Latest news with #UNTourism
Web Release
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Web Release
Shaikha Al Nowais meets with President of Congo to explore future partnerships in culture, tourism, and sustainable development
H.E. Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General-elect of UN Tourism for the 2026–2029 term, met with H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to discuss avenues for future cooperation between UN Tourism and the Congolese government in the areas of culture, tourism, and sustainable development. The meeting focused on strengthening partnerships to advance shared priorities, while addressing the challenges facing the cultural sector. Discussions also explored opportunities to elevate the Democratic Republic of Congo's status as a leading cultural and tourism hub in Africa. Her Excellency also held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Yolande Elebe Ma Ndembo, Congolese Minister of Culture, Arts, and Heritage, during which both sides explored prospects for collaboration aimed at enhancing cultural infrastructure and developing public policies to safeguard intellectual property and promote the rights of artists. The meeting underscored the vital role of culture and tourism in rebuilding national identity and empowering local communities, highlighting the need for inclusive and forward-looking policies in both sectors. World Music and Tourism Festival The meetings took place on the sidelines of H.E. Shaikha Al Nowais's participation in the inaugural edition of the World Music and Tourism Festival, organised by the Congolese Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the UN Tourism in Kinshasa. The Festival's aim is to support sustainable cultural and tourism policies and highlight the role of music and the arts in promoting intercultural dialogue through diverse tourism and cultural activities. Held under the theme 'The Rumba Route for Peace,' the Festival brought together prominent cultural leaders and tourism policymakers from around the globe, along with African artists and creative institutions. It featured live musical performances, high-level institutional dialogues, and field visits, serving as an unprecedented international platform that blends culture, tourism, and community development. Significance of culture and music in creating tourism opportunities H.E. Shaikha Al Nowais emphasized that music serves as a universal language that fosters understanding, tolerance, and solidarity among cultures. She underscored the vital role of investment in cultural and creative industries as powerful drivers of social and economic empowerment, particularly for youth. Her Excellency also noted that music transcends borders and reflects shared human values, making it a powerful tool for promoting cultural awareness and unlocking sustainable tourism opportunities across continents. 'Musical Villages Across Continents' initiative During her participation in the festival, H.E. Shaikha Al Nowais announced an international initiative titled 'Musical Villages Across Continents,' set to officially launch in 2026. The initiative aims to establish creative community centres in both Africa and Latin America to nurture local musical talent, promote cultural exchange, and encourage the creative economy in both rural and urban communities, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Roundtable on tourism as a tool for cultural diplomacy H.E. participated in a high-level roundtable discussion titled 'Transatlantic Rhythms for Peace: Advancing Advocacy and Policy Strategies for International Connections.' It brought together ministers and international policymakers from Africa, Latin America, and Asia to discuss the growing role of music tourism as a tool for cultural diplomacy, peace-building, and equitable development. Participants included H.E. M'pambia Musanga Didier, Minister of Tourism of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and H.E. Yussif Issaka Jajah, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts of the Republic of Ghana. Visit to the Symphony Orchestra School On the sidelines of her participation in the festival, H.E. Shaikha Al Nowais visited the Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra School, where she met with young musicians and learned about the school's training and arts academic programs.
