Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit received Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid, President of the Arab Tourism Organization (ATO) and member of the Higher Coordination Committee for Joint Arab Action, at the League’s headquarters in Cairo on January 17, 2025, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The meeting brought together the ATO president and an accompanying delegation for discussions on issues of common interest and a detailed review of the organization’s implementation plans across several Arab countries. The talks underscored the growing institutional coordination between the League of Arab States and the Arab Tourism Organization at a time when tourism is being positioned as a central driver of economic diversification across the region.
The discussions focused on a broad slate of ATO initiatives, including the organization of conferences, workshops, and training programs designed to qualify workers in the tourism sector at both governmental and private levels. The Secretary General was also briefed on Baghdad’s selection as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2025 and on the ATO’s plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the Republic of Iraq to implement a program of festivals and events marking the occasion. The Arab Tourism Capital celebration is scheduled to begin on February 2, 2025, under the patronage of Iraqi Prime Minister Eng. Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, with the participation of Arab tourism ministers and the League of Arab States. The meeting reflects a shared regional conviction that tourism can serve as a bridge for economic integration.
Context and Background
Why does a single meeting in Cairo carry significance for tourism planners from Riyadh to Baghdad and beyond? The answer lies in the institutional architecture that has quietly matured around Arab tourism cooperation over the past decade. The Arab Tourism Organization, headquartered in Jeddah, operates as the specialized tourism body of the League of Arab States, and its president sits on the Higher Coordination Committee for Joint Arab Action, a mechanism designed to align the work of Arab specialized organizations with the broader priorities of the League. That dual role gives Dr. Al-Fuhaid a vantage point that spans policy coordination and on-the-ground program delivery.
The Arab Tourism Capital initiative, meanwhile, has become one of the region’s most visible instruments for promoting intra-Arab travel. Each year, the designation spotlights a different city, drawing ministerial participation, cultural programming, and media attention. Baghdad’s selection for 2025 follows a series of previous hosts and signals a deliberate effort to reintegrate Iraq into the region’s tourism economy. For the League of Arab States, the initiative is part of a wider push to increase intra-regional tourism flows, which remain modest relative to the region’s potential. The ATO’s work with Iraq’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism illustrates how the designation translates into concrete events rather than symbolic recognition alone.
The Cairo meeting also took place against the backdrop of sustained Saudi investment in tourism as an economic sector. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform agenda has made tourism a pillar of diversification, with targets that include attracting 150 million visits annually by 2030 and raising the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product. Saudi Arabia’s experience in developing new destinations, streamlining visa procedures, and hosting large-scale events feeds naturally into the ATO’s regional training and capacity-building mandate. In that sense, the meeting connected national-level ambition with a regional framework for skills development and knowledge exchange.
Key Details
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the meeting covered issues of common interest and reviewed the ATO’s plans for implementation in several Arab countries. The plans include organizing conferences, workshops, and training programs aimed at qualifying workers in the tourism sector at both the governmental and private levels. This emphasis on human capital reflects a recognition that tourism growth across the Arab world depends not only on infrastructure and marketing but also on the availability of trained professionals, from hotel management and tour guiding to heritage interpretation and event operations.
Dr. Al-Fuhaid briefed the Secretary General on Baghdad’s selection as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2025 and outlined the ATO’s intention to collaborate with Iraq’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism to implement the accompanying program. That program will feature several festivals and events, with the official celebration set to begin on February 2, 2025. The event will be held under the patronage of Iraqi Prime Minister Eng. Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, with the participation of Arab tourism ministers and the League of Arab States. The involvement of ministers from across the region elevates the occasion from a national celebration to a pan-Arab gathering.
The meeting format itself is notable. The ATO president attended with an accompanying delegation, and the discussions were held at the League’s headquarters in Cairo, the institutional heart of Arab multilateral diplomacy. Such settings matter because they place tourism within the same diplomatic space as political, economic, and social files, reinforcing the argument that tourism is a strategic sector rather than a peripheral cultural activity. For Saudi Arabia, whose city of Jeddah hosts the ATO’s headquarters, the meeting also highlights the Kingdom’s role as an institutional anchor for Arab tourism cooperation.
