Qatar Tourism is participating in the 50th meeting of the Regional Commission for the Middle East of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which is being held in Muscat, Oman, and will continue until the 24th of this month. At the conclusion of Friday's sessions, it was announced that Qatar will host the next meeting of the commission in its 51st edition.
The selection of Doha to host the upcoming meeting reaffirms Qatar's role as a regional and global hub for cultural, economic, and political exchange, enhancing cooperation among countries and contributing to the development of international relations, thereby supporting the tourism sector's contribution to sustainable economic development among participating countries.
The 50th meeting of the Regional Commission for the Middle East of the UNWTO holds special significance as it addresses regional initiatives aimed at enhancing cooperation and integration in the tourism sector among the participating countries at both the Arab and regional levels. It builds on their commonalities and benefits from the successes achieved over the past years.
Regarding integration among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the importance of a unified tourist visa for the GCC was highlighted, which is scheduled to be implemented by the end of this year. This initiative is expected to contribute to the path of sustainable and comprehensive economic development.
The meeting included constructive discussions on tourism investments and funding methods, emphasizing that Qatar boasts an attractive investment environment for both local and foreign investors. This is due to its economic stability, capable of withstanding challenges and achieving growth in the GDP. Qatar has seen the establishment of more than 800 new commercial enterprises and the execution of 135 foreign direct investment projects with a total value of $29.78 billion. Additionally, Qatar Tourism's commitment to achieving excellence in service across all aspects of the tourism sector was discussed, highlighting close cooperation with public and private sector institutions in the country, which has contributed to providing an attractive and exceptional experience for visitors.
On the sidelines of his participation in the 50th meeting of the Regional Commission for the Middle East of the UNWTO, HE Chairman of Qatar Tourism Saad bin Ali Al Kharji met with Secretary-General of the UNWTO Zurab Pololikashvili. During the meeting, they discussed the launch of the second edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards in partnership with the UNWTO to honor those who have contributed to elevating the visitor experience in Qatar to a high level of service excellence. They also explored ways of cooperation in developing innovative ideas in the tourism sector in line with the digital transformation strategy and the use of artificial intelligence.
The Chairman of Qatar Tourism emphasized Qatar's willingness to share its expertise in launching the Haya platform, which has played a prominent role in enhancing the tourism industry both locally and regionally.
