H.E. Bin Touq participates in the first ministerial meeting to enhance climate action in the tourism sector

• Minister of Economy reiterates the UAE's support for global efforts aimed at achieving sustainable tourism development

• Meeting takes place on the sidelines of COP29 in Baku

H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, attended the first ministerial meeting to advance climate action in the tourism sector. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, under the theme 'In Solidarity for a Green World.'

In his speech, H.E. Bin Touq said: "The tourism sector is a key driver in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, given its vital role in promoting growth and sustainability of economies around the world. Following its recovery from the pandemic’s impact, the sector has experienced considerable growth at regional and global levels. This motivates us to further strengthen cooperation to transform current challenges into concrete opportunities that facilitate the shift towards a more resilient and sustainable tourism model."

H.E. explained that the transition towards sustainable tourism requires a range of enablers, including robust tourism policies, financial support, highly skilled human resources, and the expansion of international collaboration to adopt more innovative solutions within the sector.

H.E. continued, "The promotion of sustainable tourism is a strategic imperative for diversifying our national economy. We aim to provide outstanding tourism experiences while preserving our environment and cultural and historical heritage. Furthermore, we are introducing tourism strategies and initiatives that support climate action, such as the 'UAE Tourism Strategy 2031,' which aims to strengthen the UAE's position as the best global tourism destination by the next decade."

"The meeting of tourism ministers during COP 29 confirms the increasing significance of integrating the tourism sector into global climate action, considering the pace of environmental changes and climatic shifts taking place globally. In this regard, the UAE endorses the COP29 declaration, which aims to achieve localisation of the tourism sector as part of the national climate action. We also support its focus on the importance of financing sustainable development, recognising its pivotal role in supporting developing nations that rely heavily on tourism to boost economic growth," H.E. added.

H.E. highlighted the UAE’s success in hosting COP28 conference last year, achieving unprecedented accomplishments in accelerating climate action at regional and global levels. Furthermore, it enabled the UAE to highlight its efforts in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.