KSA: UNWTO backs Saudi move to ‘redesign’ global tourism – Gulf Digital News

KSA: UNWTO backs Saudi move to ‘redesign’ global tourism – Gulf Digital News

The 177th Executive Council of the UN World Trade Organisation (UNWTO) has passed a Saudi resolution to ‘redesign tourism’ in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As newly elected chair of the council, the kingdom successfully lobbied for the creation of a Saudi-Spain-UNWTO working group to oversee and direct significant changes to the global tourism industry.

The proposal had been promoted by the kingdom since December 2021, with a Saudi host delegation reiterating its support for the creation of the working group during the kingdom’s hosting of the 116th Executive Council in Jeddah earlier this year.

This week’s three-day event in Marrakech saw the passing of a resolution to push forward with the creation of the working group, which has been supported from the outset by Spain.

The working group, which will comprise eight members of the organisation according to the resolution, is slated to launch in spring next year, but will still require the formal endorsement of the UNWTO chief.

The eight members will work alongside the three working group co-chairs – Saudi Arabia, Morocco and the UNWTO – to move forward with the vision to transform global tourism.

Of the council’s 36 member countries present at the event, 31 approved the resolution. The working