Wright, who has been coming to the tournament for the five years as she lined up for a hot drink near the Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday.

"We are big coffee drinkers, especially Melburnians."

The Australian Open attracts more than 90,000 fans a day early on in the tournament, when ground passes are relatively cheap, offering the chance to watch main draw action on the outer courts.

Liz, another Melburnian, said she stood in line for half an hour for a cup of coffee on Sunday, when rain halted play for six hours on the outer courts.

"This is a well-established global event," she added. "You actually need to be providing better service to the consumer."

Melbourne imports about 30 tons of coffee beans a day, the Australian Science Education Research Association says, representing a surge of nearly eightfold over the past decade that is sufficient to brew 3 million cups of coffee.

For Malgorzata Halaba, a fan who came from Poland on Sunday for her second Australian Open, finding one of those 3 million cups was a must.

"It seems it took me a day and a half, and several kilometers of walking around the grounds, to find coffee," she said. "And jet-lagged as I am, coffee is a lifesaver."