Ministers
of Tourism and aviation leaders will gather at the UNWTO/ATM
Ministerial Forum to set a common agenda for air transport and
tourism that allows the industry to fully seize the opportunities of
future tourism growth.
According
to the UNWTO, the extraordinary growth of international tourism over
the six last decades – from 25 million tourists in 1950 to one
billion in 2012 – is as much due to advances in air transport as to
the rise of the middle class, the growing wealth in industrialized
and emerging countries and the forces of globalization.
The
UNWTO/ATM Ministerial Forum on “Tourism and Aviation: Building a
Common Agenda for Growth”, held Under the Patronage of H.H. Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister
and Ruler of Dubai on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the
Arabian Travel Market, will bring together Ministers of Tourism and
leaders from the aviation industry to discuss how aviation and
tourism policies can come closer to set a common agenda for
connectivity, economic growth and sustainable development.
Speakers
include H.R.H. Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President of
the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, H.E. Mrs. Reem Al
Hashemi, Minister of State and Managing Director of the Higher
Committee on International EXPO Dubai 2020, H.E. Mr. Hisham Zaazou,
Minister of Tourism of Egypt, H.E. Mr. Alain Saint-Ange, Minister of
Tourism and Culture of the Seychelles, H.E. Mr. Jamel Garma, Minister
of Tourism of Tunisia and H.E. Mr. Issa Mohammed Al Mohannadi,
Chairman of the Qatar Tourism Authority.
With
the Middle East as a backdrop, the UNWTO/ATM Ministerial Forum will
focus on how to remove current obstacles to the growth of aviation
and tourism, how to align transport and tourism policies and how to
promote connectivity between the Middle East and other world regions.
The conclusions of the meeting will serve as a basis for a broader
global debate on aviation and tourism during the World Travel Market
UNWTO Ministers Summit in London (November 2013).
The
UNWTO/ATM Forum will take place on Tuesday 7 May 2013 at the Arabian
Travel Market and will be open to all exhibitors, visitors and media
registered to attend Arabian Travel Market.
