The meeting focused on ways to support the 3^rd season of the World’s Coolest Winter

Emirates Tourism Council discusses framework to foster local-federal cooperation to implement UAE Tourism Strategy 2031

>>Bin Touq: The UAE continues to make efforts to develop the tourism sector in accordance with the best practices. The World’s Coolest Winter Campaign is a unique step to foster the national tourism and achieve more leadership and prosperity.

• The council emphasizes the importance of coordinating efforts to implement the national tourism strategy in line with the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision
• With 12 million hotel guests and a growth rate of 42 per cent in the first half of 2022, the UAE at 72.8 per cent has one of the highest hotel occupancy rates in the world

Abu Dhabi, 14 December 2022:

 HE Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Head of the Emirates Tourism Council, asserted that the UAE has placed a high priority on the growth of the tourist industry as it is essential to the diversification of the national economy and a valuable tool for boosting the nation's competitiveness in the global tourism market. This, he said, is being done in line with the vision and directives of the wise leadership.

HE further stated that the UAE has launched several innovative tourism initiatives and projects over the past few years with the aim to foster the sector and cement the position of the country as a global leader in the tourism sector by attracting tourists from around the world, and creating new investment opportunities in the travel, tourism, and aviation sectors. Al Marri made these remarks while chairing a meeting of the Emirates Tourism Council, which was attended by the council members, the heads, and directors of all local tourism bodies in the country.

The meeting discussed ways to enhance the collaboration between the member entities on the local and federal levels in order to implement the goals and plans of the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to enhance the country’s tourism profile globally and consolidate its position as a leading tourism destination. The strategy also intends to bring in new investments totaling AED 100 billion for the country's tourism industry and attract 40 million visitors to hotel facilities by 2031, increasing the sector's contribution to the national GDP to AED 450 billion.

HE Bin Touq said: “The third season of the World’s Coolest Winter, which was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, represents a new phase of elevating the tourism sector in the country towards more growth, prosperity, and leadership, as well as supporting the tourism ecosystem in the county, enhancing the diversification of the national economy, and consolidating the UAE’s position as a sustainable tourism destination globally.”

HE further stated campaign offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the UAE's beauty and highlight its exceptional tourism services and products, as well as giving both domestic and foreign visitors the chance to experience the country's distinctive tourism features, cultural and historical heritage, and environment, and have an exceptional winter vacation.

The Council also discussed the methods of supporting the efforts between various government entities and the private sector in order to achieve the goals of the third season of the World’s Coolest Winter Campaign. With the goal of attracting travelers from all over the world to experience the UAE winter, this campaign supports internal tourism specifically by promoting the tourism, entertainment, and cultural attractions in all seven emirates. The program had extraordinary success in its first two seasons, drawing in about 2.5 million visitors who spent about AED 2.5 billion at hotels as a result.

Held under the theme ‘Our Heritage’, the third season of the World’s Coolest Winter will showcase the aspects of the national heritage and identity, the system of inherited authentic Emirati values that was passed from generation to generation in an automatic and sustainable manner, with full support from various government organizations.

The UAE successfully maintained its position among the 12 best destinations in the world and attracted over 10 million visitors annually. The tourism sector contributes to over AED 177 billion in the national GDP, and the hotel occupancy rate is among the highest in the world, with a rate of 72.8 per cent. The number of hotel guests amounted to 12 million, at a growth rate of 42 per cent, during the first half of 2022. In addition, the UAE placed first in the Middle East on the Global Tourism Competitiveness Index 2021.

The meeting was attended by HE Abdullah Ahmad Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy; HE Saleh Mohamad Al Jaziri, Director General of Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi; HE Khalid Jassim Al Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority; HE Saeed Abdullah Al Samahi, Director of the Fujairah Tourism and Antiquities Authority; HE Hanan Mansoor Ahli, Executive Director of the Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics; Alia Al Hammadi, Vice Chairperson at UAE Government Media Office; Youssef Lootah, Acting CEO of the Sector for Strategy and Institutional Performance; Haitham Sultan Al Ali, Director of Tourism Department at the Department of Tourism and Antiquities in Umm Al Quwain; and Saud Al Jasmi Director of the Events Department at the Tourism Development Department in Ajman.