Economy Minister Highlights Importance of Tourism in Advancing Development

Doha, October 07 (QNA) - HE Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al -Thani has underlined the importance of tourism and its role in enhancing the status of the Gulf States as a tourist destination on the world map and the definition of cultural heritage and civilization of these countries. Addressing the opening session of the second meeting of the ministers responsible for tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) here today, HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce highlighted interest and awareness of the State of Qatar and its wise leadership of the importance of tourism as a key element in advancing development and major engine to build a diversified and sustainable economy. HE the Minister recalled the GCC tourism joint action results since the first founding meeting held in Kuwait which had been carried out , such as organizing the first exhibition of handicrafts industries. HE the Minister also referred to the implementation of the Kingdom of Bahrain initiative of organizing a brainstorming session GCC Tourism undersecretaries on ways to develop and support intra-tourism in the GCC countries last June and the meeting of the technical team for tourism, which had studied the related report of the GCC tourism cooperation Committee. HE the Minister Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani expressed Qatar's welcome for hosting the workshops that have been proposed by the technical team of tourism in the event of these initiatives have been approved. In a press statement HE the Minister of Economy and commerce said that a specific period of 3 months was set to develop a vision for the tourism sector to be followed by 6 months to implement this vision. HE the Minister stressed that all States are committed to participate in this specific vision, and that it was also agreed to develop ideas to promote inter-tourism between GCC states, in addition to other points that will be announced later, HE the Minister added.(QNA)