Middle East Members back UN Tourism’s Vision for the Region as Education and Sports Tourism Leader

Middle East Embraces UN Tourism Vision

Member States of UN Tourism from the Middle East convened once more to foster ongoing growth in the sector. The 51st session of the Regional Commission welcomed senior delegations from 13 Member States, including eight Tourism Ministers, to evaluate accomplishments, examine sector trends, and emphasize key priorities.

By the end of 2024, the Middle East emerged as the region with the quickest recovery from the pandemic's global effects. UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili highlighted Qatar, the Commission’s hosting nation, noting that it is on course to attract 6 million tourists annually while increasing tourism’s GDP contribution to 12%.

“The Middle East stands out as one of the most exciting places for tourism right now. The region is a leader in fields such as luxury tourism, wellness tourism and sports tourism, and is also at the forefront of vital work to grow investments into the sector and provide education and training for millions of future tourism workers,” Secretary-General Pololikashvili said.

Middle East: Tourism Education Leader

The reports of the Secretary-General and the Regional Director for the Middle East focused on UN Tourism's work to support members in developing talent through education and professional development. Key achievements include:

• 30,000 students – more than half of them women – have now signed up for the UN Tourism Online Academy, which offers 50 courses from 18 academic partners, including new classes just finalised with the support of Saudi Arabia.
• The UN Tourism Education Toolkit for tourism in High Schools is being implemented in the United Arab Emirates.
• 10 new courses have been added to the Human Capital Development by E-Learning Project with Saudi Arabia. The platform has also been upgraded to integrate Artificial Intelligence.

Alongside its Member States, UN Tourism fosters educational programs across the region. The Riyadh School of Tourism and Hospitality in Saudi Arabia equips tourism professionals with the critical skills required to enhance the industry.

Sports Tourism Key Pillar of Diversification

The rising significance of sports tourism for economic diversification was evident in Doha, as the success of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar served as a benchmark for other destinations.

The FIFA World Cup, Bahrain and UAE's Formula 1 races, the Dakar rally in Saudi Arabia, and the acquisition of significant football players and teams have all contributed to establishing the Middle East as one of the most thrilling and impactful regions in the global sports and sports tourism arena today. This area's significance was further underscored by a dedicated one-day conference on Sports Tourism and the Tourism Industry After the World Cup, organized within the framework of the Regional Commission.

UN Tourism's dedication to enhancing resilience and fostering opportunities through diversification highlighted the region's considerable potential for wellness tourism. Similarly, it pointed out the rising significance of gastronomy tourism as a fundamental aspect of rural development and cultural heritage.

Regional Cooperation On Display

Under its legal obligations, the Commission confirmed key appointments for the upcoming years. Highlighting regional collaboration, Members agreed that Kuwait will chair the Regional Commission from 2025 to 2027. Qatar will serve as the first Vice-Chair, while Iraq will hold the second Vice-Chair position. Egypt and the UAE will also participate in the UN Tourism Executive Council from 2025 to 2029.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia will join the Committee on Tourism Online Education from 2025 to 2029, while the UAE will participate in the Technical Committee for the International Code for the Protection of Tourists. Participants agreed to convene the 52nd Regional Commission for the Middle East in Kuwait City, Kuwait, in 2026.