
GCC tourism strategies must encompass sustainability, social impact, and community engagement, say experts at ATM 2025
National strategies across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and wider Gulf region aim to balance rapid growth with inclusive, community-focused tourism Job creation, cultural authenticity, and local partnerships identified as growth enablers
ATM 2025's Global Stage provides a platform for strategic dialogue on sustainable destination planning
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 2025: As tourism destinations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) continue to grow, involving local communities in destination development has become increasingly vital for long-term success.
Abu Dhabi's Tourism Strategy 2030 aims for 39.3 million visitors per year, while Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 targets 150 million domestic and international visits, emphasising how tourism is being established as a key element of economic diversification throughout the region.
At Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, industry leaders emphasised that sustainable revitalisation of destinations must align tourism investments with community partnerships, cultural authenticity, and immersive guest experiences to provide lasting value for both residents and visitors.
During the session on 'Considerations and Implications of Involving Communities in Destination Revitalisation' on the ATM 2025 Global Stage, experts shared insights into building resilience, enhancing local prosperity, and ensuring tourism growth is both inclusive and enduring.
Abdulaziz Alkhoori, Executive Director of Group Strategy & Transformation, Miral, said: 'If I start by quoting Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE. He said the most important asset of any advanced nation is people. It is all about people. Emiratisation is a very important initiative for the Miral Group. Our development and training programmes aim to support people from pre-graduation all the way to executive leadership across the sector.'
Building on this focus on empowering local talent, speakers also highlighted how authentic engagement with communities is shaping guest experiences and strengthening destination identity.
Mashhoor Baeshen, Executive Director of Commercial and Business Development, Cruise Saudi, added: 'Manpower is part of giving the full experience of a country. So how do we invest in local people to make sure that we echo their experience to the guests? At Cruise Saudi, we work on different initiatives including going to the universities that have hospitality programmes to engage the students to be on board. The Ministry of Tourism also has targets for Saudisation in the tourism industry. For example, tour guides have to be Saudi. For us, this is a great experience, because the first flavour you get from a country is when you deal with its people.'
The session highlighted how empowering local communities improves the guest experience and creates long-term value through job creation, cultural preservation, and economic resilience.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, commented: 'ATM is proud to offer a platform where global and regional leaders can engage in meaningful discussions that shape the future of travel and tourism. Through sessions like this, we bring together a variety of voices to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and develop innovative strategies that benefit the entire industry.'
Arabian Travel Market 2025, held under the theme 'Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow's Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity', continues at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) until Thursday, 1 May. The event features more than 200 speakers across three content stages and welcomes over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.
Held in conjunction with DWTC, ATM's strategic partners include Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Destination Partner; Emirates, Official Airline Partner; IHG Hotels & Resorts, Official Hotel Partner; and Al Rais Travel, Official DMC Partner. About RX:
RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
About RELX:
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors
World Travel Market (WTM) Portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are Arabian Travel Market, WTM London, WTM Latin America and WTM Africa.
WTM London is the world's most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes.
WTM Latin America is held annually in São Paulo and attracts more than 29,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers a qualified content combined with networking and business opportunities. In its most recent edition, in 2024, WTM Latin America maintained its focus on the effective generation of business and managed to secure the early scheduling of more than six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents, and exhibitors. WTM Latin America contents are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019.
About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week's digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.
WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mid East Info
4 hours ago
- Mid East Info
FSB Sports Show Riyadh spotlights 200 exhibitors powering next-gen sports & leisure solutions for Saudi Arabia's urban future
Smart, sustainable and inclusive products and services, including urban design, landscape architecture, sports surfaces and more at the inaugural edition Visitors can explore the future of sports and leisure infrastructure and network with key exhibitors, including Asharqiyah Cables, Yardex, Bejadin and BSG FSB Sports Show Riyadh takes place alongside the Saudi Sports & Leisure Summit, aligning with Vision 2030 and major national initiatives Saudi Arabia's ambitious plans for world-class sports infrastructure and recreation spaces are gaining momentum, supported by over $2 billion in committed investments and a projected $5.9 billion in sports sector revenue by 2030. With major international sporting events, including the Asian Cup 2027, Riyadh Expo 2030 and FIFA World Cup 2034 on the horizon, the Kingdom is accelerating development as part of Vision 2030. Aligned with this ambition, the debut edition of FSB Sports Show Riyadh is set to welcome thousands of industry leaders and professionals from 16–18 June at Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center. Organized by dmg events in collaboration with Koelnmesse, the event brings the internationally renowned FSB – International Trade Fair for Public Space, Sports and Leisure Facilities brand to Saudi Arabia for the first time, creating a dedicated business and networking platform for the Kingdom's fast-evolving sports and recreation landscape. 'From active cities and giga projects to school playgrounds and public parks, Saudi Arabia is transforming how it designs and delivers spaces for sports, wellness and recreation,' said Muhammed Kazi, Senior Vice President – Construction, dmg events. 'FSB Sports Show Riyadh has been developed to address this evolution and enable connections that can support long-term sector growth.' 'FSB is the international benchmark for innovations in sports and leisure facilities. As Saudi Arabia scales up investment across public parks, playgrounds or stadiums to increase the health and well-being of the public, now is the ideal time to bring this event to Riyadh,' said Denis Steker, Senior Vice President – International, Koelnmesse. 'Together with dmg events, we're proud to create an environment where industry leaders can exchange expertise, showcase capabilities and form long-term, sustainable partnerships.' Shaping Saudi Arabia's next generation of active spaces With public health, youth development and tourism among the key Vision 2030 priorities, FSB Sports Show Riyadh prioritizes integrated sports and wellness zones within giga projects, boosting green spaces in cities. The opportunities presented at the exhibition further encourage private sector investment in fitness, aquatics and leisure infrastructure. Across three days, the event will showcase equipment, flooring, turf, gym and fitness systems, playgrounds, outdoor furniture, water technologies, smart sports facilities and urban well-being solutions from both international pioneers and regional specialists. Some of the prominent participating brands include Asharqiyah Cables, a Saudi Arabian manufacturer specializing in control, instrumentation, low-current and fire-resistant cable; Yardex, a global artificial grass manufacturer providing high-quality synthetic turf for sports and landscaping applications; Bejadin, a Saudi Arabian focused on safety, electro-mechanical services and smart building solutions; and BSG, Polish company specializing in chemical component manufacturing and industrial solutions, among others, covering the needs of planners and buyers from municipalities, education, hospitality, defence and entertainment sectors. Decision-makers from across Saudi Arabia are actively seeking a robust sports infrastructure, durable equipment, playgrounds and leisure facilities that meet both quality and quantity demand. As the event approaches in under two weeks, visitors will have the opportunity to network with decision-makers from companies including Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Education, NEOM, Diriyah Gate Development Authority, Royal Commission for Riyadh City and General Entertainment Authority, among others. 'Saudi Arabia's sports sector is growing rapidly, evolving in scope and sophistication. We now see demand for more integrated and digitally enabled facilities that cater to every age group, community type and use case. FSB Sports Show Riyadh allows us to meet new clients, strengthen existing partnerships and deliver solutions built for the industry requirements, catering to our country's vision,' said Ahmed Al-Omair, Chief Executive Officer, ORF Construction Chemical Solutions. 'Saudi Arabia offers unmatched potential in the sports and leisure space, given the country's ambitious plans and the planned sporting events in the upcoming years. This show gives us the right stage to engage with buyers and developers who are actively working towards building the country's physical and recreational infrastructure,' said Genny Logan, General Manager, Faris Group. Exclusive insights from key stakeholders FSB Sports Show Riyadh will host two insightful content features, Saudi Sports & Leisure Summit and ActiveSpaces 360, both designed to explore the evolving demands of Saudi Arabia's sports infrastructure and leisure landscape. From future stadiums and recreational complexes to community activation and smart city integration, these sessions offer in-depth discussions tailored to a rapidly evolving market. Taking place on the first day of the event, 16 June, Saudi Sports & Leisure Summit will spotlight public-private collaboration, adaptive venue design, safety and smart facility management. Some of the top speakers sharing insights at the summit include Alanood Alothaimeen, Director of Strategy and Policies, Saudi Sports for All Federation; Paul Goodall, Associate Principal, Populous; Yehia Madkour, Middle East Director, Perkins & Will; John Seed, Group Director Strategy and Development, Dar Al Riyadh; among others. Key sessions will explore themes such as sustainable wellness-focused sports spaces, legacy-driven & multi-use venue design and global trends shaping the future of sports and leisure infrastructure. Running on 17 and 18 June, ActiveSpaces 360 will feature expert-led discussions on the design, construction and management strategies for urban and multi-use sports spaces. With speakers, including Tom Pinnington, Director, The Sports Consultancy, United Kingdom; Paul Rigby, Partner, FaulknerBrowns Architects, United Kingdom; Klaus Meinel, Secretary General, IAKS – International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities; and Luis Guimaraes, Senior Manager at Alvarez & Marsal, among others, visitors will gain diverse insights from global and regional perspectives. Key sessions will cover sustainable maintenance and cleaning of synthetic surfaces, unlocking the social value of elite sports facilities and the latest innovations driving surface resilience and performance. From schools to stadiums, these forward-looking talks aim to equip stakeholders with strategies aligned with Vision 2030's focus on smart, inclusive and sustainable active environments. FSB Sports Show Riyadh is sponsored by Doka (Theatre Sponsor), with partners including Al Yamama (Sports Facilities Solutions Partner), Syngenta Turf & Landscape and Naffco (Founding Partners), AHK (Knowledge Partner), AIA Middle East (Architecture Partner), IAKS and ESTC (ActiveSpaces 360 Session Partners), Marafei Almarefah (Golfing Partner) and Teleiosx (Racing Partner). The free-to-attend FSB Sports Show Riyadh will be co-located with International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia.


