عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Tourism Minister Chairs 121st UNWTO Executive Council Meeting in Barcelona

Discussions focused on analyzing international tourism trends, implementing the general work program and regulatory reforms, discussing financial growth strategies - SPA
Discussions focused on analyzing international tourism trends, implementing the general work program and regulatory reforms, discussing financial growth strategies - SPA
TT
TT

Tourism Minister Chairs 121st UNWTO Executive Council Meeting in Barcelona

Discussions focused on analyzing international tourism trends, implementing the general work program and regulatory reforms, discussing financial growth strategies - SPA
Discussions focused on analyzing international tourism trends, implementing the general work program and regulatory reforms, discussing financial growth strategies - SPA

Saudi Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb chaired the 121st Executive Council meeting of the UNWTO, held in Barcelona, Spain, on June 10 and 11, with the participation of tourism ministers from around the world.
Al-Khateeb's chairmanship of the current session underscores the Kingdom's leading role and influence in the global tourism sector, following significant successes in recent times. In his speech during the opening session, the minister stated, "Presiding over the 121st Executive Council meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization was a historic moment for us, as it united world leaders to confront pressing challenges in tourism and to drive tangible progress in all aspects of the global tourism sector. This gathering confirmed our collective vision of the continued prosperity of the international tourism sector, stressing the need for innovative models to sustain the sector, create investment opportunities, and continue strategic partnerships."
According to SPA, the discussions focused on analyzing international tourism trends, implementing the general work program and regulatory reforms, discussing financial growth strategies for the international tourism sector, and the importance of investing in human resource development to maintain global competitiveness. With global travel destinations on the rise, the tourism sector is expected to contribute up to $16 trillion to the global GDP by 2034.
The re-election of the Kingdom to chair the UNWTO's Executive Council for the second consecutive year in 2024 is a clear indicator of its pivotal and growing role in creating a resilient and thriving global tourism sector.
On the sidelines of the event, Al-Khateeb hosted a roundtable meeting with senior executives in the private tourism sector in Spain. He showcased the attractive investment opportunities in the Kingdom under the Investment Enablers Program in the tourism sector and the Investment Enablers Initiative in the hospitality sector. He also highlighted the diversity of tourism destinations in the Kingdom and Saudi Arabia's plans to enhance air connectivity between Spain and Saudi Arabia, as well as Europe.
Participants in the roundtable included senior executives from leading global, European, and Spanish hotel chains, as well as operators of several tourism facilities in the Kingdom, alongside organizations looking to expand their presence in the Kingdom, amidst significant developments in the tourism sector under the Saudi Vision 2030. The roundtable discussions coincide with an increase in the number of Spanish visitors to Saudi Arabia in 2023, with the Kingdom receiving over 40,000 Spanish tourists, marking a 6% increase from 2022.
This growth is attributed to the Kingdom's launch of the visit e-visa, as part of its efforts to provide opportunities for tourists and visitors from 66 countries to explore the Kingdom's vast tourism destinations and potential. These steps are part of its endeavors to increase the number of inbound tourists to 70 million by 2030.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Al-Abdulqader to Asharq Al-Awsat: COP16 to Advocate for Strategies Against Desertification

A green space in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A green space in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Al-Abdulqader to Asharq Al-Awsat: COP16 to Advocate for Strategies Against Desertification

A green space in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A green space in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Dr. Khalid Al-Abdulqader, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, stated that the upcoming 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), set to kick off in Riyadh on Monday, represents a significant opportunity to strengthen international collaboration.

He added that the event will serve as a platform to showcase Saudi Arabia’s achievements in combating desertification, highlight successful initiatives such as tree-planting and sustainable projects, and encourage other nations to adopt similar strategies.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Abdulqader revealed that the conference would present numerous investment opportunities for local and international private sectors in nature-based solutions to combat desertification. These include plans for 10 investment projects in wild plant nurseries, proposals to involve private companies in the afforestation and management of selected national parks, and the development of 30 eco-tourism sites within vegetated areas. These initiatives aim to expand green spaces and mitigate desertification across the Kingdom.

Additionally, he pointed to the establishment of a dedicated unit to support and guide investors by fostering innovative ideas and providing necessary assistance in accordance with national regulations.

Green Belts and Desertification Control Efforts

Saudi Arabia prioritizes combating desertification and protecting vegetation, particularly given its challenging climatic conditions. The government is actively working to expand forests, rehabilitate degraded lands, develop national parks, conduct ecological research, and protect native plant species through initiatives like green belts.

Al-Abdulqader emphasized the importance of global cooperation in addressing desertification. COP16, he said, would strengthen international efforts to combat drought, land degradation, and their adverse effects, adding that hosting the conference underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing role in global environmental advocacy.

He also said that the Kingdom has launched significant initiatives, including the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to plant 400 million trees by 2030 and a total of 10 billion trees by 2100, restoring approximately 40 million hectares of degraded land.

Additionally, the Saudi official revealed that the National Center for Vegetation Cover is preparing to launch the 2024 National Afforestation Season under the slogan “We Plant for Our Future”. Sponsored by the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, this campaign seeks to involve government agencies, local communities, and individuals in afforestation efforts to expand green cover, rehabilitate degraded lands, raise awareness, reduce harmful practices, and improve overall quality of life, he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Al-Abdulqader stressed that Saudi Arabia’s environmental efforts reflect its commitment to achieving the goals of Vision 2030, which prioritizes sustainability and environmental protection.

He highlighted the center’s vital role in fulfilling the vision’s environmental objectives by managing natural resources, supporting afforestation projects, rehabilitating damaged areas, and raising awareness of the importance of vegetation cover through public campaigns.

Al-Abdulqader further noted that the center contributes to international initiatives, including Saudi Arabia’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.

Global and Regional Cooperation

The center also supports the goals of the Middle East Green Initiative and the Saudi Green Initiative. To date, more than 95 million trees have been planted in collaboration with public, private, and nonprofit sector partners, increasing green spaces and restoring degraded lands, the official underlined.

He pointed to several international partnerships through memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with countries such as Pakistan and organizations including the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and ELAWCAT for sustainable land management.

Al-Abdulqader revealed that future agreements are in progress with China, the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), and Morocco for vegetation development and desertification control, adding that Saudi Arabia is also collaborating with Egypt on stabilizing sand dunes and engaging in partnerships with Somalia, Albania, Costa Rica, Burkina Faso, and Tajikistan on environmental protection and sustainability.