Al-Ahram Weekly
5 days ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Tourist numbers up - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt ranked 10th in the world for increasing tourist arrivals during the first three months of this year. In a strong start to the year, Egypt's tourism sector has recorded impressive growth, earning the country a place among the top 20 global performers for the first quarter of 2025. The achievement comes as a result of targeted marketing campaigns, the expansion of airline connections and the aviation incentive programme, improved infrastructure, and enhanced visitor experiences across cultural and coastal destinations, according to tourism experts. According to the May 2025 World Tourism Barometer issued by UN Tourism, Egypt ranked 10th among the world's top 20 best-performing countries in tourist arrivals, recording a 21 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024 and a 40 per cent rise over the pre-pandemic year of 2019. In mid-June this year, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) highlighted Egypt's exceptional performance in its latest Economic Impact Research Report, reporting record-breaking figures for the sector. In 2024, Egypt's travel and tourism sector reached an unprecedented milestone, contributing LE1.4 trillion to national GDP, equivalent to 8.5 per cent of the economy, the highest share ever recorded. This figure does not only include tourism revenues but also the spending of tourists, the job opportunities the sector created through the year, and investments in the sector. 'Looking ahead, the momentum is set to continue,' the report said, adding that projections for 2025 indicate a further 4.9 per cent growth in the sector, with its contribution to GDP forecast to rise to 8.6 per cent, setting yet another all-time high. 'Egypt's travel and tourism sector is experiencing a powerful resurgence, with record-breaking economic contribution and a sustained surge in visitor spending. These numbers reflect a sector on the rise: dynamic, resilient, and vital to the country's growth,' Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO, was quoted as saying in a statement. She added that with its rich cultural heritage, world-class attractions, and growing connectivity, Egypt continues to captivate travellers from around the globe. The government's focus on investment, infrastructure, and sustainable tourism is clearly paying off. Sherif Fathy, minister of tourism and antiquities, confirmed that the country had recorded an increase ranging between 23 and 24 per cent in tourist arrivals during the first half of 2025, reaching 8.7 million visitors, compared to the same period in 2024, with 22 per cent growth recorded in June alone. He added that the country is targeting a 14 per cent increase in inbound tourist traffic, aiming to attract between 17.5 to 18 million visitors by the end of 2025. 'This goal reflects the government's strategic commitment to expanding and strengthening the tourism sector as a major pillar of national economic growth,' he said. Fathy emphasised that the ministry is intensifying efforts to enhance Egypt's tourism environment through large-scale infrastructure upgrades and expanded global promotional campaigns. According to data from the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), tourism revenues reached a record $15.3 billion in 2024, marking a nine per cent increase over the previous year. These figures underscore the success of government policies designed to position Egypt as a premier destination for international travellers. The Red Sea resorts and Nile cruises were among the strongest performers, with a 25 per cent increase in tourist numbers during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, receiving 3.9 million visitors. 'Egypt's rising appeal as a global tourism destination is being driven by a combination of security, political stability, economic competitiveness, and strategic marketing efforts to targeted markets,' Fathy said. The security conditions in Egypt have positioned it as a preferred destination for travellers from Europe, the Gulf region, and beyond. Last Saturday, the US and the UK announced updated travel advisories for Egypt, reflecting improved safety conditions. Egypt has been reclassified by the US Department of State under Level Two: Exercise Increased Caution, placing it in the same category as countries such as France and Germany. Egypt was previously under Level Three: Reconsider Travel. Another major factor fuelling this growth is the relatively cheap Egyptian pound when compared to currencies used by Gulf and European tourists, making the destination attractive for leisure travel, business, and longer stays. As part of its strategy to expand its global reach, the government has rolled out several digital campaigns targeting key regional markets, under the slogan: 'Egypt… Unmatched Diversity.' 