The UAE has rejoined the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) after 26 years
UNWTO said it would work with the UAE on several initiatives including the measurement of the economic impact of tourism, statistics and human resources development.
According to the UNWTO, between 1980 and 2010 international tourist arrivals in the Middle East rose from 7.1 million to 60.9 million, an average annual increase of 7.4%, which is higher that the world’s average of 4.2%.
UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai, speaking at the UNWTO and Arabian Travel Market Ministerial Forum in Dubai, said that tourism in the region continued to grow despite the challenges.
"Much of this dynamism has been led by the strong political commitment awarded to tourism in the region and the vision that tourism is a key pillar of development in the Middle East of which the UAE is a perfect example," he said.
UNWTO estimates that tourism growth in the Middle East is set to continue, with arrivals expected to reach 149 million by 2030.
