UAE Engages in UNWTO Executive Council Session in Colombia to Promote Sustainable Tourism.

COLOMBIA: The Ministry of Economy (MoEc) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) actively participated in the 122nd session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Executive Council held in Colombia. The delegation was led by Badreya Al Maidoor, Assistant Under-Secretary for Support Services at the Ministry of Economy, with the focus on fostering cooperation among member states to enhance the sustainability of the tourism sector both regionally and globally.According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting underscored the importance of implementing initiatives that offer unique tourism experiences across various destinations. Badreya Al Maidoor reiterated the UAE's commitment to supporting global efforts aimed at sustainable tourism development, facilitating the exchange of best practices and policies, especially in the context of global climate and environmental changes. She highlighted the significance of embracing sustainable solutions, innovation, and technology in preserving heritage and histor ical sites, as well as unique tourism destinations.During her address at the meeting, Al Maidoor stated that the UAE is collaborating with the UNWTO on the 'Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism.' This initiative aligns with the UAE's vision to enhance the sustainability of its national tourism sector by creating an attractive environment, offering high-quality tourism services, and developing advanced infrastructure. The framework aims to improve the aggregation of efficient and accurate tourism data through cutting-edge technology.Al Maidoor noted that global tourism is experiencing a revival since the start of the year, with the Middle East region consistently achieving positive growth in various tourism domains. This resurgence presents an opportunity to adopt innovative approaches to further the sector's growth. She emphasized the adaptability of the UAE tourism sector and its contribution to the country's GDP growth, as well as its commitment to sustainable practices and digital transformation.Furthermore, Al Maidoor shed light on the UAE's vision for tourism growth through the 'UAE Tourism Strategy 2031.' The strategy aims to enhance the competitiveness of national tourism offerings, elevate the UAE's status as a top global tourism destination, increase the sector's GDP contribution to AED 450 billion, attract additional tourism investments of AED 100 billion, and draw 40 million guests to UAE hotel establishments.