United Arab Emirates, 70 world delegates unite for promoting global cultural tourism

Lately, Oman held one of the biggest conglomerations of the world leaders of the year 2017 – the 2nd World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture. The two-day event started on Monday with delegates from 70 world nations gathering before 30 ministers of tourism and culture so as to discuss ways to improve cooperation and implement ideas and programmes that were devised by UN organisations to encourage the sector of cultural tourism worldwide.

The Qatar delegation was led by the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali that featured dignitaries from the ministry and Qatar Tourism Authority and Qatar Museums. The conference was organised by Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Heritage and Culture of Oman.

After the flagging-off ceremony, Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al-Said, the Deputy PM for the Council of Ministers, reiterated the significance of the conference that is meant to focus on the heritage aspect of tourism and build the tourism sector, recognising that Oman is well-endowed with the gift of culture and heritage.
The tourism delegates from the Arab nations and even the officials of UNESCO and UNWTO laid great stress on boosting heritage tourism.
The conference also considered modes of aiding cultural tourism in order to help developing countries, cultural exchange and heritage preservation.


A joint session on cultural tourism as a cause of peace and prosperity dedicated the role of tourism and culture in conserving heritage and building up economy in regions of conflict.

On Tuesday, the conference discussed more themes regarding preserving heritage and the part played by cultural and tourism in development. The conference will also witness the disclosure of Muscat 2017 declaration of the World Conference on Tourism and Culture.