SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, 2023 18th October/WAM – Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Board, led the UAE delegation attending the 25th session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). currently taking place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The session will last until 2023. October 20

The United Arab Emirates, represented by the President of the Emirates Tourism Council, participates in the work of this session as the Vice-President of the Middle East Region of the UN WTO General Assembly, who was elected to this honorary position in 2012. The 24th session was held in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

In this regard, Abdullah bin Touq emphasized that the selection of the UAE to represent the Middle East on this important occasion reflects the confidence of international institutions in the essential role of the UAE in supporting global issues through its constructive initiatives aimed at promoting the well. – the existence and prosperity of all the nations of the world according to the instructions of wise leaders.

In his speech, Bin Touq highlighted the many unique values ​​of tourism in the Middle East, including its rich and diverse cultural heritage, unique historical sites, developed infrastructure and hospitality. He noted that these resources make the region a sustainable destination for tourists from around the world.

Bin Touq also called for increased cooperation among Middle Eastern countries to develop new goals and policies to create a more sustainable and innovative tourism sector that would further contribute to their long-term economic growth. He suggested that this goal could be achieved by launching innovative tourism projects tailored to each country’s unique tourism assets, as well as by developing entertainment programs that meet the expectations of visitors. He also called on UNWTO to take a more active role in supporting these efforts through training, marketing and funding.

Bin Touq reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to supporting efforts around the world and in the Middle East to shape the future of the global tourism sector. He called for more effective mechanisms to promote the movement of tourists between all countries of the world and provide visitors with a unique tourism experience. He also emphasized the importance of adopting common measures that would support the sustainable growth of this vital sector and meet the aspirations of all UN WTO member states.

Bin Touq called for greater involvement of the private sector in launching innovative tourism projects that use technology to deliver services. He also called for support for startups in the tourism sector to develop innovative ideas that contribute to the sustainable development of tourism. In addition, he emphasized the importance of continuous training and human resource development in the tourism sector using the latest knowledge and technology.

Many topics were discussed at the 25th session of the UN WTO General Assembly, including the activities of the organization over the past two years, future plans for the development of the global tourism sector and how to make its management more flexible and efficient. The meeting was attended by representatives of the tourism sector from all 160 member states.

Based on 2023 July. international tourist traffic recovered 84% from pre-COVID-19 levels, according to a UNWTO report. in 2023 January-July traveled about 700 million of international tourists, ie 43 percent. more compared to the same 2022 in months. Visitor numbers in the Middle East region also increased during this period, surpassing pre-pandemic numbers by 20 percent. .

UNWTO was founded in 1975. and is affiliated with the United Nations. It has 160 member states and is headquartered in Madrid, Spain. The organization is engaged in the development of the global tourism sector. The United Arab Emirates is one of the founding members of the organization and an important member in the Middle East region. The United Arab Emirates is a member of the organization’s Executive Council from 2021.

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