On sidelines of his participation in 2023 G20 summit Tourism Ministers’ Meeting

Bin Touq engages in talks with ministers from India, Britain, Indonesia, and Japan to foster future collaborative efforts in tourism

>> Bin Touq: The UAE has adopted a forward-looking vision to develop a distinct tourism sector regionally and globally. We are keen to strengthen fruitful relations and partnerships with countries globally across various areas of the tourism industry.

• The UAE’s tourism sector has witnessed continuous national efforts and extensive investments, resulting in the development of exceptional infrastructure and the creation of leading, diverse tourism destinations and products.

• Review the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 and its vital role in supporting the sustainability and competitiveness of the tourism sector in the country in the coming decade.

 His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Head of the Emirates Tourism Council, separately met HE Sandiaga Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia; HE John Whittingdale, Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries of the United Kingdom; HE G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism and Culture in the Republic of India; and HE Koichi Wada, Commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency.

HE Bin Touq met the ministers during his participation in the G20 Tourism Ministers' Meeting 2023, which was attended by over 20 decision-makers in the global tourism industry recently , in Goa, India.

HE emphasised that the United Arab Emirates, under the guidance and vision of its wise leadership, is committed to bolstering tourism ties with nations across the globe. “The UAE seeks to establish fruitful partnerships in various tourism domains to foster economic and social growth, while solidifying its position as a premier global tourist destination,” HE said.

Bin Touq highlighted the UAE's proactive approach in developing a remarkable tourism sector at both regional and international levels. “This vital industry has witnessed unwavering national efforts, expedited progress, and substantial investments, resulting in the creation of an exceptional tourism infrastructure aligned with international best practices. Moreover, the UAE has successfully cultivated diverse and outstanding tourism destinations and products,” HE added.

During his meetings with the four ministers of tourism, HE engaged in discussions regarding the significance of the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 and its pivotal role in ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of the country's tourism sector in the coming decade. “This strategy has established national objectives, including the ambition to elevate the UAE as the foremost global tourist destination. Additionally, it aims to increase the tourism sector's contribution to the national economy's GDP to AED 450 billion, attract AED 100 billion in investments to the local tourism markets, and welcome 40 million visitors, aligning with the ‘We the UAE 2031’ initiative,” HE said.

HE held a comprehensive bilateral meeting with HE G Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism and Culture of the Republic of India. The meeting delved into an extensive exploration of recent advancements in the global tourism sector and explored strategies to foster its sustainable growth. Additionally, the dignitaries emphasised the importance of enhancing cooperation across diverse tourism domains and explored the potential of forging fresh partnerships that would bolster tourism exchange between the two nations during the next stage.

HE said: “The UAE-India relations are witnessing continuous momentum in various tourism activities and sectors as part of their economic partnership. India is one of the five major markets exporting tourism to the UAE. In 2022 alone, the UAE welcomed around 3.1 million Indian tourists, marking a substantial increase of 900 thousand visitors compared to the previous year's figure of 2.2 million in 2021. To cater to this demand, UAE's national airlines operate daily flights to various Indian destinations, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. This has resulted in an impressive air traffic volume of approximately 1,800 flights per month between the two countries.”

Discussing tourism investment opportunities in the UAE and Indonesian markets

HE held another meeting with HE Sandiaga Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia. The primary agenda of the meeting encompassed the augmentation of investment prospects in the tourism sector, fostering collaboration between tourism enterprises in both the UAE and Indonesian markets. Moreover, there was an emphasis on strengthening bilateral efforts to develop novel tourism and entertainment initiatives, facilitating the growing exchange of tourist delegations. This objective is particularly significant given the substantial air connectivity, with approximately 160 flights per month operated by national airlines between the UAE and Indonesia. Notably, the UAE witnessed a commendable influx of 450,000 Indonesian visitors in 2020.

Enhancing tourism relations between the UAE and the United Kingdom

In the same context, HE also met with HE John Whittingdale, Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries in the UK, to discuss strengthening tourism relations between the two countries in the next stage. The two sides agreed to exchange experiences and knowledge regarding tourism data in order to further strengthen the growing bilateral relations in the tourism sector. Additionally, they highlighted the increasing number of British delegations visiting the UAE, with the number of visitors from the United Kingdom reaching approximately 1.3 million in 2022. This marked a significant increase of 500,000 visitors compared to the 800,000 visitors recorded in 2021. Furthermore, the air traffic between the two countries reached approximately 650 flights per month.

Further strengthening tourism ties between the UAE and Japan

Furthermore, HE met with HE Koichi Wada, Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, with the aim of strengthening tourism exchanges between the UAE and Japan. Both sides acknowledged the significance of building upon the progress made in tourism cooperation, particularly since the establishment of the Japanese Tourism Agency's office in the UAE in 2021.

The number of Japanese visitors to the UAE reached around 56,000 in 2022, showing a notable increase from the 30,000 visitors recorded in 2021. The national air carriers operate daily flights to Japanese stations, including Haneda, Osaka, and Narita. The air traffic between the two countries witnessed nearly 90 flights per month through the UAE’s national carriers.