The “Discover Oman” website, under the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, has been awarded the title of the Best Visual Storytelling Website. This recognition was bestowed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) during its meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The website focuses on sustainable tourism for the year 2023, specifically in the Middle East region.
This celebration highlighted the power of visual storytelling to shed light on tourism as a force for good, in line with the 2023 edition of the UNWTO’s video tourism competition. A panel of expert judges from the field of media evaluated video submissions from member countries, assessing their effectiveness in promoting positive impacts on tourism. The competition was divided into two categories. For this particular category, the evaluation was based on how well the submissions illustrated the tourism sector’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Plan for 2030, referencing one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Member countries were also encouraged to provide outstanding examples showcasing the human side of tourism, demonstrating the positive social impact that the sector can have on communities and individuals. Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, submitted exceptional stories on sustainable tourism. The winners were announced during the General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, which was held this week in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The 2023 winning countries spanned various continents and included Gambia for Africa, Panama for the Americas, Georgia for Europe, the Philippines for Asia, and Oman for the Middle East region.
The session aimed to shed light on the current state of education in the tourism sector, emphasizing the importance of investing in skill development and creating inclusive opportunities for all. Recognizing the significance of investing in tourism education was one of the primary goals of this event.
The session also sought to drive sustainable growth and excellence in the industry by highlighting the available opportunities to shape new policies and effective tools for comprehensive and sustainable tourism development. It aimed to bridge the skills gap and enhance value-added jobs, with the goal of creating a progressive educational landscape.
Additionally, the meeting presented the core activities of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), such as the Innovative Education Toolkit, the new Bachelor of Science in Sustainable International Tourism, and additional initiatives designed by UNWTO in collaboration with leading industry academics for secondary, higher, and executive education. It also highlighted the latest developments in each field, including complementary initiatives developed by UNWTO in partnership with prominent academic institutions in secondary, higher, and managerial education, as well as innovative educational tools and the introduction of new specializations in the field of sustainable international tourism.
The comprehensive program of the forum aims to inspire and mobilize stakeholders, policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to work together. Furthermore, the forum will feature the highly anticipated Ulysses Awards to honor outstanding achievements and initiatives in the field of tourism education. Established in 2003, the award recognizes distinguished researchers who have made remarkable contributions to the tourism sector.
The meeting, attended by representatives from the tourism sector of the organization’s 160 member states, discussed a range of topics. Among the most prominent were the performance of the World Tourism Organization in the previous two years and its future plans for global tourism development. These plans involve developing partnerships, supporting and training the workforce in the tourism sector, and enhancing the organization’s governance to make it more flexible and effective.
The World Tourism Organization announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would host the 26th session of the General Assembly in 2025. This announcement was made during the 25th session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization hosted in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from October 16 to 20. Saudi Arabia’s selection as the host country was based on its efforts in launching several initiatives at both the regional and international levels. These initiatives include establishing the Global Tourism Academy in Riyadh, creating the Global Center for Sustainable Tourism, hosting the first regional office of the World Tourism Organization, and investing in the tourism sector through projects such as NEOM, the Red Sea, Qiddiya, and Diriyah, among others.
Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, emphasized in his speech that the 25th session of the General Assembly of the organization, held in Samarkand from October 16-20, comes at a critical juncture for the global tourism sector. He considered the meeting to be significant, especially given the challenges the sector has faced due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pololikashvili mentioned that the past two years since the organization’s last meeting in Madrid in 2021 have seen the return of tourists and an increase in their numbers compared to the past 20 years. He also noted that the tourism industry suffered significant losses in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has since been on a path to recovery. By the end of July 2023, there were 700 million tourists worldwide, reflecting a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
Pololikashvili emphasized that the best results in the tourism sector have been achieved in the Middle East, with some areas surpassing pre-pandemic levels. He mentioned that Uzbekistan received 5.2 million tourists in 2023, and most regions have seen a recovery in tourism levels, ranging from 80% to 90% of pre-pandemic figures. He explained that tourist numbers in Europe, Africa, and Latin America have returned to normal, and strong recovery is expected in Asia, especially after China opened its doors. He anticipated that by the end of the year, similar recovery would be seen in other geographic regions.
According to a report from the World Tourism Organization released in July 2023, international tourism has seen a significant recovery, with a growth rate of 84% compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. Approximately 700 million international tourists traveled between January and July 2023, representing a 43% increase from the same months in 2022. The Middle East has experienced a growth in the number of visitors during the period from January to July 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 20%.
The announcement of the best tourist villages took place during the General Assembly, and the annual award honors rural destinations that demonstrate their commitment to sustainability across economic, social, and environmental aspects. The aim is to preserve and enhance community values and make tourism a driver for rural development and well-being. This recognition was made in the presence of high-level representatives from member countries, as well as the villages that received recognition this year, and village representatives.
During the General Assembly session, a preliminary report was presented regarding the establishment of regional offices for the World Tourism Organization, a preliminary report on the recommendations of the Joint Inspection Unit and the Internal Oversight Services on the organization’s reform, as well as an overview of the Executive Council’s report to the General Assembly. The meeting also included discussions on the report of the Committee on Affiliate Membership, the presentation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, discussions on World Tourism Day, and the release of accompanying indicators and related activities that benefit the tourism sector. Additionally, members of the Executive Council elected for the years 2023-2027 were approved.