The UNWTO workshop on MICE product development, organized by the World Tourism Organization, its UNWTO.Themis Foundation and the Ministry of Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman, was inaugurated on 31st May by Salim Adi Al-Mamari, Director General, Promotions, Oman Ministry of Tourism, Hussain Abdullah Ibrahim Al Hamed, Director of Human Resources Department, Oman Ministry of Tourism, and Omar Valdez Executive Director, UNWTO.Themis Foundation.

The objective of this workshop, delivered by Galal Afifi and Tala Momani, ​is​ to provide participants with knowledge, skills, tools and a forum for discussion on current key issues and practices in MICE and product development; blend​ing​ presentations with workshop activities,​ aiming ​at promoting active learning through a calibrated mix of theory and practical examples, ​and at actively involving participants in a collaborative process.

The UNWTO workshop on Tourism Strategic Planning​-Investment,​ organized by the World Tourism Organization, its UNWTO.Themis Foundation and the Ministry of Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman, was inaugurated on 29th May by H.E. Maitha Al Mahrouqi, Undersecretary, Oman Ministry of Tourism​, and Omar Valdez Executive Director, UNWTO.Themis Foundation.

The objective of th​is workshop​, delivered by Adel Rady and Issa Qaqish, ​was​ to provide participants with knowledge, skills, tools and a forum for discussion about current key issues and practices in strategic planning, and investment; blending presentations with workshop activities,​ aiming ​at promoting active learning through a calibrated mix of theory and practical examples, ​and at actively involving participants in a collaborative process.

 

 

"It was with great sorrow that we learned about this tragic news. We express our sincerest condolences to the passengers’ families and friends at this difficult time”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

PR No.: 16022

The meeting followed up on the official visit of Mr Rifai to Egypt last month, where he had the opportunity to meet President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Prime Minister Sherif Ismail to discuss the tourism situation in the country and the recovery plans being implemented. 

Meeting with Minister Zaazou in Berlin, the UNWTO Secretary-General commended the measures taken by Egypt to restore market confidence and expressed the full support of the Organization to this programme.

“The work of the Ministry and of Minister Zaazou in promoting the highest political support for the sector, enhancing tourism safety and security by successfully integrating the sector into risk and emergency management structures both at national and local levels, and the various marketing initiatives taken in key markets are the correct ways to restore confidence and accelerate the recovery of tourism in Egypt”, said Mr Rifai.

“We should never forget that Egypt’s tourism sector is one of the world’s most remarkable success stories. In the last decade, the number of visitors to Egypt practically tripled and so did the exports generated by international tourism. Despite current challenges Egypt is today, and will continue to be, a world-leading tourism destination, capturing one in every four international tourist arrivals to the Middle East”, said Mr Rifai.

Mr Rifai and Minister Zaazou also discussed the actions that the Ministry has swiftly taken to communicate with competent authorities and the public in source markets on safety and security issues, to unlock the support of airlines and tour operators, to incentivise demand, and to engage key players in Egypt in these concerted efforts. UNWTO experts have visited Egypt in recent months to support the Ministry in these areas. 

The meeting was also an occasion to further discuss the upcoming UNWTO City Tourism Summit being held later in 2016 in Cairo. 

“We are holding this important event in Cairo as a clear sign of confidence in Egypt, and we trust that it will be a great opportunity to showcase all the progress and initiatives that Egypt has been implementing to accelerate recovery”, added Mr Rifai.

 

Contact:

UNWTO Senior Media Officer: Ruth Gomez

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218

 

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PR No.: 16015

Meeting with Prime Minister Sherif Ismail Mohamed, Secretary-General discussed measures to accelerate the recovery of tourism to Egypt and praised the support being given to the sector. Both representatives welcomed the actions undertaken by Egypt to promote the highest political support for the sector, regain the confidence of source markets, enhance tourism safety and security and successfully integrate the sector into risk and emergency management structures, both at national and local levels.

“Egypt has undertaken strong initiatives in terms of communications with the competent authorities and public opinion in source markets on safety and security issues, unlocking the support of airlines and tour operators, incentivising demand and engaging key players in Egypt in these concerted efforts. I trust these actions will herald results in restoring confidence and accelerating the recovery of tourism to Egypt”, said Mr. Rifai.

Mr Rifai also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Hassan Shoukry, to discuss the cooperation between the Ministries of Tourism and Foreign Affairs and UNWTO, including Egypt’s chairmanship of the UNWTO Executive Council and the forthcoming UNWTO City Tourism Summit taking place in Egypt later this year.

The future of tourism in Egypt

Opening Egypt´s Tourism 2016 Conference ‘Planning for Growth’, Mr Rifai recalled that there is a strong pent up demand for tourism to Egypt, from source markets, both within and outside the region.

“We should never forget that Egypt is one of the world’s most remarkable tourism success stories. Over the last decade, the number of visitors to Egypt practically tripled and so did the exports generated by international tourism. Egypt is, and will continue to be, despite all challenges, a leading tourism destination.” 

Tourism is a critical contributor to Egypt’s GDP, employment, foreign currency earnings and investment. Mr. Rifai called upon the international community to support Egypt’s tourism saying that “supporting the recovery of tourism to Egypt is supporting the future of Egypt and that of its people; supporting tourism to Egypt is promoting peace and stability”.

Useful links:

Photos of the visit

Contact:

UNWTO Media Officer: Rut Gómez Sobrino

Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218 

 

The UNWTO Regional executive workshop in Qatar on eMarketing in Tourism, organized by the World Tourism Organization, its UNWTO.Themis Foundation and Qatar Tourism Authority, was closed on 15th December in Doha by Alvaro Moreno, UNWTO.Themis Foundation Workshop Coordinator, the facilitators of the course: Montserrat Peñarroya and prof. Dimitrios Buhalis and 40 officials from Qatar and MENA region.

This executive workshop, delivered by Montserrat Peñarrota and prof. Dimitrios Buhalis, aimed at providing the participants with knowledge, skills, tools and a forum for discussion and reflection on eMarketing in Tourism. With this objective, the international facilitators delivered presentations on key concepts and elements on concepts and processes on state-of-the-art approaches to assess the performance of their destination, evaluate eMarkets’ potential, and transform insights into actionable and targeted marketing tactics.

The UNWTO Regional Conference and Executive Training Workshop in Qatar on eMarketing in Tourism, organized by the World Tourism Organization, its UNWTO.Themis Foundation and Qatar Tourism Authority, was inaugurated on 13th December by Dr. Marla Haims, Policy and Planning Advisor, Qatar Tourism Authority, Omar Valdez, UNWTO.Themis Foundation Executive Director, and the facilitators of the course: Montserrat Peñarroya and prof. Dimitrios Buhalis, as well as  conference guest speakers - Miguel Gallego and Sumathi Ramanathan.

 

The objective of this workshop is to provide participants with knowledge, skills, tools and a forum for discussion about current key issues and practices in eMarketing strategy.

Participants are expected to gain better understanding on key concepts in eMarketing and its processes, apply tools and international best practices in the local contexts and oversee eMarketing tourism strategy development and implementation.

 

This event blends presentations with workshop activities: the former aim at promoting active learning through a calibrated mix of theory and practical examples, while the latter aim at actively involving participants in a collaborative process that simulates an eMarketing planning process for Qatar and MENA region.