Travel Unpacked: Notre Dame Cathedral reopens and Emirates adds new Australia flights

The National rounds up the most interesting tourism news you might have missed

Half a million trees and shrubs have been planted in AlUla as part of Saudi Arabia's rewilding plan. Photo: Royal Commission for AlUla

Emirates has added more flights connecting Dubai and Australia, and will cease its existing connecting route between Singapore and Melbourne. In Saudi Arabia, work is unfolding on the kingdom's ambitious rewilding plans.

It was a big moment in France this week as the renowned Notre Dame Cathedral finally reopened after a five-year, $737 million restoration project. And the first Rixos hotel is heading to Vietnam, while a Michelin-lauded pop-up is coming to Abu Dhabi's first adults-only resort.

Here's a round-up of recent travel and tourism news – in case you missed it.

Rewilding Saudi Arabia: Half a million trees planted at Sharaan Nature Reserve

AlUla’s landscapes have turned a deep shade of green after the successful planting of more than 500,000 trees and shrubs.

The Royal Commission for AlUla spearheaded the project at Sharaan Nature Reserve in Saudi's Madinah province. Among the flora planted are several indigenous species, including acacia trees, flowering grasses and rare species such as Pulicaria incisa – an aromatic herb with small yellow sunflower blooms.

The new plants and trees will provide habitat and food sources for the region’s newly released wildlife. The initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia's Green Initiative, a broader plan to plant 10 billion trees nationwide. The first 600 million trees are expected to be planted by 2030.

To further enhance the region's biodiversity, more than 1,000 native animals – including ibex, idmi gazelle and red-necked ostrich – have already been reintroduced to AlUla's protected nature reserves. Spanning 1,500 square kilometres, Sharaan Nature Reserve is on track to be the site of the possible reintroduction of Arabian leopards to AlUla's mountains.

Emirates adds non-stop Melbourne flights and drops Singapore stopovers

Travellers heading Down Under from Dubai will soon have new options for flights as Emirates announces a third non-stop service to Melbourne. Operated via the Dubai airline’s newly retrofitted Boeing 777, flights will begin on March 30. Passengers can book tickets in four classes of travel, including the airline's newest Premium Economy cabins.

Emirates currently operates two non-stop daily flights between Dubai and Melbourne using its new Airbus A380 jets. Travellers can also fly to Melbourne via a connection in Singapore on an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER flight. This service will cease in March when the new non-stop flights from Dubai to Melbourne commence. Travellers with bookings on the Singapore route due to fly after March 30 will be offered alternative travel arrangements or a full refund.

The third daily non-stop flight to Melbourne will see Emirates' capacity to Australia restored to pre-pandemic levels. It will be the 77th weekly service to the country from Dubai, following the resumption of the airline's second daily Perth service, which started on December 1.

Notre Dame Cathedral reopens after five-year restoration project

Five years after a fire ravaged Notre Dame, the historic cathedral has reopened to the public. Several world leaders attended an official and religious ceremony on Sunday, which was headed by the Archbishop of Paris and attended by France's President Emmanuel Macron. The head of the church declared the cathedral open by striking the doors of the historic building three times with a staff constructed from a former wooden ceiling beam that survived the April 2019 blaze.

Members of the public are now able to visit the Gothic medieval masterpiece, which was restored in record time for a structure that took about two centuries to build. Tickets can be booked online and admission to the main section of the Notre Dame Cathedral remains free, but visitors may need to pay entry fees to access special areas of the building or to take a guided tour.

Authorities have introduced several safety measures designed to protect the historic structure as it reopens, as well as ensuring visitor safety. These include a timed entry system and reduced capacity of visitors at one time. The Catholic church is expecting to welcome about 40,000 visitors per day, or 15 million annually, up from about 13 million before the fire. Restoration works will continue at the landmark until 2026, with new stained glass windows still to be installed and the apse and sacristy to be completed.

Rixos debuts in South-east Asia with all-inclusive resort in Vietnam

Famed for its all-inclusive resort concept, Rixos hotels is set to make its debut in South-east Asia with the launch of Rixos Phu Quoc.

Slated to open in 2026, the resort is located on Vietnam’s Hon Thom island, a destination known for its natural scenery and luxury leisure facilities that is reachable via a 45-minute flight from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s largest city.

“The exclusive island of Phu Quoc, with its breath-taking landscape, sandy beaches and clear blue waters, will bring the Rixos all-inclusive experience to Asia for the first time,” said Gaurav Bhushan, co-chief executive at Ennismore.

Rixos Phu Quoc will be a sprawling property with a design inspired by a royal palace. It will have 1,300 guest rooms, 207 of which will be suites, and all rooms will come with ocean views and access to a private beach.

Entirely family-friendly, the resort will have a beach, several playgrounds, as well as a Rixy Kids Club, where little ones of all ages can be entertained. And there’s a theme park right on the resort's doorstep for those seeking even more adventure. Various water sports and recreation activities will be on offer, including outdoor chess, bowling and tennis.

The resort's all-inclusive concept will also give travellers access to activities in the surrounding neighbourhood, including on Sunset Town, the world's longest three-wire cable car over an ocean, as well as Aquatopia water park at Sun World Hon Thom.

Michelin-lauded dining at Abu Dhabi's first adults-only retreat

Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat will kick off the new year in style with a short series of Michelin-quality dining events. Portuguese chef Louis Anjos will be flying in to host three gastronomy evenings at the resort on the coastline of Ghantoot.

Passionate about Portuguese cuisine, the chef has led several Michelin-starred establishments to fame, including Bon Bon, a one-starred restaurant in Lagoa, and Portugal's one-starred Al Sud. In the UAE, he'll be focusing on using seasonal ingredients via a creative five-course menu.

Priced from Dh2,500 per couple, the dinner will be served at Thalassa and is set to be an intimate experience with only 10 tables per seating. Highlights on the menu will include caviar-kissed tuna and lobster royale, both dishes showcasing the chef's prowess in blending classic recipes with a contemporary twist.

Located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat is the UAE capital's first luxury adults-only resort. Inspired by the Greek island of the same name, the villa resort opened in February and has 22 whitewashed accommodations, all with sea views.