Arabian Travel Market 2015 welcomes timely return of UNWTO Ministerial Forum

A high profile line-up of regional ministers of tourism and leading industry luminaries are to debate the future of the tourism sector in the Middle East and North Africa, with an agenda focus that will include facilitating travel across the region, effective public-public and public-private partnerships, and an institutional framework for enhanced cross-border sector cooperation .

After a one-year hiatus, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2015 will also once again play host to Ministers of Tourism from the MENA region at the UNWTO Ministerial Forum.

Regional industry leaders representing the different travel and hospitality sub-sectors will join participating ministers from the UAE, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco to debate ways to advance intra-regional tourism and seize the growing opportunities emerging for increased co-operation.

Taking place on Tuesday 5th May, 2015 from 1530-1800 hours at the Al Multaqua Ballroom at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, and held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development and Chairman of the National Council of Tourism and Antiquities, the forum will open with an address by UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.

Hosted by CNN International global news anchor, Becky Anderson, who will moderate the afternoon’s sessions, HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities and HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Social Development and Chairman of the National Council of Tourism and Antiquities, will deliver national insight from a Saudi Arabia and UAE perspective.

Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, organizer of ATM, will also be part of the opening session, which will lead into the ministerial-meets-tourism private sector debate.

“In the two years since the last UNWTO Forum, the region has undergone yet another shift in tourism demand and opportunity; has weathered the storms of political unrest and economic pressures; and made further significant strides in giving the green light to multi-million dollar infrastructure projects that are designed to fulfil a long-term sustainable tourism vision,” said Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

“The forum agenda will cover the full spectrum of issues pertinent to the continued successful development of tourism economies across the region, including the effective development and marketing of tourism products, the promotion of travel facilitation and improved connectivity and the importance of intra-regional investment into infrastructure, facilities and services,” he added.

Additional topics to be discussed by the panel include how to set effective public-public and public-private partnerships in place to advance regional co-operation and the enhancement of an institutional framework to implement, monitor and evaluate regional tourism co-operation strategies and initiatives.

“We are also thrilled to confirm a high profile line-up of public and private sector speakers, each of whom brings a wealth of industry knowledge and visionary insight to the discussion,” said Press.
Participating ministers include HE Nayef H. Al-Fayez, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan; HE Lahcen Haddad, Minister of Tourism, Morocco; HE Michel Pharaon, Minister of Tourism, Lebanon; and HE Mohammed K. Al Muhairi, Director General National Council of Tourism and Antiquities, UAE.

Representing the private sector are Antoine Medawar, Vice-President MENA region, Amadeus; Amine Moukarzel, President, Golden Tulip Hotels, Suites & Resorts MENA; Hussein Dabbas, Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, International Air Transport Association (IATA); and Gerald Lawless, President and CEO, Jumeirah Group.

PHOTO: Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions

eTN is a media partner for the Arabian Travel Market.