The Emirates Tourism Council has launched the ‘National Tourism Charter.’ The Charter is aimed at coordinating national efforts to boost the UAE tourism industry’s sustainable growth and enhance its competitiveness at both global and regional levels.
A key part of the National Tourism Strategy 2031, the launch of the Charter took place during an event held alongside the second meeting of the Emirates Tourism Council for 2024, chaired by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Council.
Directors and general managers of local tourism authorities in the country also attended.
The strategic partners of the initiative include Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, Anantara Resorts, Umm Al Quwain Beach Hotel, HYM Investments, Al Hamra Group, Rotana Hotels Group, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority ‘Shurooq’, Emaar Hospitality Group, Jumeirah Group, and InterContinental Hotels and Resorts Group in the Middle East, Africa, and India region.
Speaking about the launch H.E. Bin Touq said: “The launch of the National Tourism Charter marks a significant new milestone in boosting the regional and global leadership and competitiveness of UAE tourism. It will enhance collaboration and synergy among the seven emirates in further developing tourism destinations and products, facilitating collective endeavors to generate fresh opportunities and potentials that drive the sector’s growth and prosperity. Additionally, it seeks to encourage investments in diverse tourism activities in line with the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision.
Further, H.E. explained that the Charter is built on six core principles:
- Economic development,
- Emirati values,
- Environmental sustainability,
- Cooperation,
- Innovation, and
- Interdependence.
The Charter, H.E. shared, also ties into the goal of increasing Emiratization in the tourism industry, by creating job opportunities for UAE citizens across diverse tourism activities and sectors, in collaboration with relevant bodies.
“It also aims to foster unity and synergy among the seven emirates in developing tourism destinations and products and generating opportunities and resources that fuel sustainable growth in the UAE’s tourism sector,” H.E. added.
H.E. explained that the National Tourism Charter is geared towards achieving the goals set by the UAE’s National Tourism Strategy 2031.
These goals are:
- Boosting the UAE’s reputation as a premier global tourism hub,
- Cementing its position as a top tourism destination,
- Increasing the sector’s contribution to the national GDP to AED 450 billion,
- Attracting fresh investments totalling AED 100 billion to the national tourism industry, and
- Drawing in 40 million hotel guests by the next decade.