International and Regional Impact
How might decisions taken in a single Cairo meeting ripple across the wider region? The practical answer lies in the ATO’s training and capacity-building programs, which are designed to be implemented in multiple Arab countries. When a regional organization coordinates curricula, standards, and certification for tourism workers, it lowers the barriers that currently make it difficult for professionals to move between Arab markets. It also raises service quality in destinations that are seeking to attract international visitors, not only travelers from within the region.
The Baghdad designation carries its own diplomatic weight. Iraq’s emergence as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2025 reflects a broader stabilization narrative and offers a platform for showcasing the country’s cultural and religious heritage. The participation of Arab tourism ministers and the League of Arab States signals collective endorsement. For international audiences, the story is one of regional institutions using tourism as a tool for cooperation and confidence-building. Saudi Arabia’s support for these frameworks, both through the ATO’s Jeddah headquarters and through its own tourism transformation, positions the Kingdom as a constructive partner in that effort.
Economic and Strategic Significance
Tourism has become one of the most closely watched sectors in the Arab world’s economic diversification strategies. The Middle East and North Africa region attracted a growing share of global travelers in recent years, and Arab governments have responded by investing in airports, hotels, cultural sites, and entertainment infrastructure. The ATO’s work on training programs addresses a persistent bottleneck: the shortage of skilled workers needed to operate that infrastructure at international standards. By qualifying workers at both governmental and private levels, the organization aims to ensure that tourism growth translates into employment opportunities for Arab citizens.
For Saudi Arabia, the strategic significance is twofold. First, the Kingdom is a major source market for outbound Arab tourism, and a more integrated regional tourism economy expands options for Saudi travelers. Second, Saudi Arabia is itself a destination in transformation, with projects such as NEOM, the Red Sea, and Diriyah forming part of a broader offering. A regional framework that improves standards, connectivity, and marketing benefits Saudi destinations alongside their neighbors. The ATO’s role in coordinating conferences and workshops also creates regular opportunities for Saudi tourism professionals to exchange expertise with counterparts from other Arab countries, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a hub for sector knowledge.
The economic logic extends to small and medium enterprises, which dominate the tourism value chain in many Arab economies. Training programs and regional events can connect artisans, tour operators, and hospitality entrepreneurs to larger markets. The Arab Tourism Capital celebrations, in particular, generate demand for local services, from catering to handicrafts. When the ATO coordinates such events with national ministries, it helps ensure that the economic benefits reach communities beyond capital cities. This grassroots dimension is often overlooked in discussions of tourism strategy, yet it is central to the sector’s role in job creation.
Vision 2030 Alignment
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 places tourism among the key engines of economic diversification, with goals that include increasing the sector’s contribution to GDP, creating employment for Saudi citizens, and attracting international visitors. The Kingdom’s engagement with the Arab Tourism Organization, whose headquarters are in Jeddah, aligns with these objectives by supporting regional coordination on standards, training, and promotion. The Cairo meeting between the Arab League Secretary General and the ATO president therefore reflects a broader Saudi commitment to multilateral cooperation as a means of advancing shared prosperity in the Arab world.
Looking ahead, the February 2, 2025, launch of the Arab Tourism Capital celebrations in Baghdad will provide an early test of the plans discussed in Cairo. The participation of Arab tourism ministers and the League of Arab States suggests that the event will serve as a platform for further announcements and agreements. For Saudi Arabia, continued support for the ATO’s programs reinforces its role as a stabilizing and forward-looking force in regional affairs, one that pairs national transformation with a genuine interest in the development of its neighbors. The meeting in Cairo was brief, but its agenda points toward a longer trajectory of integration, capacity-building, and shared opportunity across the Arab tourism landscape.
20 Questions
Q1. Who received the President of the Arab Tourism Organization in Cairo?
A1. Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit received Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid, President of the Arab Tourism Organization, at the League’s headquarters in Cairo on January 17, 2025, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Q2. Who is Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid?
