QHA Discusses Cooperation Plans with Arab Tourism Organization President

Doha, August 13 (QNA) - HE Chairman of Qatar Hotels Association (QHA) Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani headed a meeting with HE President of the Arab Tourism Organization Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al Fahid and his accompanying delegation. The two sides discussed opportunities for joint cooperation in the hospitality and hotel sectors.
HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani stressed the importance of cooperation with the Arab Tourism Organization in advancing and supporting the hospitality sector, developing hotel services, and keeping pace with global changes in the tourism industry. His Excellency suggested the formation of a joint business council between Qatar Hotels Association and the Arab Tourism Organization with the aim of promoting the tourism investment in the country, and analyze and assess the regional and sectorial potentials with the objective of sustainable regional and economic development.
For his part, HE Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al Fahid noted that the Arab Tourism Organization aims to establish an entity that regulates the Arab and Islamic tourism sectors within the framework of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism of the League of Arab States.
He explained that the Organization aims to enhance and develop tourism in Arab countries, attract more tourists, encourage tourism amongst member states, and to reinvigorate scientific research, for the purpose of training and increasing the competence of the tourism cadres, as well as increasing the participation of the private sector in developing the tourism sector.
Dr. Al Fahid indicated that the Organization is working in cooperation with the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism to overcome the difficulties and obstacles facing Arab investors in the sector.
Furthermore, the Organization head presented the most prominent agreements that push for joint action, such as the agreement on foreign tourism investment insurance in the member states, which was signed with the Islamic Development Bank Group (ISDB) and its affiliated institutions (the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), and the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance investment and export credit (ICIEC); with the aim of creating a safe investment climate, as well as providing financing for new tourism projects, whilst protecting investments within member states at the same time.
For their part, members of QHA discussed with Dr. Al Fahid the opportunities for joint cooperation between the two parties, in addition to finding ways for further investment in medical and hospital tourism, and the importance of tourism sustainability as an important economic source. (QNA)