'We are actively working to diversify Egypt's tourism products to unlock the full potential of our heritage, nature, and beaches, transforming them into marketable, world-class experiences that speak to today's global traveller,' Fathi said, elaborating that the ministry's goal is to position the country as the world's most dynamic and diverse tourist destination. New destinations such as the Siwa Oasis, Alamein, and South Sinai are being introduced to both local and international markets. These emerging regions offer unique experiences in eco-tourism, adventure tourism, and medical tourism, reflecting the government's broader strategy to attract a more diverse and sustainability-minded traveller base. The country, in cooperation with the global travel platform WEGO has recently launches an initiative to attract one million Arab tourists by mid-2026. The campaign utilises multilingual digital marketing tools, particularly in Arabic and English, to engage a wider audience and promote Egypt as a dynamic and accessible destination. Global travel demand has remained strong and resilient, according to the UN Tourism May 2025's Barometer. Around 300 million tourists travelled internationally in the first quarter of 2025, about 14 million more than in 2024. International tourist arrivals increased by five per cent in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, and three per cent above the pre-pandemic year 2019. Despite global uncertainty, travel demand is expected to remain resilient. UN Tourism's January projection of three to five per cent growth in international arrivals for 2025 remains unchanged. * A version of this article appears in print in the 24 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Yahoo
Tourism is increasing over prepandemic levels, overwhelming popular destinations
'Portugal's Travel & Tourism Sector Enters Golden Era.' 'Travel & Tourism in Poland Set to Surpass Economic Records.' 'France Set to Maintain Unmatched 2024 Growth in Travel & Tourism.' The World Travel and Tourism Council's news and press release page is chock full of articles highlighting one fact: the world's most visited destinations are overwhelmed with tourists, and the postpandemic tourism boom doesn't seem to be slowing down. Global travel was already swelling in 2024, when international travel reached 99% of its prepandemic levels, according to UN Tourism's World Tourism Barometer. In the first quarter of 2025, international tourist arrivals increased by 5% compared to the first quarter of 2024 and 3% compared to the first quarter of 2019. This surge of vacationers is in part due to 'revenge travel': people are going on the long-awaited trips they weren't able to take during the pandemic. Partly as a result, popular sites and vacationing spots are facing an influx of tourists. One of the countries most challenged by the flood of tourist traffic is Spain, which welcomed about 94 million foreign visitors in 2024—about double the country's entire population of 49 million. The barrage of foreign tourists is making destinations busier and prices more expensive, and locals as well as domestic tourists are getting pushed out of their own regions. For Spain's 25 most popular coastal destinations, where hotel prices have risen 23% in the past three years, foreign tourism rose last year by 1.94 million people while local tourism dropped by 800,000. In contrast, about 1.7 million more Spaniards vacationed inland to more affordable areas last year compared to the year before. But locals aren't relinquishing their hometowns and regional vacation destinations easily. In Barcelona, which has a population of 1.7 million and saw 15.5 million domestic and foreign visitors last year, protesters took to the streets this year and last to splash tourists with water guns. In Paris, staff at the Louvre, the world's most-visited museum, went on strike in June, protesting the crowds, the lack of staffing, and the working conditions. The museum currently caps daily visitors at 30,000, which brings the maximum yearly attendance to 9.3 million—about 5 million more than the Louvre was designed to receive. While locals are protesting overtourism, governments are trying to satiate their constituents without losing the economic boost that tourism provides. On a global scale, travel and tourism represented 10% of the global economy in 2024. Travel and tourism in Spain is expected to make up 16%, or $303.3 billion, of the country's national economy, and the same sector in France is expected to make up 9.3%, or $319.2 billion, of its output. In trying to appease both sides, the government of Italy imposed a five-euro (almost $6) tax last year to tourists traveling into the city in an attempt to mitigate tourism at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fee, implemented in April, is applicable only to day trips, not longer visits, and is in effect for only 54 days of this year's peak tourism season. Residents of Venice, whose population has shrunk from about 175,000 in the 1970s to below 50,000 last year, said that the entrance fee turned their city into an amusement park and will not do much to discourage tourists. Governments are also tightening regulations on short-term vacation rentals, specifically Airbnb, which limit the housing supply and therefore increase residential housing prices. The vacation rental company, which denies it has a role in hiking housing prices, is currently appealing a decision to take down around 66,000 properties in Spain that violate local rules. London and Paris, too, have capped the number of nights a property can be rented a year to 90 days. This story was originally featured on Solve the daily Crossword
Egypt Independent
18-07-2025
- Business
- Egypt Independent
Egypt ranks 10th globally in Q1 2025 tourism growth
