In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Arab nations have been advised to enhance their cooperation in the tourism sector in order to capitalize on its recovery. Bandar bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid, president of the Arab Tourism Organization (ATO), delivered this message during the opening ceremony of the Arab Tourism Media Forum held in Tunisia. Al-Fuhaid highlighted the increase in global tourism numbers as a positive sign, indicating a strong rebound for the sector following the pandemic. He also acknowledged the significant blow of $300 billion that the travel industry in the Arab region had suffered due to the health crisis.
ATO, headquartered in Jeddah, operates within the framework of the Arab Ministerial Council on Tourism of the Arab League States, with the primary objective of activating and developing the industry among regional countries. Al-Fuhaid emphasized the need for increased cooperation in tourism, particularly in light of the global rise in the number of tourists, which reached over 900 million by the end of 2022, reflecting a 63 percent increase.
Furthermore, Al-Fuhaid announced that ATO would launch cooperation programs with the Tunisian Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts to bolster inter-Arab tourism. The Arab Tourism Media Forum, held under the theme "The role of the media in the development of inter-Arab tourism," served as a platform to highlight the vital role of media outlets in promoting the tourism sector within the Arab region and fostering its growth as a whole.
Mohamed Moez Belhassine, Tunisia's Minister of Tourism, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that the success of any tourist destination greatly depends on the media's efforts to promote it. The inaugural edition of the Arab Tourism Media Forum was held from June 12 to 15, running concurrently with the 23rd edition of the Arab Radio and Television Festival.
Prior to this event, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) revealed in May that Saudi Arabia had become the world's second-fastest growing tourism destination. According to a WTO report, the Kingdom experienced international tourism numbers surpassing pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2023, with a total of 7.8 million visitors, marking a 64 percent increase.
Additionally, a report by PwC Middle East in the previous month indicated that Saudi Arabia's tourism sector was swiftly recovering from the negative impacts of the pandemic, despite challenges such as geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties. The report noted that the Kingdom witnessed a 47 percent increase in visitors during the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2019, with almost 6 million visitors. PwC attributed the growth to regulatory reforms and the development of attractions like the Riyadh Season Festival, underscoring Saudi Arabia's goal of welcoming 25 million tourists this year.