Daily News Egypt
12 hours ago
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt poised to lead regional 5G expansion, eyes additional spectrum, SME inclusion: Ericsson
Egypt is making significant progress towards a nationwide 5G rollout, but must accelerate spectrum allocation and foster adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to fully realise the technology's potential, according to Iwan Stella, Vice President and Head of Commercial Management & Strategy at Ericsson for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In an interview with Daily News Egypt, Stella welcomed Egypt's recent 5G licensing and network trials as 'important steps,' noting that modernisation initiatives and shared infrastructure are establishing a strong foundation. However, he emphasised the urgent need for more mid- and low-band spectrum to ensure reliable indoor coverage and scalable fixed wireless access (FWA) to meet both urban and industrial demand. 'Operators will only be able to deliver the low-latency connections required by Egypt's expanding industrial sector once sufficient spectrum is made available,' he said, stressing the importance of aligning with Egypt Vision 2030 through a phased rollout that balances cost efficiency with measurable milestones. While Egypt's digital infrastructure—including backhaul fibre networks and upgraded power systems—is largely 5G-ready, Stella noted that clear timelines for additional spectrum, particularly in contiguous mid-band ranges, will be critical for operators to complete network planning and accelerate deployment. He pointed to 'try-and-buy' initiatives and software-as-a-service (SaaS) models as practical methods to encourage 5G adoption among SMEs. 'Tiered service offerings—from basic connectivity for micro-enterprises to assured low-latency connections for advanced manufacturers—allow smaller businesses to scale services according to their needs,' Stella explained. Ericsson views Egypt's strong digital maturity and regulatory momentum as key differentiators in the region. Its strategy includes dual-band deployment—low-band for broad national coverage and mid-band for high-demand areas—combined with AI-powered network optimisation managed from Ericsson's Cairo-based Analytics Hub. To ensure a sustainable rollout, Stella called for transparent spectrum planning, robust cybersecurity frameworks, and incentives to encourage the adoption of energy-efficient network technologies—aligning both commercial goals and environmental responsibilities. With Egypt gaining international recognition for its broadband advancements, Stella urged policymakers to support the migration of legacy 2G, 3G, and 4G users to 5G-enabled devices. 'The quicker people and industries adopt 5G terminals—including FWA—the faster the return on investment. Once users experience high-performing 5G, they won't want to go back.' Despite cost sensitivity among SMEs, Stella believes innovations such as network slicing and edge services offer a practical bridge to private 5G capabilities without requiring heavy upfront investment. 'Egypt has all the ingredients to become a regional hub for 5G innovation,' he said. 'Ambitious infrastructure projects, a tech-savvy workforce, and a stable, secure spectrum policy can attract international R&D, cloud providers, and IoT manufacturers.'


CairoScene
a day ago
- CairoScene
Private Sector Bank Claims in Saudi Arabia Reach SAR 3 Trillion
Credit to private businesses and individuals rose 15.2% in April 2025, totalling SAR 3.012 trillion. Private sector banking claims in Saudi Arabia have reached SAR 3.012 trillion as of April 2025, marking a 15.2% year-on-year increase, according to new data from the Saudi Central Bank. The figure reflects total credit issued to non-government entities, including businesses and households, and highlights continued expansion in the Kingdom's financial sector. The rise in private sector lending is supported by strong domestic demand and aligns with ongoing efforts to diversify the economy under Vision 2030. The latest increase also follows a 10% year-on-year growth in time and savings deposits, which reached SAR 949.7 billion by the end of 2024. Credit to the private sector now accounts for the bulk of bank lending activity in Saudi Arabia. The trend has drawn attention from ratings agencies such as Fitch, which forecast that Saudi banks would maintain one of the highest credit growth rates in the region throughout 2025.