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) has released its latest report on the top-performing tourism destinations for the first quarter of 2025. Egypt secured the 10th position worldwide, boasting a 21 percent increase in tourist arrivals compared to 2024, outperforming countries like Lithuania, Palau, and South Korea. Morocco landed in ninth place with a 22 percent increase, while Paraguay topped the list with an astonishing 53 percent growth. The report highlighted a significant surge in tourism for South American countries. Paraguay led the way, followed by Brazil and Chile, both seeing a 48 percent increase. Gambia came in fourth with 46 percent growth. Asian nations also featured prominently, with Vietnam (30 percent) and Japan (23 percent) taking the sixth and seventh spots, respectively. Israel was listed in fifth place with a 31 percent increase. The report noted that its data relies on figures recorded up to May 2025, focusing on destinations that provided complete statistics for January and February. It also cautioned that some countries, including Israel, Palau, and Iran, still have tourist numbers below their 2019 levels. This could make their reported growth percentages appear high, potentially not reflecting a full recovery to pre-pandemic volumes. Global tourism registered a five percent growth in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by three percent. The number of international tourists is projected to reach 300 million by the end of Q1 2025, an increase of 14 million from the previous year. Africa achieved the highest growth rate at nine percent, followed by Asia and the Pacific with a 13 percent increase, despite not yet fully recovering its tourism capacity. The Americas, Europe, and the Middle East, meanwhile, recorded more modest growth rates ranging between one percent and three percent. Despite ongoing economic and geopolitical challenges, experts anticipate continued strong demand for travel, with a projected growth in tourist numbers between three percent and five percent during 2025. International tourism revenues also reached a record two trillion dollars, representing a 15 percent increase over the pre-pandemic period. Egypt's performance remains commendable within this context, reflecting its continuous efforts to boost the tourism sector and attract more visitors to its unique civilizational treasures.
Qatar Tribune
17-07-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Tourism reveals judges for 3rd Qatar Tourism Awards
Qatar Tourism has revealed a distinguished ten-member jury panel of local and international experts for its third edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards. These eagerly awaited awards honour organisations and individuals known for consistently delivering exceptional tourism experiences in Qatar. The Qatar Tourism Awards is an initiative by Qatar Tourism, developed in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), aimed at recognising individuals and businesses across the tourism and hospitality sector in Qatar for their remarkable contributions to service excellence. The panel is tasked with carefully evaluating tourism businesses that demonstrate excellence across seven primary categories: Service Excellence, Gastronomic Experiences, Iconic Attractions and Activities, World-Class Events, Digital Footprint, Smart and Sustainable Tourism, and Community Leadership. These categories, along with 37 sub-categories, reflect key dimensions of both the visitor and resident experience. The jury includes the following distinguished members: HE Vice-Chairman of the Education, Culture, Sport and Information Committee of the Shura Council and the Chairman of the External Affairs, Political and National Security Committee of the Arab Parliament Hamad Al Mulla, OBE, Visit England Director Andrew Stokes, Travel Content Creator Aurelie Bouti, Executive Director SME Development at Qatar Development Bank Dr Hamad Salem Mejegheer, Food and Travel Magazine, Publisher and CEO Gregor Rankin, Director- Regional Office for the Middle East UN Tourism Samer Al Kharashi, Deputy Director, Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Department, UN Tourism Marcel Leijzer, CEO of Al Wa'ab City Dr. Abdulla Al Mehshadi, Innovation Expert Ramzan Al Naimi and Dean of the College of Business and Economics at Qatar University Prof. Rana Al Sobh. The carefully selected panel of judges will evaluate submissions expected to surpass last year's total of over 800 entries from across the sector. Winners will receive extensive promotion locally, regionally, and internationally to enhance their visibility. The winners of the third edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards will be revealed during a formal ceremony taking place in November 2025. The Qatar Tourism Awards is open to all businesses and individuals in the tourism sector. The Awards is a benchmark for excellence, highlighting the nation's top tourism offerings, services and innovations and outstanding achievers. It is a chance to help set the standard for the tourism industry and recognize those who elevate Qatar's tourism reputation on the global stage. Winning the prestigious Qatar Tourism Awards is a demonstration of excellence that strengthens brand equity, shapes businesses or careers and to gain nationally and internationally recognition. Submissions are a simple process where the applicants need to answer 5 unique questions and attach supporting documents. The application portal launched on May 19, and the deadline for applications submission is August 7, 2025.
