RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have made remarkable gains in the tourism sector during the year 2019, contributing 9.7 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP). "Tourism sector makes available of three million jobs and estimated revenues of more than $ 90 billion, and these figures showed clearly the gains achieved from the tourism sector and the importance of preserving this vital sector," he said citing the statistical figures of the World Tourism Council. The minister made the remarks while addressing the virtual meeting of the GCC tourism ministers on Thursday. The session was chaired by Dr. Ahmad Bin Abdullah Belhoul Al-Falasi, minister of state for entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises of the United Arab Emirates. In his speech, Khateeb stressed the necessity of adopting a uniform tourism approach and upgrading the region as a leading tourist destination, with multiple offers. He underlined the importance of reconsidering the arrangement of joint tourism work mechanisms among the GCC member states, especially in the wake of the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which had a severe impact on the tourism sector not only in the region but also worldwide. "The Kingdom made remarkable efforts during the coronavirus pandemic to protect the tourism sector at the local level, as the government provided support for establishments as well as for workers in the private sector, including tourism, in addition to providing free healthcare to all those infected with coronavirus or those suspected of being infected, and decided to distribute SR500,000 in compensation to the families of those health workers who died of coronavirus while serving the coronavirus patients," he said. Referring to various bodies that are in charge of tourism promotion in the Kingdom, the minister said that the Ministry of Tourism was established mainly to deal with various legislations in this regard while the Saudi Tourism Authority is taking care of marketing the Kingdom around the world. The Tourism Development Fund is providing financial support to establishments that operate in the tourism sector whereas the Tourism Development Board brings together the relevant authorities to facilitate the process of building and developing the tourism sector. The minister said that he launched recently a human capital development strategy that includes 15 training and education programs to develop the skills and qualify young Saudis to take up jobs in this vital sector. "We also had a local initiative in the Kingdom to revitalize the tourism sector with the launching of the "Saudi Summer Season," which attracted citizens and expatriates in the Kingdom to rebuild consumer confidence in domestic tourism, and based on this success, we are in the process of launching the Saudi Winter Festival, to which we look forward to welcoming our brothers from other Gulf countries." Al-Khaeeb revealed that the ministry has entered into partnerships with international and local bodies, including the World Tourism Organization, which has opened its first regional office in the world in Riyadh. This office will support the Gulf countries and the rest of the region to transfer expertise in terms of developing tourism work, enriching statistics, and benefiting from the best global experiences in a way that serves tourism in the region. The minister noted that the tourism ministers of the G20, during the current year of the Kingdom's presidency, held several meetings to face the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic, as the Kingdom presented several initiatives to contribute to the recovery of the tourism sector. "The Diriyah Declaration presented many proposals and ideas related to easy and safe travel, sustainable tourism, restoring lost jobs and striving to resume the recovery of the private sector." Al-Khateeb stressed the importance of the ministerial meeting that would come out with outcomes that serve the tourism sector in the region in the current difficult global circumstances. "In the Kingdom, we recommend a Gulf strategy for tourism in the region to the desired future of tourism provided that work is done with the GCC member states and GCC Secretariat to prepare a time-bound strategy and action plan to become a road map for joint action in the tourism field among the GCC countries," he added. The ministers discussed many topics, including the comprehensive vision of joint tourism work, and the importance of arranging priorities according to current circumstances, as well as to work to develop a vision for joint action between the tourism and cultural sectors in the GCC countries. The meeting approved choosing Ras Al Khaimah as the capital of Gulf tourism for the year 2021 and decided to hold an exhibition of crafts and handicrafts in the city.
