Page 81 - MOE ENGLISH PR - MAY 2024

Press Release

Ministry of Economy organizes interactive session on GCC’s

tourism initiatives at Arabian Travel Market 2024

Implementation of Unified Tourist Visa set to enhance tourism & economic
integration of GCC states

Abu Dhabi, 7 May 2024:

The Ministry of Economy organized an interactive session titled ‘Top tourism

development initiatives in GCC countries’ during its participation in the Arabian
Travel Market (ATM) 2024 in Dubai. It was attended by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al
Marri, Minister of Economy, and Head of the Emirates Tourism Council, and several
other GCC tourism sector representatives. The session discussed the importance of

developing a future growth strategy for GCC tourism, strengthening its role in the
growth and sustainability of the member states’ economies. This will be achieved
through a number of mechanisms and collective efforts such as the implementation

of the unified tourist visa to facilitate tourist flows between GCC countries.

The session was organized in collaboration with REED at the 31st edition of ATM,

held in Dubai from 6 to 9 May under the theme ‘Empowering Innovation -
Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship,’ bringing together a number of
exhibitors, decision-makers, and experts from various regional and global travel
markets.

H.E. Bin Touq said: "The GCC tourism sector continues to witness increased growth
and has successfully demonstrated its potential as a key contributor to the growth of

our national economies. The unified tourist visa initiative, which will come into force
next year; the development of a unified tourism route connecting all GCC countries
and drawing the features of the tourist trip for visitors to the region, will further

promote tourism and economic integration at the regional level.”

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