Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazin on Friday called for stronger Arab tourism cooperation and the development of joint tourism programs among Arab countries.
Speaking during the Arab Media Dialogue Forum, in a closed discussion session on the role of the media in supporting the Arab tourism system, Hijazin said intra-Arab tourism remains below the desired level despite the region’s rich historical and cultural assets and its potential for tourism integration.
Hijazin said he was not satisfied with the current state of intra-Arab tourism, noting that it accounts for around 40%, according to figures presented during the session.
He said efforts to attract tourists from long-haul markets were positive but required further work to strengthen tourism between Arab countries.
Arab countries share a common heritage and a rich civilizational legacy, in addition to a large population base and relatively easy access and travel between them. These factors, he said, create opportunities to develop joint tourism products and benefit from the diversity of destinations across the region.
Hijazin emphasized that tourism is an important tool for development, noting that the Arab world’s cultural and civilizational heritage offers broad opportunities to develop tourism products capable of attracting visitors and strengthening integration among Arab countries.
He also pointed to the absence of a comprehensive joint Arab tourism program targeting Arab travelers, calling for greater efforts to develop intra-Arab tourism and strengthen cooperation among relevant tourism-sector institutions.
Revitalizing intra-Arab tourism could help reduce the impact of seasonality affecting the region’s tourism sector and contribute to making tourism activity more sustainable throughout the year, he said.
Hijazin stressed the importance of activating joint tourism programs, strengthening the role of tourism associations in promoting travel between Arab countries, and making better use of available opportunities to expand cooperation in this field.
