Qatar takes part in global tourism meeting in Oman

The second World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Unesco World Conference on Tourism and Culture, kicked off in Oman yesterday.HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali led Qatar’s delegation comprising officials from the ministry as well Qatar Tourism Authority and Qatar Museums.The two-day conference, organised by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Heritage and Culture of Oman, sees the participation of delegations from 70 countries in the presence of 30 ministers of tourism and culture.It aims to explore means of enhancing co-operation and applying plans and programmes that were designed by UN organisations to promote the cultural tourism sector around the world.After the opening, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud al-Said reaffirmed the importance of the conference that aims to highlight the heritage aspect of tourism and develop the tourism sector, noting that Oman has a huge legacy of heritage and culture.During the opening, a number of tourism officials from Arab countries as well as representatives of Unesco and UNWTO spoke about the importance of the conference in terms of developing the tourism sector, particularly heritage tourism.HE Ali participated in the ministerial dialogue for tourism and culture ministers and heads of institutions.His address touched on tourism, culture and sustainable development and discussed the necessary frameworks of policies and systems that stimulate sustainable development in cultural tourism.It also reviewed means of supporting cultural tourism so as to help in developing societies, cultural exchange and preserving heritage.An interactive session on cultural tourism as a factor of peace and prosperity discussed the role of tourism and culture in preserving heritage and rebuilding the economy in conflict zones.The key themes of the conference are cultural tourism as a maker of peace and prosperity, tourism development and protection of cultural heritage, culture and tourism in urban development and creativity, exploring cultural landscape in tourism and towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.Today, the conference will discuss further themes related to preserving heritage and the role of culture and tourism in development.It will also see the announcement of Muscat 2017 declaration of the World Conference on Tourism and Culture.HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali with other dignitaries at The second World Tourism Organisation and Unesco World Conference on Tourism and Culture in Oman yesterday.