QTA Chairman Stresses Importance of GCC Tourism Ministers Meeting's Decisions

Doha, October 07 (QNA) - Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi stressed the importance of the decisions taken by the GCC Tourism Ministers in their second meeting which was held here today. In a press statement, Al Mohannadi said that the meeting was busy and a qualitative thanks to major and important decisions that have been taken. He said the meeting focuses on activating the role of the private and public sectors in the development of the GCC intra -tourism, marketing Gulf region programs as a real competitor in the field of tourism in addition to reaching a recommendation that Saudi Arabia will host the next meeting, there should be a united Gulf strategy to activate the GCC role with regard to the development of the tourism industry, particularly intra-tourism. He added that the region's countries to embrace international events such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and UAE bid for the World Expo 2020 will put the countries of the region on the world tourism map and will contribute to the promotion and spreading awareness about it as a confluence of many civilizations. With regard to the agreement signed today by Qatar and Oman on the sidelines of the meeting, QTA Chairman said that the agreement is a step to boost cooperation existing between the two countries in the field of tourism such as Qatar- Oman common tourist visa will add a number of programs, most notably the promotional programme as well as activating role of the cruise ships for the interest of all GCC countries.(QNA)