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5/1/24, 9:13 AM Bin Touq leads UAE delegation participating in WEF Special Meeting in Riyadh | Emirates News Agency
Bin Touq noted the importance of ecotourism in

supporting the sustainability of the tourism sector and

preserving natural reserves and desert attractions. He

presented examples of sustainable tourism in the UAE,

including the Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve, which

balances the experiences of visitors with the

preservation of the environment, in addition to Sir

Baniyas Island which has ecotourism potential. He also

highlighted major international events hosted by the

country such as Expo 2020 Dubai and COP28, which also

played a prominent role in promoting tourism growth.

UAE tourism sector achieves record in key performance

indicators

Reviewing performance indicators and results achieved

by UAE tourism in 2023, Bin Touq confirmed its full

recovery from the pandemic and return to higher levels

of growth than 2019. The national tourism sector grew

by a significant 26 percent in 2023 compared to that of

2022 and surpassed 2019 levels by 14 percent. Its

contribution to the country's GDP amounted to AED220

billion, accounting for 11.7 percent. This is expected to

rise in 2024 to AED236 billion, equivalent to 12 percent

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