UAE needs tourism strategy to advance economic diversification

Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, a, has called for a national tourism strategy. Delores Johnson / The National

ABU DHABI // A national tourism strategy will provide will position the UAE among the best destinations in the world, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, said during a meeting with officials in charge of the tourism.

The minister also called for the creation of a federal statistical data base for the tourism sector in accordance with international best practices.

“Tourism is one of the key sources of national income and its role, place and contribution to the GDP should be doubled in the future in the light of the leadership’s vision to further develop as the UAE has a huge potential in the form of state-of-the-art infrastructure, magnificent diverse natural resources, grand tourism and hotel facilities and internationally recognised historic and archaeological landmarks,” he added, noting that these strengths had contributed towards establishing the UAE as one of the world’s favourite destinations.

Mr Al Mansouri said different emirates had launched promising tourism projects and the UAE will host major world events, chiefly Expo 2020 in Dubai.

Tourism, he said, is projected to play a major role in the government’s plans to diversify the national economy and stimulate non-oil sectors to increase their contribution to the GDP as part of the UAE’s vision for the post-oil era.

The ministry, Mr Al Mansouri added, would focus on a number of issues, including promotion of domestic tourism and green tourism.