GCC states approve tourism recovery plan, back Saudi UN Tourism candidacy
MANAMA — Gulf Cooperation Council tourism ministers approved a joint tourism sector recovery plan and pledged full support for Saudi Arabia’s bid for re-election to the Executive Council of UN Tourism for the 2027–2031 term during their 10th meeting in Manama on Thursday.The ministers reviewed developments across the GCC tourism sector and said it had demonstrated strong resilience and an ability…
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tourism ministers met in Manama on Thursday to approve a joint tourism sector recovery plan and support Saudi Arabia's candidacy for re-election to the Executive Council of UN Tourism for the 2027-2031 term. The ministers assessed the resilience of the GCC tourism sector in the wake of recent regional events and noted its strong performance, which stemmed from the region's robust tourism ecosystem, infrastructure, and services.
Current indicators suggested continued international demand and promising growth prospects in the coming years.
The ministers endorsed a comprehensive tourism sector recovery plan, encompassing various initiatives to revive GCC tourism markets. They also agreed to expedite joint projects, bolster regional marketing efforts, promote intra-GCC tourism, and enhance the sector's global competitiveness. The discussions underscored major growth drivers such as major tourism projects, international events, rising investments in tourism, culture, entertainment, and sports, as well as the expansion of air connectivity and travel facilitation measures.
GCC states emphasized the sector's foundation in security, stability, advanced regulatory frameworks, and world-class infrastructure, all of which contributed to confidence among visitors and investors. They also stressed the need for developing joint tourism programs and products, coordinating media efforts, improving tourism data and statistics, and fostering innovation, digital transformation, and human-capacity development.
Saudi Arabia's request for re-nomination to the Executive Council of UN Tourism was warmly welcomed by the GCC ministers. They expressed full backing for Saudi Arabia's candidacy, highlighting the kingdom's contributions to the tourism sector, its role in advancing international tourism cooperation, and support for UN Tourism's objectives.
In closing, the ministers reaffirmed their dedication to deepening GCC tourism integration and building a more competitive and sustainable sector, capable of boosting economic diversification and aligning with member states' development strategies.
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