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Strategies to Revive Tourism in the Middle East and North Africa
From January 21, 2013 until January 31, 2013
A debate organized by Casa Árabe and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on Thursday, January 31, as a complementary activity for FITUR 2013, in conjunction with the Ministers of Tourism of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, and the Director General of the Jordanian Tourism Agency.
During the round table discussion with the title “Alternatives and Strategies to Revive Tourism Within the Context of the Arab Spring,” the current situation will be analyzed, as well as the future prospects of tourism in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, within the context of the “Arab Spring,” while also learning about the activities which these countries are carrying out in order to promote tourism and debating the different potential strategies that can be used to revive the tourism industry.
The event will include speeches by Elyes Fakhfekh, the Tunisian Minister of Tourism; Ikram Basha Imam, the Libyan Minister of Tourism; Amr El Ezabi, Advisor to the Egyptian Minister of Tourism; Abdelrazzaq Arabiyat, Director General of the Jordan Tourism Board; the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Gonzalo de Benito; the Director General of Casa Árabe, Eduardo López Busquets; the Secretary General of the UNWTO, Taleb Rifai; Manuel Butler, Director General of Turespaña, and representatives of the private sector.
The event will be held at 4:00 p.m. in Room N 107/108, which is located at the northern entrance to the IFEMA fairgrounds in Madrid. To reach the round table discussion, you must go to the North Entrance of the IFEMA Fairgrounds. Free entrance until the room’s capacity is filled. No accreditation necessary.
3:50 p.m. Reception of those attending.
4:00 p.m. Welcoming speech.
Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO
Eduardo López Busquets, Director General of Casa Árabe
Manuel Butler, Director General of Turespaña
Gonzalo de Benito Secades, State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
4:20 p.m. The current situation and prospects of tourism in Arab countries
Elyes Fakhfekh, Minister of Tourism of Tunisia
Ikram Basha Imam, Minister of Tourism of Libya
Amr El Ezabi, Advisor to the Minister of Tourism of Egypt
Abdelrazzaq Arabiyat, Director General, Jordan Tourism Board
Debate
Moderated by: Amr Abdel-Ghaffar, Regional Director of the UNWTO for the Middle East
5:05 p.m. Alternative strategies to revive the sector from a business perspective
Manuel Panadero, Director of Institutional Relations, Globalia
José Canals, Regional Director for the Balearic Islands and Mediterranean, Barceló Group
Fernando Suárez de Góngora, Regional Director of Emirates for Spain and Portugal
Felipe González Abad, Top-level consultant for Amadeus and the UNWTO
Eulogio Bordas, President, THR, Asesores en Turismo, Hostelería y Recreación, S.A.
Debate
Moderated by: José Luis Zoreda, Executive Vice President of Exceltur
5:45 p.m. Closing speech and coffee
Language used: English, with simultaneous interpreting in Spanish
The event will include speeches by Elyes Fakhfekh, the Tunisian Minister of Tourism; Ikram Basha Imam, the Libyan Minister of Tourism; Amr El Ezabi, Advisor to the Egyptian Minister of Tourism; Abdelrazzaq Arabiyat, Director General of the Jordan Tourism Board; the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Gonzalo de Benito; the Director General of Casa Árabe, Eduardo López Busquets; the Secretary General of the UNWTO, Taleb Rifai; Manuel Butler, Director General of Turespaña, and representatives of the private sector.
The event will be held at 4:00 p.m. in Room N 107/108, which is located at the northern entrance to the IFEMA fairgrounds in Madrid. To reach the round table discussion, you must go to the North Entrance of the IFEMA Fairgrounds. Free entrance until the room’s capacity is filled. No accreditation necessary.
Schedule
3:50 p.m. Reception of those attending.
4:00 p.m. Welcoming speech.
Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO
Eduardo López Busquets, Director General of Casa Árabe
Manuel Butler, Director General of Turespaña
Gonzalo de Benito Secades, State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
4:20 p.m. The current situation and prospects of tourism in Arab countries
Elyes Fakhfekh, Minister of Tourism of Tunisia
Ikram Basha Imam, Minister of Tourism of Libya
Amr El Ezabi, Advisor to the Minister of Tourism of Egypt
Abdelrazzaq Arabiyat, Director General, Jordan Tourism Board
Debate
Moderated by: Amr Abdel-Ghaffar, Regional Director of the UNWTO for the Middle East
5:05 p.m. Alternative strategies to revive the sector from a business perspective
Manuel Panadero, Director of Institutional Relations, Globalia
José Canals, Regional Director for the Balearic Islands and Mediterranean, Barceló Group
Fernando Suárez de Góngora, Regional Director of Emirates for Spain and Portugal
Felipe González Abad, Top-level consultant for Amadeus and the UNWTO
Eulogio Bordas, President, THR, Asesores en Turismo, Hostelería y Recreación, S.A.
Debate
Moderated by: José Luis Zoreda, Executive Vice President of Exceltur
5:45 p.m. Closing speech and coffee
Language used: English, with simultaneous interpreting in Spanish
