The UAE hosted yesterday (Monday, April 24, 2017) the United Nations World Tourist Organization (UNWTO) and Arabian Travel Market Ministerial Forum arranged by the Ministry of Economy (MOE) in cooperation with the UNWTO. Held under the patronage of H.E. Engr. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, the forum talked about methods to boost the payments of tourist to the MENA region's development and comprehensive and sustainable economic diversification.

Several tourism Ministers and delegates from of the region's WTO member countries, most especially Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia, took part in the forum. The meeting was gone to by H.E. Mohammed Khamis Al Mheiri, the MOE's Undersecretary and Advisor to the Minister for Tourist Affairs, H.E. Dr. Taleb Rifai, Assistant General of the UNWTO, different agents and officials from the tourism markets of Arab nations, in addition to representatives of companies from the personal tourist industry.

H.E. Al Mheiri said throughout his speech on behalf of H.E Al Mansoori at the opening of the forum that tourist has actually proven to be a main column of economic and social advancement in Several countries. He better emphasized that the MENA region is qualified to be among the world's leading tourist locations as a result of its tourist attractions and tourism potentials.

H.E. Al Mheiri said: "I think that today we are facing a new stage of tourism development that needs higher cooperation to ensure that we take advantage of the possibilities used by this market, work harder, consolidate our collaborations, and exchange experiences and knowledge amongst our nations at the federal government and personal levels. These will assist us to overcome any difficulties that we encounter in developing our tourist fields, boost the industry's competition, and maximize its capability to add to the general sustainable development of our nations. This forum is an important platform for discovering the very best means and implies to make the most of tourism growth to serve our development goals.

H.E. Al Mheiri explained that the UAE's tourism sector is a major area of interest in the nation's development visions, noting that the industry is a column of financial diversity and sustainability and a significant driver to the post-oil stage. He described the UAE's outstanding tourist attractions, most significantly its all-natural variety and abundant social heritage; advanced and helpful tourist facilities such as air, sea and land transportation networks and centers; a strong aviation field; worldwide competitive national providers; widespread use of details and communications technology (ICT); along with the visibility of a number of leading hotels and premium traveler centers. He kept in mind that an increased state of safety and security and stability, a culture of openness and relaxed living dramatically include in the UAE's tourism charm.

H.E. Al Mheiri shared the World Traveling and Tourism Council's record that tourism made up greater than 12.1 percent of the UAE's GDP in 2016 and is expected to enhance its share to 4.9 percent over the next 10 years. The field supplies about 617,000 tasks in numerous Emirates and stands for 10.4 percent of the overall national workforce, with the latter anticipated to boost by 1.8 per cent within the present year.

Al Mheiri added that complete tourist financial investments in the UAE amounted to AED 26.2 billion last year, comparable to seven percent of complete investments into the country. He stated that the figure is expected to get to AED 74.5 billion by 2027, stating that the variety of visitors to the UAE expanded 5.5 percent in 2016 over the previous year to 24.8 million, with investing estimated at AED 110 billion and expected to rise to AED 113.4 billion this year. He added that the number of site visitors will hit 31.45 million in 2027, with a spending volume of AED 184 billion.

H.E. Al Mheiri said: "The UAE's hosting of the Ministerial Forum as part of around the world parties of the United Nations' Declaration of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development mirrors our keenness to proactively participate in global efforts to combine the principles of green and sustainable tourist. We plan to establish successful partnerships at the government and personal levels hereof, and to devote tourist as a vital force for attaining the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals."

For his part, H.E. Dr. Rifai stated during his opening speech that international tourism grew by 3.9 per cent in 2014 in spite of all the global difficulties, confirming the industry's versatility as a driver for growth, work creation and sustainability. He pointed out that conquering barriers to tourism's growth in the MENA region requires further discussion and teamwork to make sure the safety and security and productivity of the travel sector, better dilemma monitoring to protect tourist destinations, and the combination of tourist right into lasting development schedules.

The forum included a panel conversation participated in by Ministers, Officials and other senior speakers that discussed a variety of topics related to tourist advancement. These included making it possible for decision-makers to make choices based upon proof and accurate dimensions of tourist's impact on financial development; boosting the payments of local and global tourist-- generally joint tourist endeavors - in lasting advancement and the change to a green economic climate; and challenges and opportunities in ensuring tourism financial investments, among others.