UAE supports global efforts to promote sustainable tourism

Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri during the 2023 G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting in Goa, India.

Abdullah bin Touk Al Mari, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the UAE Tourism Council, emphasized the UAE’s commitment to actively support global efforts to promote sustainable tourism under the guidance and vision of its wise leadership.

He further emphasized the UAE’s commitment to contributing to initiatives that promote sustainable tourism policymaking and boost international tourism growth.

Al Mali made the above remarks while attending the 2023 G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting held in Goa, India recently. More than 20 decision-makers from the global tourism industry attended the meeting.

He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts and proactive measures to promote regional and global tourism in support of comprehensive economic and social development, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting discussed various tourism issues and agendas related to tourism. One of the key focuses is to promote the sustainable development of the tourism industry and take advantage of the possibilities brought about by digital transformation and smart applications, especially in the field of tourism services. In addition, the meeting discussed strategies to strengthen the tourism industry and attract global talent, especially through the development of innovative tourism products. Participants highlighted the need for a supportive environment in the tourism industry that includes SMEs.

Addressing the meeting, Al Mari said: “In today’s era, the development of tourism relies heavily on sustainability, taking into account the current environmental and social context. By implementing the Legislation and policies for sustainable development of destinations, raising awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism has become crucial. Implementing sustainable tourism strategies on a regional and global scale for tourism destinations to become environmentally conscious and sustainable Entities that developed provided adequate support.”

“The UAE has been keen to strengthen its tourism infrastructure according to global standards. This involves creating unique tourism destinations and expanding the range of tourism products in the country to meet the diverse needs of tourists. The UAE is expanding its transport network (both land and air) Tourism) to attract more tourists to the region. Furthermore, the importance of hosting international events in the UAE cannot be underestimated as they play a role in strengthening tourism and cementing the country’s prominence on the global tourism stage play a vital role.

These events are an important catalyst in attracting tourists and boosting the overall appeal of the UAE as a major tourist destination,” he added.

Al Marri continued: “These developments have played a major role in driving the significant expansion and success of the UAE’s tourism industry. In the first quarter of 2023, hotel operating revenue in the UAE exceeded AED 2.2 billion, an increase compared to the same period in 2022. In addition, we welcomed more than 7.2 million guests in the first quarter of 2023, representing a significant increase of 18% compared to the same period in 2022 and a solid growth of 3% compared to 2019.”

Total hotel nights in the first quarter of 2023 will reach 26 million nights, an increase of 6% over the same period in 2022 and a 15% increase over the first quarter of 2019, the minister said. In addition, the hotel occupancy rate is around 80%, which is one of the highest rates in the region and globally compared to major tourism markets.

He claimed that tourism will contribute 10 percent to the UAE’s GDP by 2022, totaling AED166.7 billion. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, this figure will further increase to AED180.6 billion by the end of 2023, an increase of 8.3% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, he said tourism played a vital role in creating more than 750,000 jobs in the country last year, accounting for 12 percent of the total labor market.

“Remarkable developments have been made, with the transport and warehousing sector playing a leading role in the growth of the country’s GDP at comparable prices in 2022. It has the largest share, growing by a substantial 20.2% compared to 2021. This The extraordinary growth can be attributed to a number of factors including a surge in passengers on international flights, an overall rise in air traffic and increased revenues for airlines in various countries. As a result, this travel-related industry has experienced the highest growth rate in recent years,” added Al Marri road.