Al Bahar Hotel and Resort Honored at Fujairah Heritage Days Event
February 6, 2024
Luxury Stays on a Budget
February 24, 2024National Tourism Charter For UAE’s Development
Table of Contents
The tourism industry in the UAE is increasingly adopting sustainable practices as there is an increased global focus on sustainability. Sustainable tourism in the UAE is characterized by environmental conservation, cultural preservation, community engagement, and responsible tourism practices. The Emirates Tourism Council has recently launched the National Tourism Charter which aims to coordinate national efforts to enhance sustainable tourism development. The charter was launched in the meeting of the council headed by His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council. The directors and general managers of local tourism authorities of the Emirates participated in the event. Waseem Al Shalabi, the general manager of Al Bahar Hotels and Resort Fujairah has played a significant role in this initiative. Al Bahar is one of the best beachfront five star hotels in Fujairah that has been consistently contributing to sustainable tourism development in the UAE.
The National Tourism Charter
The National Tourism Charter was launched during the Tourism Council’s second meeting of 2024 and is a key initiative of ‘The National Tourism Strategy 2031’. This initiative aims to enhance UAE’s competitiveness at global and regional levels. The National Tourism Charter intends to make the UAE a prominent player in the global tourism landscape by encouraging collaboration among all the seven emirates. The initiative promotes joint ventures that aim to create new opportunities and capabilities that drive prosperity and development in the tourism sector. Moreover, it seeks to encourage investments in different tourism activities that are in line with the ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision. The National Tourism Charter is built on six key principles that collectively aim to create a secure and appealing national tourism environment and offer top-notch hospitality services. The six principles are mentioned below:
- Economic Development
- Environmental Sustainability
- Emirati values
- Cooperation
- Innovation
- Interdependence
Statistics Of UAE’s Tourism Sector
His Excellency Bin Touq highlighted the remarkable accomplishments made by the tourism industry during the event. The major accomplishments include a surge in hotel revenues across the Emirates to AED 43.5 billion in 2023, which is 15% higher than in 2022. The total number of guests in the UAE hotels reached 28 million in 2023, 11% more than in 2022, with a total of 97.3 million hotel nights. The hotel occupancy rate was 71.2 percent in 2022 which increased to 75.4 percent in 2023, making it one of the highest globally. This surge is mainly due to the combined efforts of the government and leading players in the private sector. All seven Emirates including the tranquil Emirate Fujairah are well-known for top five star hotels. The beachfront resorts and five star hotels in Fujairah and other emirates make UAE a favorite tourist destination. Albahar Hotel & resort is one of the best beachfront five star hotels in Fujairah that attracts a good number of travelers every year.
World’s Coolest Winter Campaign
During the event, the Tourism Council reviewed the 4th edition of UAE’s World’s Coolest Winter Campaign and discussed its achievements. The world’s coolest winter campaign is a federal tourism campaign that aims to highlight the major landmarks and hidden gems of the seven Emirates. The 4th edition under the theme ‘Unforgettable Stories’, aimed to promote domestic tourism nationwide and attract tourists from around the globe to experience winter in the UAE.
Other Key Recommendations
The Emirates Tourism Council also discussed ways to promote the UAE’s national tourism identity at international conferences and exhibitions. It also approved the formation of a national team to establish a unified national digital database for tourism data in cooperation with federal and local authorities in the country. The Minister of Economy also added that the Tourism Council will constantly work to follow principles and implement the goals of the Charter in collaboration with all relevant tourism authorities and private sector entities of the Emirates. Here comes the importance of five star hotels in Fujairah, Dubai, and other Emirates. These hotels play a major role in tourism development in the UAE. The interest of private entities in sustainable practices is evident in their active participation and collaboration in the event. For instance, the GM of Albahar Hotel, one of the top five star hotels in Fujairah was an important dignitary in the launch of the National Tourism Charter.
Concluding Thoughts
The recently launched National Tourism Charter is a great leap towards sustainable tourism development in the UAE. The Emirates aims to promote environmentally and socially responsible tourism through initiatives focused on minimizing environmental impact, preserving cultural heritage, involving local communities, promoting responsible visitor behavior, and investing in green infrastructure. Sustainable tourism in the UAE aims to create long-term benefits for local communities while safeguarding the country’s natural and cultural assets for future generations. This is done by balancing economic growth along with environmental and social considerations. Though the government implements several strategies for tourism development, the role played by the private hospitality sector cannot be overlooked. Most of the leading hotels in the Emirates and beachfront five star hotels in Fujairah like the Albahar hotels and resorts play a major role in the overall tourism development of UAE.
