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H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, and the Kingdom of Bahrain’s candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, has announced her vision to develop and advance the tourism sector at the global level. Her Excellency’s vision consists of seven integrated axes aimed at strengthening the work of the organization, during and after surviving the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, in promoting the sustainable tourism industry and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa said that the first axis of her  strategic vision, which is aimed to boost the outcome of the World Tourism Organization, sheds light on the importance of crisis management and planning for the future.  H.E argued that   that the devastating effects of the Coronavirus crisis pandemic revealed the fragility of the tourism sector during this pandemic, suffering as the result of the collapse of demand for tourist travel. In addition, the lockdowns and frequent closures of airspaces and airports in various countries of the world, put tourism sector working force are at risk of losing jobs and led to despair with regard to their future career prospects.

H.E added saying that, as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to heavily hit the sector in these difficult times, and the outlook for tourism economy recovery remains highly uncertain, the United Nations World Tourism Organization should think about providing opportunities for tourism sector workers to keep their jobs, set –up an effective communication channels with resources-controlling parties to raise their awareness about the suffering of their individuals who face unemployment. Moreover, advising and counselling with regard to required relief and assistance efforts and strategies, sustained and generalized governmental policies supporting the tourism sector worldwide and leading a successful negotiations with the main financial private or public institutions and convince them to participate in the development and progress of this vital sector, will certainly brighten the future prospects of the tourism sector, H.E rejoined. 

H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohamed Al-Khalifa  also pointed out arguing that the United Nations World Tourism Organization needs to cooperate with the WHO and other health expertise organizations to guarantee the global accord agreement with regard to safe travel procedures. H.E went to say that the WTO should maintain low-level travel restriction requirements, guarantee a support mechanism to assist the hospitality sector that is required to adopt to the new health measures and challenges for a safe return with new outlook and philosophy.

Commenting on the future of tourism sector after Corona virus, H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohamed Al-Khalifa said that there is an unprecedented opportunity today to totally reshape and redesign the tourism sector, in line  with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These include supporting local tourism, which is now flourishing more than any other time, as well as UNWTO’s assistance plan to help member states integrating tourism into the national strategies for crises ’management and risk reduction schemes. H.E suggested that the UNWTO be guided and inspired by other UN system initiatives aimed at establishing a special UNWTO‘s fund for support and assistance to member states, providing urgent required measures and answer the calls and immediate needs of the tourism sector.