WTM Virtual to Host Momentous Discussion of Tourism Ministers from Israel, UAE, Bahrain

Photo source: @WTM London

WTM Virtual will host the first meeting of the tourism ministers of Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Bahrain since signing historic agreements to normalise relations in September.

According to WTM Virtual’s schedule, the three ministers will have a momentous discussion on Monday, November 9, during a session titled Tourism: The Path to Peace in the Middle East.

Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Minister of Tourism for Israel; Ahmad bin Abdullah Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small & Medium Enterprises for the UAE, and Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism for the Kingdom of Bahrain will discuss the tourism opportunities now available and determine the role that tourism will play in helping to secure long-standing peace in the region.

“The session will provide a fascinating insight into how co-operating on tourism and trade – encouraging people to engage with different cultures and experience new places, sample different food and take part in different activities – can advance peace,” said WTM Senior Director Simon Press.

The Abraham Accords

Photo source: WTM Virtual

The Abraham Accords, signed on 15 September, set in motion a host of business opportunities and intergovernmental agreements between Israel and the UAE, and created exciting tourism prospects in the region for the first time. Concurrently, Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain also signed an agreement to launch full diplomatic relations.

The agreements gave the go ahead for official dialogue between the countries and set in place new opportunities for tourism. Those involved hope tourism between the destinations will provide the chance to establish peace on a deeper level within the Middle East region.

Since the Accords were signed, Israel’s first-ever commercial flight – carrying a high-level delegation from Israel and the US – landed in the UAE, while the first commercial passenger flight to Israel by a carrier from the UAE landed at Israel’s Ben-Gurion international airport in October.

As a result of the Abraham Accords, the Israel Transportation Ministry announced there will be 28 direct weekly passenger flights connecting Tel Aviv with Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

WTM Virtual will take place during November 9-11, offering delegates the chance to arrange one-to-one virtual meetings to do business, attend conference sessions and roundtables, take part in speed networking and more.