UAE Showcases Tourism Strategy 2031 at Paris Conference

The United Arab Emirates, represented by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, actively participated in the 118th session of the Tourism Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), held in the French capital, Paris. The UAE delegation was headed by Badriah Yousuf Al Maidoor, Assistant Undersecretary for the Support Services Sector at the Ministry. This participation is part of the country's ongoing efforts to enhance its active presence on the international tourism map and exchange leading expertise and knowledge with various member states.

During the meetings, the delegation showcased the distinguished Emirati experience in building a competitive and sustainable tourism sector grounded in a world-class infrastructure, an extensive international air connectivity network, and a unique diversity of destinations and tourism experiences available across the 7 emirates. In this context, the delegation highlighted the targets and initiatives of the National Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to raise the tourism sector's contribution to GDP to AED 450 billion, attract tourism investments worth AED 100 billion, and achieve the target of welcoming 40 million hotel guests annually by 2031, by focusing on maximizing economic value, developing specialized products, and accelerating the pace of digital transformation.

The session witnessed extensive discussions on future trends for global tourism development. Participants discussed ways to promote sustainable investment, combat climate change, maximize the societal benefits of tourism activity, and improve social and economic impacts in rural and remote areas. The UAE's interventions emphasized the importance of achieving balanced tourism development, creating jobs, and supporting entrepreneurship, while also highlighting the UAE's continuous readiness to share its successful practices in joint tourism coordination and the implementation of integrated national campaigns.

In a related axis concerning decision-making and policy-building mechanisms, the delegation reviewed tireless national efforts to develop an integrated and comprehensive system for tourism data and statistics. This includes developing the Tourism Satellite Account, improving the measurement of tourism expenditure, and making optimal use of modern and smart data sources to enhance integration and coordination between relevant federal and local authorities. The UAE concluded its participation by affirming its full keenness to continue close cooperation with the OECD and partner countries, effectively contributing to the development of international initiatives that support global tourism resilience and sustainable digital transformation.