Al-Ahsa -The Arab Civil Aviation Organization participated in the activities of the Second Arab Forum for Tourism Security, organized by the Arab Organization for Tourism in Al-Ahsa Governorate, Saudi Arabia, on 20 and 21 November 2019, in cooperation with the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, and under the patronage of the Prince of Eastern Province Saud bin Nayef. The forum was held at the Intercontinental hotel under the title "Tourism and security key drivers of development", in the presence of the Governor of Al-Ahsa Prince Bader bin Jalawi and a number of Arab tourism ministers and leaders of tourism security and officials.
His Excellency Engineer Abdenbi Manar, Director General of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, stressed in his speech, the importance of air transport in economic development, especially the tourism sector, citing the World Trade Organization data with regards to its contribution to countries GDP by more than 10.4% of GDP and also with regards to job creation with an average of 9.9 per cent of total jobs.
He also noted the good records of civil aviation security in the Arab countries, which contribute to tourism security, given the indicators of international audits and the growth of air traffic in Arab destinations.
The organization´s role in coordination and integration among Arab aviation authorities
At the end of his speech, the Director General briefed the participants on the role of the Organization in terms of coordination and integration between the civil aviation authorities of Arab countries, and the technical support and capacity building services it provides in all areas of civil aviation, especially aviation security.
In the same context, Dr. Bandar Al-Fahid, President of the Arab Tourism Organization, said that security is the main pillar of development in the tourism industry in the Arab world, in light of the growing threats to this industry, because they constitute an important tributary in the economies of most Arab countries. On top of these threats is terrorism, which considers tourist facilities as easy targets that can be struck to cause significant human and material losses and damage the reputation of states and their ability to establish security and stability and deprive them of important financial resources.
The need to provide a tourist climate
While the Assistant Secretary-General of the President of the Economic Affairs Sector in the Arab League, Dr. Kamal Hassan Ali, explained that the General Secretariat of the League is showing great interest in tourism security and the need to provide a safe tourist climate in the Arab region, because of its effective impact in improving Arab tourism indicators and upgrading the tourism sector. Despite the many challenges facing the advancement of tourism, it is necessary to find effective mechanisms and programs for tourism security applications in line with the ambitions and expectations of our Arab peoples.
The Executive Council of the Arab Tourism Organization, Prince of Eastern Province Saud bin Nayef, has been awarded the Arab Tourism Organization Medal of Distinction in recognition of His Highness´s support for the tourism sector in the Eastern Province, and for his efforts for Al-Ahsa Province being designated as the Arab Tourism Capital 2019.
Signing MoUs
At the end of the ceremony, Prince Saud witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation agreements, while the Arab Tourism Medal and the Ibn Battuta Prize were awarded to figures who contributed in supporting and developing Arab tourism and honoring the sponsors.
At the end of the Forum, recommendations were issued:
(A) To take advantage of the best practices of developed countries in dealing with terrorist threats and cybercrime against the tourism sector;
(B) Enacting the necessary legislation to deal with the risks that threaten tourism, especially terrorism and cybercrime against the tourism sector;
(C) Requesting the General Secretariat of the Arab League, the Council of Arab Ministers of Tourism, the Council of Arab Ministers of Interior and the Arab Organization for Tourism, to continue to intensify cooperation and to organize conferences and seminars on tourism security on an annual basis, provided that the Arab Forum for Tourism Security is held within the activities of the Arab tourism capital.
(D) To request the Arab Organization for Tourism and the Council of Arab Interior Ministers to consider establishing an Arab advisory council for tourism security, featuring experts in the fields of tourism and security, in order to advise the Arab countries that request it.
(E) Calling upon Arab countries to enhance cooperation with European countries and other tourist-exporting countries in order to counter the threats facing Arab tourism.
(F) Activating the Organization of Islamic Cooperation initiative, which called on the Arab Tourism Organization to open the horizons of cooperation between the Arab group and Islamic countries, especially in the field of tourism security.
(G) Work on the preparation of an Arab strategy for tourism security, taking into account the specificities of each Arab country.
(H) Engage in the European and global system, and benefit from its experiences and information and consider a security information sharing with all concerned bodies, Arab and international.