Sydney- M E Times Int’l:  A Kuwaiti tourism official has discussed strengthening ties between Kuwait and the World Tourism Organisation in a bid to reorganise the tourism sector in Kuwait.

The discussion was part of a meeting between Kuwait’s Assistant Undersecretary for the Tourism Sector at the Ministry of Information, Saud Al-Khalidi, with the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, and the Middle East Regional Director, Basma Al-Maiman, on the sidelines of the International Tourism Festival (Vitor) in Madrid, Spain.

Al-Khalidi said that during two meetings, they discussed the use of advisory expertise, field visits, knowledge of Kuwaiti tourism needs and the exchange of ideas and experiences, expressing his hope to enhance co-operation with the organisation, of which Kuwait is a founding member.

He said he had invited the WTO Secretary-General and the regional director to visit Kuwait and to inspect its tourism potential.

He added that he put forward several ideas, including the establishment of tourism exhibitions in Kuwait focused on fields like food and marketing, as well as benefiting from the reports, statistics and studies of the WTO on Kuwaiti tourism and finding ways to develop it, since tourism attracts cultures and societies.

He explained that the possibility of training national cadres in tourism and hospitality, and attracting tourism investment was examined, in addition to benefiting from WTO programs.

He added that hotel developments were discussed in line with the needs of guests and the latest international standards, in addition to reviewing the penal regulations and monitoring tourist establishments.

Al-Khalidi participated in an event organized by the WTO in the presence of its Secretary-General and tourism ministers from several countries, including the Palestinian Minister of Tourism, Rula Maayah, at the headquarters of the WOW Concept company in the heart of Madrid, during which an agreement was signed between the two sides to highlight shopping tourism.

Pololikashvili stressed, in a speech delivered during the event in which Guatemalan President Alejandro Giamatti and WOW Concept President Dimas Jimeno participated, the importance of investing in shopping tourism to attract tourists and make their experience in destination countries richer.

The activities of the 43rd Vitor, which is considered one of the most important tourism exhibitions in the world, kicked off with the participation of 131 countries.

This year’s focus is on highlighting the strong recovery witnessed by the tourism sector after the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting its continued growth, as well as introducing the latest developments around the world and the most prominent digital innovations.