Flying Carpet Travel, the unique one-stop destination discovery and booking portal, promoted by the founders of AirlinePros International, has unveiled a major upgrade to its digital destination marketing platform. The new feature ‘Aladdin’s World’ is an initiative designed to empower national tourism organizations with the tools they need to showcase their destinations more effectively in an increasingly competitive global market. Aladdin’s World supports NTO efforts to provide relevant and unique destination information and helps travellers discover curated destination content and exclusive experiences.
With the launch of Aladdin’s World, Flying Carpet Travel successfully positions itself as a next-generation discovery and booking hub, offering visitors access to more than 400 flight options, 300,000 hotels, 400,000 activities, as well as airport transfers and travel insurance. Its intuitive interface is tailored to simplify travel planning while giving destinations greater visibility and control over how their products are presented.
A Platform Built for Evolving Tourism Needs
The launch took centre stage at the AirlinePros International General Assembly, a four-day gathering held in Cape Town, South Africa. The event brought together members of AirlinePros International and Flying Carpet Travel offices from nearly 100 global offices, aviation and tourism leaders, and media professionals to explore pressing industry themes from sustainability and artificial intelligence to visa facilitation and sector-wide resilience.
“We are here to help National Tourism Organizations and destinations fully leverage digital tools to reach modern-day travellers,” said Achma Asokan, Group CEO, introducing the platform and its many features. The upgraded platform was described as ‘nuanced and bespoke’ built not only to showcase a destination’s offerings but to equip NTOs with backend management capabilities ensuring they can own, control, and customize their digital presence.
Achma Asokan, Group CEO
Zambia has become the first destination to be onboarded onto the platform. During the assembly, Asokan presented a live demonstration of the system in action. Namibia, Botswana, Antigua & Barbuda, and Sao Paulo are among other destinations which are also in the process of signing up, gaining access to a modern online channel that highlights regional experiences while connecting travellers directly with local accommodations, activities, and curated itineraries.
UN Tourism Highlights Africa’s Rising Momentum
In a keynote address at the AirlinePros International Assembly, Elcia Grandcourt, UN Tourism’s Regional Director for Africa, outlined the organization’s initiatives aimed at shaping tourism into a genuine force for good. She highlighted programs such as Best Tourism Villages, ‘’Travel, Enjoy Respect’’ – designed to preserve
to raise awareness of the value and contribution that sustainable tourism can make towards development.Grandcourt also shared encouraging insights from the latest UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer, noting that Africa continues to rank among the world’s top-performing regions. While the continent still represents just over 5% of global arrivals, recovery has been exceptionally strong.
Elcia Grandcourt, Regional Director for Africa- UN Tourism
“The African continent witnessed the strongest performance globally, with a 12% increase in international arrivals between January and June 2025 compared to the same period last year,” Grandcourt noted. Morocco, Eswatini, South Africa, Tunisia, and Ethiopia emerged as the top performing destinations in early 2025.
With global tourism now fully rebounding from the disruption caused by the COVID, Africa’s momentum signals a new chapter – one marked by innovation, collaboration, and a renewed focus on responsible growth.
