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KSA to Chair Arab Tourism Ministers’ Emergency Meeting

Western tourists are seen attending a Formula E race in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 15, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Western tourists are seen attending a Formula E race in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 15, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
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KSA to Chair Arab Tourism Ministers’ Emergency Meeting

Western tourists are seen attending a Formula E race in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 15, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Western tourists are seen attending a Formula E race in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 15, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

The Arab League announced the holding of an emergency virtual session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism next Wednesday, under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia, with the participation of Arab tourism ministers and relevant organizations and unions, to discuss mechanisms to confront challenges imposed by the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The Director of the Department of Transport and Tourism at the Arab League, Dr. Dina Al-Zahir, said in a statement on Wednesday that the League has coordinated with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, headed by Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib, to hold a virtual emergency session.

She added that according to the joint statement issued by the Arab Organization for Tourism, the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, and the Arab Air Transport Association, the tourism and travel sector represents 14.2 percent of the Arab countries’ GDP, where it contributes significantly to advancing the economy.

Zahir also noted that the joint statement estimated losses in tourism revenues at about $25 billion, airline companies’ revenues at around $8 billion, and tourism investments at $12.96 billion.

About one million permanent jobs and hundreds of thousands of seasonal jobs could be canceled in the tourism sector, according to the statement.

The Director of the Department of Transport and Tourism emphasized that the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism praised the efforts taken by Arab countries to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and to impose a number of measures and policies to accelerate recovery from the negative repercussions on the tourism sector.

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Saudi Arabia Calls for ‘Reliable’ Path to the Establishment of Independent Palestinian State

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah addresses the second meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers in New York. SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah addresses the second meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers in New York. SPA
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Saudi Arabia Calls for ‘Reliable’ Path to the Establishment of Independent Palestinian State

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah addresses the second meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers in New York. SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah addresses the second meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers in New York. SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participated on Wednesday in the second meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers, chaired by Brazil, urging them to enable the achievement of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the adoption of a “reliable” path to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"The fact that our meeting is being held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly is an indication of the importance of the G20 and its leadership in ensuring the health of the global economy, enhancing multilateral cooperation, and finding innovative solutions to common challenges,” the Foreign Minister said in his speech.

He underscored the urgent need to adhere to successful models of collective action and the importance of seeking to develop and reform international institutions.

"The repercussions of wars and political conflicts undermine efforts to establish international peace and security and cast their shadows on all aspects of multilateral action, and when these institutions fail to carry out their fundamental duties towards these crises, this creates a gap in international action and a crisis of confidence that undermines their legitimacy. This is what we are witnessing today in the way some international institutions deal with the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine."

The Minister stressed that prolonging the war and expanding its scope deepens the suffering of the Palestinian people, threatens international peace and security, and undermines the chances of achieving comprehensive peace in the region.

"The G20 countries must intensify their joint efforts to overcome the international failure to confront Israel's serious violations of international laws and norms and enable the achievement of a ceasefire and the adoption of a reliable and irreversible path to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state,” he added.

Regarding reforming the United Nations system, especially the Security Council, he stressed that there is an urgent need for radical reform to compensate for the defects in addressing crises, responding to the needs of people, and keeping pace with international transformations and development requirements.

"The Kingdom affirms that the goal of reforming the Security Council is to enhance its credibility and effective response, believing in the importance of this in confronting contemporary crises and challenges, thus contributing to creating a more just, secure and stable world."