Riyadh:Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tourism ministers are adopting a unified approach when it comes to positioning the region as a pioneering tourist destination,told Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb
He said that discussions between ministers of the Member States are particularly relevant in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and its effects on the tourism sector both regionally and globally.
In the meeting held via video conference on Thursday, chaired by the UAE Minister for Entrepreneurship and Small and medium Enterprises, Ahmad bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al-Falasi, Al-Khateeb said that the Kingdom has made remarkable efforts to protect the sector at the local level during the pandemic.
Al-Khateeb said that the Ministry of Tourism had already engaged in partnerships with international and national authorities, especially the World Tourism Organization, which formed its first regional office in Riyadh.
The G20 ministers of tourism held a series of meetings to discuss the effects of the pandemic, among them Saudi has taken a number of steps to help the tourism industry recover, said Al-Khatib.
The ministers discussed about a comprehensive vision for joint tourism business and strengthening cooperation between the tourism and cultural sectors in the GCC countries. Ras Al-Khaimah in UAE was approved as the capital of Gulf Tourism in 2021, provided that an exhibition of crafts and handicrafts is held in the capital.