The Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) approved the re-election of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as president of the council for the year 2024, at the 120th Executive Council meeting held in the Uzbek city of Samarkand, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.
Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Executive Council of UNWTO Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, said: “During the period of the first presidency of the Kingdom in 2023, plenty of initiatives that comprised partnership, innovation, and progress were launched. The achievements during that period were based on the common vision, cooperation and firm commitment among all members of the organization.”
“We have all paved the way to build a vision for a resilient tourism sector, and we look forward to continuing our leadership role in 2024,” he added.
“We recall the aspirations and hopes of all member states, and we will strive to implement the goals in a way that ensures that the tourism sector continues to achieve economic exchange and cultural and humanitarian rapprochement between world countries,” Al-Khateeb said.
He noted the unlimited support granted by the Kingdom’s leadership for the tourism sector, which is not confined to local efforts but includes the provision of important international initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development, including the establishment of the Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC). The center was announced by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, during the Saudi Green Initiative in October 2021.
Al- Khateeb stressed that the center will provide best practices to meet the sector needs, including major multinational companies that have clear objectives and distinct experiences, in addition to micro, small and medium enterprises that constitute 80% of the sector.
It recently announced the launch of an international research center that will work as a high-level reference body for research with the purpose of accelerating the travel and tourism sector’s transition to climate neutrality.
The minister noted that in alignment with the Kingdom’s vision and commitment to shaping the future of global travel, Saudi Arabia during its presidency of the Executive Council in 2023 achieved a pioneering role in the tourism sector and exceptional achievements, based on a carefully implemented plan. This vision gave priority to global cooperation and formed the basis for pioneering initiatives that aim to reimagine the sector.