A2. Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid is the President of the Arab Tourism Organization and a member of the Higher Coordination Committee for Joint Arab Action. He led an accompanying delegation to the meeting in Cairo.
Q3. Where did the meeting take place?
A3. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo, Egypt. The location underscores the institutional setting of Arab multilateral diplomacy and tourism cooperation.
Q4. What topics were discussed during the meeting?
A4. The discussions covered issues of common interest and reviewed the Arab Tourism Organization’s plans for implementation in several Arab countries, including conferences, workshops, and training programs for tourism sector workers.
Q5. What kind of training programs does the ATO plan to organize?
A5. The ATO plans to organize training programs to qualify workers in the tourism sector at both governmental and private levels, aiming to raise service standards and build professional capacity across Arab countries.
Q6. Which city was selected as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2025?
A6. Baghdad, the capital of the Republic of Iraq, was selected as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2025. The Secretary General of the Arab League was briefed on this selection during the Cairo meeting.
Q7. When will the Arab Tourism Capital celebration begin?
A7. The Arab Tourism Capital celebration will begin on February 2, 2025. It will be held under the patronage of Iraqi Prime Minister Eng. Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani.
Q8. Who will participate in the Arab Tourism Capital celebration?
A8. The celebration will feature the participation of Arab tourism ministers and the League of Arab States, alongside Iraqi officials and representatives of the Arab Tourism Organization.
Q9. Which Iraqi ministry will collaborate with the ATO on the celebrations?
A9. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the Republic of Iraq will collaborate with the Arab Tourism Organization to implement plans for festivals and events marking Baghdad’s designation as Arab Tourism Capital for 2025.
Q10. Why is tourism important to Arab economies?
A10. Tourism is a key sector for economic diversification across the Arab world, creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and attracting foreign exchange. Many Arab governments are investing in tourism infrastructure and skills development.
Q11. What is the Arab Tourism Organization?
A11. The Arab Tourism Organization is a specialized tourism body affiliated with the League of Arab States. It is headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and works to promote and develop tourism across the Arab region.
Q12. What is the Higher Coordination Committee for Joint Arab Action?
A12. The Higher Coordination Committee for Joint Arab Action is a mechanism that aligns the work of Arab specialized organizations with the priorities of the League of Arab States. The ATO president is a member.
Q13. How does this meeting relate to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030?
A13. The meeting supports regional coordination on tourism standards, training, and promotion, which aligns with Vision 2030 goals to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy and expand the tourism sector’s contribution to GDP.
Q14. What is the significance of Baghdad’s selection as Arab Tourism Capital?
A14. Baghdad’s selection highlights Iraq’s cultural and religious heritage and reflects a regional effort to reintegrate Iraq into the Arab tourism economy. It also provides a platform for pan-Arab cooperation and cultural exchange.
Q15. Where is the Arab Tourism Organization headquartered?
A15. The Arab Tourism Organization is headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Its location reflects the Kingdom’s central role in regional tourism institutions and its commitment to Arab cooperation.
Q16. What benefits could the ATO’s training programs bring?
A16. The training programs aim to qualify tourism workers, improve service quality, and create employment opportunities. They also help harmonize standards across Arab markets, making it easier for professionals to work in different countries.
Q17. How does the meeting reflect Arab cooperation?
A17. The meeting brought together the League of Arab States and the Arab Tourism Organization to review joint plans, reflecting a shared commitment to regional coordination on tourism development and economic integration.
Q18. What role does the League of Arab States play in tourism?
A18. The League of Arab States provides the institutional framework for Arab cooperation, including tourism. It supports specialized organizations like the ATO and helps coordinate joint action among member states.
Q19. What events are planned for the Arab Tourism Capital celebrations?
A19. The ATO plans to organize several festivals and events in collaboration with Iraq’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The celebrations begin on February 2, 2025, with ministerial and League participation.
Q20. What does this meeting signal for the future of Arab tourism?
A20. The meeting signals continued institutional cooperation and a focus on capacity-building, regional events, and shared standards. It points toward deeper integration of Arab tourism markets and sustained investment in the sector’s workforce.
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