A delegation from Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) is representing Qatar in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Meeting of Undersecretaries of Tourism Ministers and Authorities, which began yesterday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The two-day meeting comes in advance of the meeting between the Ministers of Tourism and heads of tourism authorities in Saudi Arabia later this year.
The QTA delegation comprises Hassan al-Ibrahim, chief tourism development officer; Hamad al-Abdan, director of international co-operation; Saif al-Kuwari, director of PR and communication, and Mohamed Hafnawi, legal consultant.
The gathering of officials aims to lay the foundations for joint work between GCC countries in the field of tourism and set future guidelines for tourism industries in the member states.
In addition, officials will explore means of promoting intra-GCC tourism through developing special packages for travel between GCC countries, particularly for Gulf nationals.
The meeting will also look into mechanisms for unifying efforts to promote the Gulf region as a tourist destination, such as the development of promotional film material and websites.
Qatar had hosted the previous round of meetings between GCC tourism officials in 2015, which resulted in the number of resolutions, including the announcement of a Gulf Tourism Capital, which is celebrated by Manama, Bahrain, in its first year. The initiative aims to shine a spotlight on the tourism offerings of each Gulf country and raise awareness among residents of the importance of tourism and the opportunities it presents for investment and job creation.
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