The Arab Tourism Organization (ATO) and International Strategic Management (ISM), an advisory and consulting services provider headquartered in Michigan, U.S., inked a strategic agreement aimed at fostering growth and innovation within the travel and hospitality sectors across Middle Eastern countries. The agreement marks a pivotal advancement in the region’s efforts to elevate its tourism offerings and enhance competitiveness.
Industry development
The agreement underscores ATO’s commitment to driving progress in the Arab world’s tourism industry. By joining forces with ISM, ATO seeks to capitalize on the expertise and resources of both organizations to achieve its objectives of growth and innovation within the sector.
The partnership also underscores the importance of sustainable development in shaping the future of tourism in the Arab world. Hence, ISM will collaborate with the ATO to align its goals with the Arab League’s Sustainable Development Plan 2030.
Global trends
According to the Arab Tourism Organization, the global travel and tourism sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) is on track to reach 15 percent. That is a significant increase from the pre-2019 figures of 10 percent.
Moreover, projections indicate continued growth, with revenues expected to rise at an annual rate of 3.4 percent until 2027, surpassing $1 trillion. Furthermore, the sector is expected to create over 430 million job opportunities globally by 2030, signaling substantial expansion potential.
Post-pandemic recovery
Commenting on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the tourism industry, the president of the ATO, Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al Fahid, emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation among Arab nations.
Al-Fuhaid highlighted the sector’s resilience and recovery, despite facing significant challenges. The partnership between ATO and ISM aligns with these efforts to capitalize on the sector’s rebound and drive sustainable growth.
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ATO’s role and vision
Headquartered in Jeddah, ATO operates under the auspices of the Arab Ministerial Council on Tourism of the Arab League States, with a mandate to promote and develop the tourism industry in the region.
The collaboration with ISM underscores ATO’s commitment to leveraging strategic partnerships and expertise to advance the Arab world’s tourism sector and position it as a global leader in travel and hospitality.
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