On September 1, a pan-Arab tourism organization is to officially begin its activities, reports the Jordanian daily A-Dustour.
This announcement was made on Saturday by the Council of Arab Tourism Ministers. According to the announcement, this will be the first time a pan-Arab organization includes representatives of both the private and public sectors. The organization’s main office will be based in Jedda, Saudi Arabia, and its first secretary general is former Saudi minister of tourism, Sultan Abu Jabr.
“The organization will pay particular attention to all Arab countries… and we will cooperate with all the mechanisms and laws of the Arab tourism [sector] in order to remove any obstacles in front of the investments,” said Abu Jabr in an interview with A-Dustour. Abu Jabr explained the organization will be based on exchanging information and experience between the Arab countries, in an attempt to increase their share of world tourism, which today stands at three percent.
Previous reports suggested that the Pan-Arab Tourism Organization will own and manage hotels all over the Arab world, as well as in international tourist resorts which attract many Arab tourists. Participation in this organization, according to reports, will be open to investors from the private and public sectors.