DOHA: The GCC states are working on developing a unified vision on tourism, Minister of Economy and Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani said yesterday.
On the sidelines of the second meeting of the GCC ministers in charge of tourism, which he opened yesterday, the Minister said a three-months period was set to develop a vision for the tourism sector to be followed by six months to implement it.
All GCC states are committed to participating in this specific vision and that it was also agreed to develop ideas to promote inter-tourism between the GCC states, he added.
In his opening address, the Minister underlined the importance of tourism and its role in enhancing the status of the Gulf states as a tourist destination on the world map and the definition of cultural heritage and civilisation of these countries. The meeting was attended by the ministers responsible for tourism in the GCC and GCC Assistant Secretary-General for Cultural and Media Affairs Dr Khalid bin Salim Al Ghassani.
It discussed recommendations of the preparatory meeting of the undersecretaries of tourism on integration aspects between the public and private sectors in the member states. They also reviewed a memo by the GCC General Secretariat on efforts of the member states towards preserving architectural heritage as well as its memo on the annual handicraft exhibition. Among recommendations approved during the meeting was one on the celebration of the capital of Gulf tourism in Manama to highlight tourism potentials in each GCC member state, increase awareness about the importance of tourism and create opportunities for the development of the sector and its projects and related services. Recommendations also focused on the development of joint action between the public and private sectors in the tourism field and on the importance of preparing a strategy for joint tourism action in the GCC, along with coordinating regional and international cooperation in the field of tourism and intensifying efforts for intra-tourism development and strengthening cooperation in the field of exhibitions and conferences.
The meeting is part of GCC efforts to achieve the goals of the joint tourism action at the top of which are the activation of partnerships between the public and private sectors, enhancing mutual tourism and promoting and marketing tourism as a tool for economic development in the GCC, QNA reports.
The Peninsula
