Alexandria, Egypt (March 19) -

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) participated in the 4^th General Meeting of the Arab Tourism Organisation (ATO) held in Alexandria on March 17 – 18, 2010. The meeting commenced with the inaugural ceremony held in Helnan Palestine Hotel Alexandria under the auspices of the Arab League Secretary General. Mr. Jabor Al-Mohannadi, Head of Public and International Relations of Qatar Tourism Authority and Mr. Mohammed Hafnawi, Legal Advisor of Qatar Tourism Authority represented Qatar at the meeting.

 

The agenda of the 4^th ATO General Meeting included a number of items including the consideration and adoption of the minutes of the 3^rd General Meeting. The meeting agenda also included a review of the 2010 budget for the organization to be endorsed by the attending members.  A review of the ATO’s achievements since its inception in 2006 was also discussed. Finally, the organisation’s future plans together with its short-term strategy were on the agenda.

 

Among the points discussed during the ATO’s 4^th General Meeting was examining the actual status of tourism in the Arab World, where it is reported by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) that the region’s share in the global market does not exceed 7%.

 

This report was met with surprise by the Arab tourism community – namely the specialists and decision makers in the sector – considering that the Arab region is plentiful with tourism attractions including archaeological sites, cultural landmarks, natural beauty, in addition to the legacies of many successive civilisations.

 

The conferring delegates without dissent pointed to the lack of awareness of the significance of tourism sector as a vital tool of economic development in any country.  The tourism sector is well-integrated with many other industries including construction, environment, transportation, retail and hospitality, and a focus on boosting tourism would naturally boost development in these other industries.

 

The meeting stressed that providing the proper promotional tools will no doubt eliminate many of the negative elements within the Arab states - namely unemployment - simply for the huge job opportunities tourism is capable of creating.

 

The delegates further emphasized that the tourism sector can generate many benefits and earnings sufficient enough to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development.

 

It was also discussed at the meeting that the focal challenge hindering the inflow of tourism is the absence of solid short-term marketing plans within the Arab tourism ministries, where such plans can be modified according to the unforeseen variables and performance indices. The meeting laid significant emphasis on the need to attract Arab and foreign businessmen and tourism investors into the Arab region.

 

At the meeting, there was a review of a set of projects the ATO intends to carry out including a proposal to introduce an Arab Tourist Card, which is expected to be discussed further during the Arab Interior Ministers Council Meeting in Tunisia.

 

The concept of the proposal is based on an electronic ID card which can replace the passport for border crossings.  The card, which contains the holder’s bio-data, will enable the tourist to move freely within and among the Arab states. It will afford the holder much time saved at passport and security controls, facilitating a quicker process through these steps upon arrival.

 

The ATO’s 4^th General Meeting also discussed the tourism security plan and the proposal for setting up special passageways for Arab tourists in all the entry and exit points within the Arab states.

 

Among the other proposals discussed by the meeting were the tourism development projects in the underprivileged areas including a discussion about the Union of Comoros Islands.

 

The meeting also touched on the latest development in the establishment of the tourism investment fund with the Islamic Bank to support and finance Arab tourism projects and activity plans within the Arab states.

 

A brief update was also made on the Arab Tourist Village project meant to be set up in the Arab capitals and key cities.

 

The meeting shed light on the efforts exerted by the ATO in organising a number of workshops, seminars and conferences in cooperation with the WTO, where the core theme was the development and training of human resources in the Arab countries according to the latest and most advanced techniques.

 

After the meeting, Mr. Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority, commented that the projects addressed by the general assembly of the Arab Tourism Organization had an important role in the consolidation of the joint work undertaken by the Arab nations and would stimulate active inter-tourism, such as the electronic ID card.

 

He added: “Concern for the development of the tourism industry is essential to any country, as tourism helps to develop the national economy in particular by creating jobs and increasing employment and addressing the environment.” Mr. Al Nuaimi noted that since its inception, the ATO organization has reached many achievements including the development of human resources specialized in the Arab tourism sector.

 

In addressing the global share of tourism in the region, Mr. Al Nuaimi noted “The ministries and tourism bodies in the Arab countries should review their plans of action, assess the results and reconsider the plans in accordance with these results to implement the most effective plans to boost tourism in the region.”