Qatar said it will host the 51st UN Tourism Regional Commission Conference for the Middle East, with a high-level delegation from Qatar Tourism participating in the 50th edition, which is underway in Muscat, Oman from May 22-24.

The choice of Doha as the host for the next conference is a testament to Qatar’s position as a regional and global hub for cultural, economic and political exchange, a statement said.

It solidifies the tourism sector’s integral contribution in sustainable economic development and the role it played in enhancing cooperation between countries and fostering international relations, it added.

Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, is leading the delegation that has expressed its interest in sharing its expertise and experience with launching the Hayya platform, a portal for travellers to Qatar, with hopes of ultimately applying it within the region.

He also held discussions with Secretary-General of the United Nations Tourism Organization, Zurab Pololikashvili, on launching the second edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards in partnership with the United Nations World Tourism Organization to honour those who contributed to providing unique experience and service excellence to Qatar’s visitors.

They explored collaborations in developing innovative ideas mainly within the digital and AI realms.

The UN Tourism Regional Commission Conference for the Middle East looked at ways to enhance the cooperation and integration within the tourism sector among the participating countries at the Arab and regional levels.

The importance of integration between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the unified tourist visa scheduled to be in effect at the end of this year was highlighted, underscoring its contribution in supporting sustainable and comprehensive economic development.

Discussions were had on tourism investments and financing methods, during which Qatar’s investment environment for local and foreign investors was highlighted.

Qatar Tourism is planning to discuss several vital topics during the panel session, on the side lines of the conference titled, “Stimulating tourism investment through cross-sector partnerships”. – TradeArabia News Service