Today: 22 June 2025
8 June 2022
2 mins read

Saudi hosts opening of 116th UNWTO Executive Council Meeting

Saudi Arabia hosted the official opening of the 116th UNWTO Executive Council Meeting today, a powerful vehicle that brings together global tourism leaders to shape the future of the sector…reports Asian Lite News

As First Vice Chair of the UNWTO Executive Council, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb discussed with global leaders how tourism must be a key part of a stronger and more sustainable world and called for greater collaboration to accelerate the sector’s recovery.

His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Saudi Arabia, commented: “Tourism is a vital driver of growth, opportunity, and development and today, we are at global cross-roads. Our sector could create 58 million jobs in 2022, to reach more than 330 million, just 1% below pre-pandemic levels. This can only be achieved with strong leadership, a clear vision, and resources.

“Tourism’s restart in many countries around the world offers a unique chance to rethink tourism governance, communications and beyond. We have an incredible opportunity to set a new way forward, to create a strong future for the global tourism sector, and we must seize it.”

Adopting the Meeting agenda, Member States welcomed the report on current trends in international tourism provided by UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili alongside UNWTO monitoring reports and tools developed since the outbreak of COVID-19.

ALSO READ:Saudi space agency training program ready for liftoff

UNWTO Secretary-General, His Excellency Zurab Pololikashvili, and His Excellency Siandou Fofana, Minister of Tourism of Côte d’ Ivoire and Chair of the UNWTO Executive Council, said: “It is our joint responsibility to shape a more sustainable tourism sector. We must re-think tourism development, re-invent tourism destinations and businesses and re-build the whole of the tourism eco-system. The 116th UNWTO Executive Council is where we come together to take the first steps towards this ambitious but vital goal. Thank you, Saudi Arabia, for enabling us to meet in person and kick-start this journey.”

The two-day meeting, held in the historical city of Jeddah, is the biggest in-person, Executive Council meeting held since the pandemic began. Aimed at fostering strong coordination between member states to boost the recovery of global tourism, the meeting demonstrated the Executive Council’s determination to adopt a joined-up approach.

His Excellency was joined in Jeddah by Ministers and representatives from 35 Member States of the Executive Council, alongside global tourism leaders and private sector decision-makers.

Previous Story

Martial arts in Benin

Next Story

Modi: India-Iran ties have promoted regional security

Latest from Arab News

US committed great crime: Iran

Iran has now called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and demanded the IAEA Board of Governors address the situation….reports Asian Lite News Iran has strongly condemned the United

Strike Iran, Face Us, Houthis warn US

The Yemen-based Houthi group, which controls much of northern Yemen, has been targeting Israel since November 2023…reports Asian Lite News Yemen’s Houthi group issued a stark warning on Sunday, declaring they would

Tehran Hits Back After US Strikes

The missiles struck several locations across central Israel. Notably, one hit Haifa without any prior warning sirens, raising alarm over possible gaps in the missile alert system….reports Asian Lite News Iran fired

Trump Dares Iran Again

This comes as Trump announced that America had bombed three nuclear sites in Iran and warned Tehran of further precision strikes…reports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trump declared that no other
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Grand Mosque gets world’s largest cooling station

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy

Saudi navy personnel begin training programme in India

The trainees would also be familiarised with sail training onboard