Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, hosted the 50th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for the Middle East in Muscat on Wednesday.
The meeting deals with a number of topics related to developing the tourism sector in the region.
Moreover, the regional commission’s meeting highlighted the action programme of the organisation during 2023-2024, as well as the priorities of the commission, which include medical tourism, tourism investment and means of funding joint regional tourism products.
Salim bin Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, pointed out that the meeting touched on challenges facing the tourism sector. These challenges require joint efforts and regional cooperation to find sustainable solutions and develop strategies that serve achieving joint aspirations.
Al Mahrouqi added that the Arab region is witnessing noticeable growth in the tourism field. This, in turn, the minister explained, increases the need for utilising this growth to contribute to economic development in general and to provide job opportunities and sustainability in particular.
On his turn, Ahmed Aqil Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pointed out that the tourism sector undertakes a main role in augmenting the growth of the international economy and providing job opportunities. The sector, he added, supports global efforts that aim at achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Al Khateeb noted that the number of incoming tourists to the Middle East exceeded 122 per cent, compared to the levels of 2019 (pre-pandemic).
Moreover, Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UN Tourism said that the Middle East witnessed increasing tourism activities and that the tourism sector underwent many changes. These changes are due to technology developments, as well as changes in education and other fields. — ONA
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