Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, the Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Executive Council of UN Tourism, presided over the 121st Executive Council meeting of the organisation in Barcelona, Spain, on 10th and 11th June.
The event welcomed representatives from 47 countries, including 18 Ministers of Tourism, to advance the Organization’s vision as the sector achieves full recovery from the impacts of the pandemic. Notably, around 285 million tourists travelled internationally in the first quarter of 2024, 20% more than the same period last year, while international tourism receipts reached USD 1.5 trillion in 2023.
Al-Khateeb’s chairmanship of this session highlights the Kingdom’s influential role in the global tourism sector, following notable successes in recent years. In his opening address, he remarked, “Chairing the 121st Executive Council meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization was a historic moment for us. It brought together global leaders to address pressing challenges in tourism and drive meaningful progress in all areas of the global tourism sector. This gathering affirmed our collective vision for a dynamic and flourishing global tourism sector, fuelled by innovation, investment, growth, and strategic partnerships.”
Opening the session, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili emphasised the need to embrace innovation and direct investment into the sector to drive positive transformation. “With tourism having bounced back from the biggest crisis in its history, now is the time to channel our energy into building greater resilience against any future shocks,” he said. “At the same time, we must ensure tourism’s growth benefits people everywhere, above all by expanding access to education and job opportunities and harnessing the power of new technology.”
The Secretary-General presented his report to Members, summarising the Organization’s achievements since the last Council meeting, with a special emphasis on investments into tourism, education, and accelerating innovation across the sector. Members adopted the Work Plan for the UNWTO Agenda for Europe, including projects focused on the future of winter travel destinations, the regulation of short-term rental platforms, and strategies to mitigate the effects of green investments on tourism SMEs.
On the sidelines of the event, Al-Khateeb hosted a roundtable meeting with senior executives from the private tourism sector in Spain. He highlighted the attractive investment opportunities in the Kingdom through the Investment Enablers Programme in the tourism sector and the Investment Enablers Initiative in the hospitality sector. He also emphasised the diversity of tourism destinations in Saudi Arabia and the plans to enhance air connectivity between Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Europe. Participants included senior executives from leading global, European, and Spanish hotel chains, as well as operators of various tourism facilities in the Kingdom.
Recognising the importance of urban tourism management, UN Tourism commended Spain’s leadership in advancing sustainable tourism, with Barcelona taking the lead in shaping responsible and inclusive urban tourism practices. Mayor Collboni underscored the importance of tourism for Barcelona while outlining plans to manage the sector’s growth and potentially place limits on visitor numbers. Additionally, Minister Jordi Hereu announced that the Government of Spain will present its 2030 Strategy for Sustainable Tourism at the next meeting of the Spanish Tourism Council.
The Executive Council also took significant steps towards creating a harmonised legal framework for the global sector to boost confidence in international travel. They approved Uruguay’s hosting of the “Tourism Law Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean” in Montevideo, alongside updates on the planned Regional Office for Africa in Marrakesh and the Regional Office for the Americas in Rio de Janeiro. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Ministry of Tourism of Greece to establish a Research and Monitoring Centre for Coastal and Maritime Tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
To conclude, Members confirmed the hosts for the next meetings of the Executive Council. The 122nd session will be held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, the 123rd session in Spain in the first semester of 2025, and the 124th session by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the second semester of 2025.
This session’s discussions, focusing on innovation, investment, and strategic growth, are particularly relevant for high-end travel advisors interested in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With global travel destinations on the rise, the tourism sector is expected to contribute up to $16 trillion to the global GDP by 2034. The Kingdom’s initiatives, including the introduction of the visit e-visa and efforts to increase inbound tourists to 70 million by 2030, underline its commitment to fostering a resilient and thriving global tourism sector.
