Arab League Secretary-General: Tourism is among the most important industries with significant economic returns for countries

The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Nabil Fahmy, held talks with Dr. Bandar Al-Fahid, President of the Arab Organization for Tourism, to explore ways to enhance joint Arab cooperation in the tourism sector and support tourism in the Arab region.

In a statement on Tuesday following the meeting, Al-Fahid said he briefed Fahmy on the developments in cooperation between the Arab League and the Arab Organization for Tourism, as well as the achievements realized during the organization’s journey in supporting joint Arab efforts in the tourism field.

He added that the meeting addressed the organization’s role in supporting the tourism sector in the Arab region and leveraging the vast potential possessed by Arab countries through attracting more tourist flows from outside the region and promoting intra-Arab tourism, thereby contributing to strengthening national economies and raising employment rates.

He clarified that the organization works to organize conferences, workshops, and training and qualification programs for workers in the tourism sector at both the governmental and private levels, and to select Arab tourism capitals, which helps enhance intra-Arab tourism.

He pointed out the organization’s organization of celebrations for Arab Tourism Day on February 25 of each year, coinciding with the birth anniversary of the renowned Arab traveler Ibn Battuta, with the aim of revitalizing intra-Arab tourism, highlighting its assets and treasures, and attracting more international tourists to the Arab region.

He noted that the organization also holds annual tourism security forums to enhance Arab integration in the field of protecting tourists, tourism facilities, and sites, and to support stability and security, which are considered two fundamental pillars for economic growth and the tourism industry.

He explained that the organization fulfills its role as a technical arm and think tank that translates the decisions of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism, in cooperation with the Council’s Technical Secretariat and the tourism ministries and private sector in Arab countries.

For his part, the Secretary-General of the Arab League praised the achievements made by the Arab Organization for Tourism across the Arab world, noting that the tourism industry is among the most important sectors with significant economic returns for countries.

Fahmy affirmed the Arab League’s support and encouragement of the Arab Organization for Tourism to continue its efforts and achieve the objectives for which it was established.