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5/1/24, 9:15 AM H.E. Bin Touq Leads UAE Delegation Participating In World Economic Forum In Riyadh | MENAFN.COM

H.E. Bin Touq explained that in addition to contributing to the growth of related services and
industries such as hospitality, transport services, leisure and retail sectors, tourism contributes

to creating job opportunities for people of all ages, reducing unemployment rates. He further
pointed out that by 2033, this dynamic sector is projected to boost its contribution to the global

GDP to USD 15.5 trillion, accounting for 11.6 per cent of the world economy. It is expected to
provide employment for around 430 million individuals globally, which makes up almost 12 per

cent of the global workforce, as per the World Travel and Tourism Council's projections.

Importance of sustainability in advancing tourism

During the session, H.E. Bin Touq emphasized that sustainability is key to boosting the
tourism sector's growth in the immediate future, particularly given the current global

environmental and social challenges. It calls for strengthening collaborative efforts across all
fronts and levels to attain a harmony between economic and environmental progress as well

as social accountability.

Furthermore, H.E. Bin Touq highlighted the UAE's commitment to enhancing the regional and
global tourism infrastructure to ensure the sustainability of the sector. He indicated that there
are challenges ahead for sustainable tourism, most notably the necessity to upskill the

workforce, improving their performance and expertise in tourism, and fostering innovation and

creativity across various tourism fields and activities.

The Minister of Economy said:“The UAE is committed to promoting sustainability, not just in
the tourism industry but across diverse economic and environmental sectors, safeguarding
resources, wealth, and natural reserves, especially following the announcement by His

Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, extending the 'Year
of Sustainability' to the year 2024 with the aim of building on the success of this initiative last

year.”

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