UNWTO: Upheavals in Arab world negatively affect tourism

Extraordinary security and political events taking place in Arab countries have negatively affected various key sectors namely tourism, affirmed Taleb Al-Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Tourism is very vulnerable and prone to be quickly affected with security and political developments, but the sector can rapidly recover, provided needed political will exists, said Al-Rifai, in remarks to KUNA, on fringes of the International Tourism Bourse exhibition that gut underway here on Tuesday.
Al-Rifai opined that Arabian Gulf states, which enjoys a great measure of stability and calm, can make substantial benefits from tourism, as compared to other Arab countries, indicating at numerous "initiatives" that have been in the GCC countries to encourage tourism investments.
The UNTWO chief said he sensed, during his participation in the recent GCC tourism ministers' meeting, that leaders in the sector have desire to overhaul it, "but we need to ensure that such an approach is backed by the higher political leaderships." Al-Rifai said he was pleased with what he had seen during his visit to Kuwait.
Kuwait's Ministry of Commerce is taking part in the Berlin event for the 13th consecutive time. The exhibition brings together representatives of aviation companies, hotels and various tourism authorities. It is expected to attract 160,000 visitors including 10,000 organizers of pavilions, representing 180 countries.