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Her Excellency Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and the Kingdom’s nominee for the post of Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization, said that UNWTO should facilitate Member States’ capacity to incorporate tourism within crisis management and national risk mitigation plans, recommending the development of a UNWTO Assistance Fund to support both Full and Affiliate Members of UNWTO to cater for emergency interventions. H.E said this during a meeting with a delegation from the international press at the Bahrain National Museum on 6 December 2020, underlining the most important points of the nomination strategy and the challenges facing the tourism sector, especially in facing the lasting effects of the pandemic.

H.E also voiced her intended strategy and plans, if elected, arguing that the priority would be to encourage non-member states to join; reinvigorate UNWTO as an inclusive organization with active engagement from all members; provide a wide range of demonstrable benefits to these members; and widen, diversify and re-conceptualize the affiliate membership mandate. H.E said: “I will aspire to make UNWTO “walk the talk” so that it becomes itself a living example of sustainability, diversity, integrity and responsibility”.

H.E concluded her interview statement by stressing the importance of smart destination and digital transformation that should remain a UNWTO priority, as well as looking for new sources of income to finance UNWTO’ projects, which would have positive outcomes on member states.

After meeting with BACA’s President, the delegation visited Bahrain National Museum and enjoyed the magic wonders of the gorgeous exhibition titled “Arts from the Islamic World”.