14 October 2019
H.E Shaikha Mai Participates at the Global Tourism Economy Forum 2019, H.E: investing in culture generates an alternative economic source and is a guarantee to continuous sustainable development
Her Excellency Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, is taking at the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), which is being held on 14 and 15 October 2019 in Macao, People's Republic of China. Her Excellency presented a speech earlier today, Monday 14 October, in a session that highlighted the role of world tourism as a factor in developing societies.
Chief Executive of the World Tourism Organization, Mr. Tschu Shang Shung highlighted in his opening speech that tourism is not just about numbers and economic benefits, but also about healthy lifestyles and the well-being of society. The forum was also attended by H.E Shaikha Hessa Al-Sabah, Director General of Kuwait’s Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah (DAI). The two-day event, under the theme of "Tourism and Leisure: Roadmap to a Beautiful Life," attracted industry leaders and experts to share insightful perspectives in an array of sessions. The forum also included a range of discussion panels, special interviews as well as concurrent activities including exhibitions, high governmental and private officials, business matching and networking sessions.
H.E addressed the panel discussion forum saying : “ In the few recent years, cultural tourism has become increasingly crucial in the sustainable development of the most countries’ biggest economies, given that it reflects the richness of the historical and civilizational heritage of the many cultures and highlights its uniqueness and diversity”. H.E also pointed out that culture acts as a driving force behind urban development enhancement, creating job opportunities and attracting investors and tourists. Indeed, inversing in culture from the touristic perspective generates an economic alternative, acts as a guarantee for continuous sustainable development and considerate as a source of prosperity and wealth.
H.E Shaikha Mai added : “ The living conditions’ security and the economic stability, which are considered as essential elements to reach a high level of public satisfaction levels among local communities, are the direct results of investing in cultural tourism industry. This type of tourism contributes to the development of the infrastructure in cities, and requires a direct participation by communities to provide best experiences for visitors and tourists”. BACA’s President highlighted the importance of setting a long term comprehensive national strategy plan to enhance cultural tourism through the development of historical cities’ infrastructure, safeguard and preservation of cultural and natural heritage sites, promotion of intangible cultural heritage elements of the local communities, such as music, crafts, food customs and traditions. Thus, the visitor or tourist would gain an exceptional unique cultural tourism experience, rarely encountered elsewhere in the whole world.
Speaking about the Kingdom of Bahrain’s experience with sustainable cultural infrastructure enhancement, H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa said that Bahrain has been witnessing a real renaissance for the last decade because it invested in its cultural infrastructure, preserved its cultural heritage, given that Bahrain is considered as a pioneer in the Arab Gulf region with regard to the cultural infrastructure projects. Hence, Bahrain Culture Authority has set up through the last decade a network of museum, visitors’ centers throughout Bahrain, as well as registering three national sites at UNESCO World Heritage List , attracting, thus, an increasing number of visitors flocking into many heritage sites scattered around Bahrain. This has led inevitably to encourage a competitive climate to local social community development for every region, creating wealth and prosperity through tourism.
H.E also argued that her 2006 “Investing in Culture” initiative, an active partnership between private and public sectors unprecedented in the region, has yielded fruitful outcomes and has contributed to the successful recognition of Bahrain by the international cultural organizations and entities during the recent years, coroneted recently by 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture for the “Revitalization of Muharraq” project and implementation challenges, pointing out that the project, facilitated by private–public partnerships, involves also Pearling Path Visitor Center, a UNESCO World Heritage site and many other historical houses, subsidiaries emanating from Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture & Research. Investing in Culture initiative from Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture & Research, a kind of effective partnership between private-public sectors was born, has encouraged cultural private sector financing and creating a vivid cultural scene, such as the National Theater, which was built and sponsored by and under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, may God protect him, Qala’at al Bahrain Fort Site Museum, sponsored by Arcapita Bank.
The Global Tourism Economy Forum is held annually in Macau with the support of China, with the European Union as an official partner. It aims at encouraging World Tourism Economy. It is also dedicated to radiating an increasingly far-reaching impact as an advanced platform for international tourism exchange and cooperation, the organizers said. The Forum will incorporate new elements to expand new possibilities for tourism innovation and investment. This year, the Forum will deepen its collaboration with UNWTO to stage the finale of the “UNWTO Tourism Tech Adventure: SportsTech” for the first time, set to foster reform and innovation in the tourism value chain. Smart Cities to Smart Tourism Destinations: Towards Wellness and Happiness” in cooperation with the World Tourism Cities Federation, is another session theme dealt with during the forum.
Worth to mention that The Global Tourism Economy Forum gathers many ministerial officials, leaders of globally leading corporations, as well as experts and scholars to zero in on how this rising resourceful and tech-savvy group is more than ever the increasingly influential force in the tourism industry. Launched by Global Tourism Economy Research Center in Macau in 2012, Global Tourism Economy Forum is an annual international event and an interactive exchange platform that is designed to create a macro view of the interplay between tourism and other major economies, and the momentum that each builds upon the growth of the other. It brings together global policymakers and industry leaders annually to share insights in global tourism economy issues. The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) is hosted by the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, in collaboration with World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), co-organized by the China Chamber of Tourism under the authorization of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), co-organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), and coordinated by Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC).
