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COVID-19’s economic impact on the Arab world’s tourism industry
October 21, 202011:00 a.m.
ONLINE
Casa Árabe’s Twitter and YouTube channels.
11:00 a.m.
In English, without translation.
On Wednesday, October 21, we held this online round table discussion, organized with the UNWTO and with Arab leaders from the sector, aimed in particular at tourism involving meetings, incentive tourism, congresses and events (MICE). You can watch the discussion on Twitter and YouTube.
The impact of the current global health crisis is being felt in every sector of the economy, and travel and tourism are among the most affected fields. Losses are expected to increase from 850 million to 1billion international tourist arrivals, from 910 million to 1.1 trillion dollars in export revenue, and from 100 to 120 million in tourism jobs according to UNWTO estimates, depending on when borders are finally reopened.
The impact on Arab countries has been particularly harsh, due to the simultaneous pandemic and low oil prices. As a result, the region’s economy is expected to shrink by 5.7% this year (IMF, July 2020), and unemployment is expected to rise by 1.2% (ESCWA, September 2020), meaning a loss of 1.7 million jobs by 2020. Many of these lost jobs will be in the tourism industry, a key contributor of income in certain Arab economies. In fact, two Arab countries, Morocco and Egypt, are among the 15 countries most affected in the world by the shutdown in international tourism (with additional drops of 5% and 3% of GDP and employment, respectively, figures which may reach 10% if the worst projections are accurate) (UNCTAD, July 2020).
The online round table discussion organized by the UNWTO and Casa Árabe, with the support of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Madrid, on “The economic impact of COVID-19 on the Arab world’s tourism industry,” will analyze the magnitude of this impact on Arab countries and its consequences on different sectors, employment and related industries, as well as suggesting recommendations and strategies for their recovery. Within this context, a special emphasis will be placed on MICE Tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Congresses and Events), which has been particularly affected by the pandemic but is now undergoing a process of innovation and change to adapt to new circumstances, with the participation of experts and managers from the Arab tourism industry. The meeting was organized within the framework of the UNWTO-Casa Árabe’s cooperative work and forms part of a series of webinars that the UNWTO Regional Program for the Middle East has been arranging since the outbreak of COVID-19, along with a series of Casa Árabe round table discussions held online to talk about the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Arab countries.
Program
11:00-11:05 a.m. Welcome speech
Pedro Martínez-Avial, General Director of Casa Árabe
10:00-11:15 a.m. Introductory talk and moderation
Basmah Al-Mayman, Regional Director of the UNWTO for the Middle East
11:15 a.m.-12:10 p.m. Guest speakers
11:15-11:25 a.m. Khalid Al Zadjali, director, Oman Convention Bureau, Oman
11:25-11:35 a.m. Taiseer Al Mallah, acting CEO, Saudi Convention and Exhibitions General Authority, KSA
11:35-11:45 a.m. Saif Mohamed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah, UAE
11:45-11:55 a.m. Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, UAE
11:55 a.m.-12:10 p.m. Debate
12:10-12:15 p.m. Closing speech and acknowledgments
Basmah Al-Mayman, regional director for the Middle East, UNWTO
Meeting program (SPANISH / ENGLISH)
The impact on Arab countries has been particularly harsh, due to the simultaneous pandemic and low oil prices. As a result, the region’s economy is expected to shrink by 5.7% this year (IMF, July 2020), and unemployment is expected to rise by 1.2% (ESCWA, September 2020), meaning a loss of 1.7 million jobs by 2020. Many of these lost jobs will be in the tourism industry, a key contributor of income in certain Arab economies. In fact, two Arab countries, Morocco and Egypt, are among the 15 countries most affected in the world by the shutdown in international tourism (with additional drops of 5% and 3% of GDP and employment, respectively, figures which may reach 10% if the worst projections are accurate) (UNCTAD, July 2020).
The online round table discussion organized by the UNWTO and Casa Árabe, with the support of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Madrid, on “The economic impact of COVID-19 on the Arab world’s tourism industry,” will analyze the magnitude of this impact on Arab countries and its consequences on different sectors, employment and related industries, as well as suggesting recommendations and strategies for their recovery. Within this context, a special emphasis will be placed on MICE Tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Congresses and Events), which has been particularly affected by the pandemic but is now undergoing a process of innovation and change to adapt to new circumstances, with the participation of experts and managers from the Arab tourism industry. The meeting was organized within the framework of the UNWTO-Casa Árabe’s cooperative work and forms part of a series of webinars that the UNWTO Regional Program for the Middle East has been arranging since the outbreak of COVID-19, along with a series of Casa Árabe round table discussions held online to talk about the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Arab countries.
Program
11:00-11:05 a.m. Welcome speech
Pedro Martínez-Avial, General Director of Casa Árabe
10:00-11:15 a.m. Introductory talk and moderation
Basmah Al-Mayman, Regional Director of the UNWTO for the Middle East
11:15 a.m.-12:10 p.m. Guest speakers
11:15-11:25 a.m. Khalid Al Zadjali, director, Oman Convention Bureau, Oman
11:25-11:35 a.m. Taiseer Al Mallah, acting CEO, Saudi Convention and Exhibitions General Authority, KSA
11:35-11:45 a.m. Saif Mohamed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah, UAE
11:45-11:55 a.m. Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, UAE
11:55 a.m.-12:10 p.m. Debate
12:10-12:15 p.m. Closing speech and acknowledgments
Basmah Al-Mayman, regional director for the Middle East, UNWTO
Meeting program (SPANISH / ENGLISH)
