Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, led the UAE delegation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During a session on the future of sustainable tourism development, Al Marri acknowledged the tourism sector’s key role in boosting global economic growth. He also stated that the sector serves as a key pillar in the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030. He emphasized that tourism contributes to sustainable development by increasing revenues, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), creating job opportunities, establishing tourism ventures and enhancing transport infrastructure.
Other participants in the session included Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Minister of Tourism; Thiago Alonso de Oliveira, CEO of JHSF; Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Al Diriyah Group; and Aireen Omar, President and CEO of RedBeat Capital, Capital A (AirAsia).
Tourism boost employment
During the WEF Special Meeting, Al Marri explained that the tourism sector contributes to the growth of services and industries such as hospitality, transport, leisure and retail. Moreover, it contributes to creating job opportunities for people of all ages, reducing unemployment rates.
Al Marri also stated that by 2033, the tourism sector would boost its contribution to the global gross domestic product (GDP) to $15.5 trillion, accounting for 11.6 percent of the world’s economy. Moreover, Al Marri states that the sector will employ around 430 million individuals globally, which makes up around 12 percent of the global workforce, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council‘s projections.
Sustainability advances tourism
During the session at the WEF Special Meeting, Al Marri highlighted the importance of sustainability in driving the tourism sector’s growth in the immediate future. Therefore, sustainability calls for strengthening collaborative efforts across all fronts and levels to attain harmony between economic and environmental progress as well as social accountability. “The UAE is committed to promoting sustainability, not just in the tourism industry but across diverse economic and environmental sectors,” the Minister of Economy stated.
Al Marri reiterated the UAE’s commitment to enhancing regional and global tourism infrastructure to ensure the sustainability of the sector. The country has launched several initiatives such as the ‘National Tourism Strategy 2031’ to increase the contribution of the tourism sector to the national GDP and promote sustainable practices. Other key initiatives the UAE has launched include the National Tourism Strategy 2031 and the National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap.
During the WEF Special Meeting, Al Marri also noted the importance of ecotourism in supporting the sustainability of the tourism sector and preserving natural reserves and desert attractions. He highlighted some examples of ecotourism in the UAE, including the Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve and the Sir Baniyas Island.
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UAE tourism sector breaks records
Reviewing performance indicators, Al Marri confirmed that in 2023, the UAE achieved a full recovery from the pandemic and recorded higher levels of growth compared to 2019. Hence, the UAE’s tourism sector grew by a significant 26 percent in 2023. Moreover, its contribution to the country’s GDP amounted to 11.7 percent or AED220 billion. In addition, this vital sector provided 809,000 jobs across the UAE, equivalent to 12.3 percent of the total labor market.
Unified GCC tourism visa
During the WEF Special Meeting, Minister Al Marri ensured that efforts are underway to launch a unified Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tourist visa. Once it comes into effect, the visa will contribute to the growth of the diverse tourism destinations in GCC countries and attract and retain tourists for longer periods. Therefore, it will also increase the number of hotel guests and transform the region into one of the leading destinations for regional and international tourists alike.
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