The Arab Center for Tourism Information held the first virtual conference for tourism information in the Arab world, after the gradual resumption of tourism activity in the Arab world. A number of Arab ministers of tourism and information, specialists and academics from 12 Arab countries participated in the conference, where they discussed the role of tourism media and safe return, with the most important challenges facing the safe return of tourism activity.
The Lebanese Minister of Tourism, Avadis Kidanian, participated and called for the support of Lebanese tourism from all Arab countries, and noted the various circumstances that Lebanon is going through and the impact of many other problems besides the Covid 19 crisis.
The economic advisor of the World Tourism Organization, Dr. Saeed Al-Batouti, also drew attention to the Corona pandemic crisis on the Arab and international tourism sector, and indicated that the losses amounted to 100 billion dollars, and the Arab region is part of the world, and there is a severe impact and various effects, and the total Arab losses amounted to 420 billion dollars, 8% of the region’s wealth and additional debts estimated at $220 billion, equivalent to 8% of the gross product, $500 million daily, exports declined by about $28 billion, and the addition of 8 million poor people in the Arab region, which is a great burden, and the loss of 7 million jobs , including one million in tourism, an increase in the unemployed to 23 million unemployed, and a decline in purchasing power. For his part, the former Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Talib Al-Rifai, stressed that the Arabs must turn the crisis into opportunities and it is no longer an isolated place in the world, and tourism has become a unified thing in this crisis and the danger is severe for everyone and there will be no end to Corona, and I believe that life It will change and its patterns will differ after Corona.
For her part, the Egyptian Deputy Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Ghada Shalaby, said that it is very important to emphasize the role of tourism and social media and the importance of conveying real images of tourist destinations, and we need to convey real images of Arab destinations, and we emphasized during the crisis the continuation of campaigns and the dissemination of mental images, and Egypt has reached To huge numbers in 2019, and we were expecting more numbers in 2020, but the crisis stopped many events and Egyptian tourism went through a unique experience, which is virtual tours, in addition to domestic tourism, and we began to monitor the opinions of tourists from the world, and our message to the world was our interest in the health of tourists and security health and attention to health protocols and strict precautionary measures.
The Director of International Communication at the Algerian Ministry of Tourism, Asma Moulay, stated that it is possible to return to normal activity by making a strategy to combat the epidemic and adopting the statement of the Arab Ministerial Council, and one of the most important points is to strengthen aspects of cooperation between Arab countries, and Algeria started early precautionary measures, considering that the health of the citizen and tourist is of importance and special measures. With companies in the tourism sector, and we are facing these repercussions, we have worked on a strategic plan to enhance virtual tourism, the virtual tourism industry, and hotel capabilities through technology.
The tourism expert in the Middle East, Haitham Matar, indicated that it is important to learn to confront the epidemic, and the tourism sector has proven to be the most vulnerable in facing the pandemic, according to the figures of the Travel Council, but there is optimism, as the future and tourism are among the most important economic pillars of the Arab countries, but this will not prevent The loss of jobs, the closure of facilities, etc., and the sector occupies an advanced priority for development in the world, and we must now unite efforts and joint promotional campaigns between the Arab countries, and there must be a balance between health and the economy.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Center for Tourism Information, Hussain Al-Mannai, affirmed the center's keenness to support the Arab tourism movement and stimulate inter-tourism in our Arab world, while realizing the challenge that the tourism sector is experiencing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which greatly affected global and Arab tourism. He explained that the first virtual conference highlighted the steps taken by Arab governments for the safe return of tourism, in the presence of academics and specialists who discussed the mechanisms for applying the safe return of Arab tourism.
In turn, the Secretary-General of the Center and the President of the Conference, Mustafa Abdel Moneim, said that the recommendations approved by the meeting will be presented to the Arab tourism ministers, and work will begin on planning for implementation through the participation of the Arab ministries of tourism and the rest of the economic sectors, and a unified and interrelated marketing strategy has been developed for Arab tourist destinations.
The conferees recommended:
– Working on announcing safe Arab tourist destinations by setting unified tourism protocols.
Call on governments to support the tourism sector permanently by allocating financial allocations.
– Work to develop unified Arab tourism health protocols.
Developing a unified Arab tourism media strategy by launching the “One and Safe Arab Destinations” campaign.
– Unifying the mechanism of declared Arab tourist numbers.
– Training and exchanging roles among Arab tourism media professionals in all Arab countries.
– Preparing integrated marketing plans and strategies among Arab tourist destinations, along with developing an Arab tourism media plan.
Highlighting the experiences of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as successful models in domestic and foreign tourism after the Corona pandemic.
– Establishing mechanisms and strategies for managing crises and building resilience, and ensuring that tourism is part of the national emergency mechanism and systems.
– Enhancing marketing and market studies, working to restore the confidence of tourist consumers and stimulating demand while diversifying markets, tourism products and services.
Ibrahim Aqili (Jeddah) @iageely