GTC Website Launched
Based on the keen interest of the leaders of the gulf co-operation council countries to promote better understandings between people of the world and people of their countries, the gulf tourism committee has taken the initiative to promote gulf countries and cities as one interdependent destination. To contribute to tourism at all as a message. Of. in its various facts of history, civilization, and development as a facilitator of better communication among world population.

For all this, the website of the Gulf Tourism Committee was launched, during the “Arabian Travel Market “(ATM) which was held in Dubai city on 4th May 2004, under the sponsorship of the Minister of Information shikh Abdullah Ben Zaiyed Alnihyan and Mr. Khaled Bin Ahmed Bin Suliem.

Saudi Arabia, USD350m tourism plan
Saudi Arabia intends to spend USD350m over the next five years to develop non-religious tourism, according to tourism chief Prince Sultan bin Salman. He told Reuters that the government sees tourism as the industry of the future. Visit, www.sauditourism.gov.sa for more details.

Arabs join hands to promote tourism
Arab leaders raised the prospect of a joint tourism authority to coordinate activities and policies in the Middle East.

The decision to set up such a high-powered body was taken at the seventh Arab Tourism Ministers conference at the Emirates Towers in Dubai.

They called on governments to adopt measures to facilitate traffic among the countries. There was a determination to boost the profile of Arab tourism and develop an integrated plan.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Information and Culture, said: "The most important resolution the council arrived at is to expand the role of the private sector.

"We urge the private sector to work with the public sector so that the comprehensive plan can fall in line with the growth and development plan that will help the Arab tourism sector to grow."

The ministers agreed to amend the constitution of the Arab Tourism Council and formed a panel to follow-up the proposal.

Sheikh Abdullah signed a pact with Abdul Rahim Al Zawari, Tunisia's Minister of Tourism and Culture, to increase cooperation. He also signed a similar agreement with Dr. Alia Bouran, Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.

Arabian Travel Market
Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the Middle East's premier travel and tourism event, which gets underway at the Dubai World Trade Centre from today until May 7, is hosting over 1,000 exhibitors — the largest ever in the event's 11-year history.

Dubai to host IABP conference in September
Dubai is hosting the Seventh General Assembly of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in September.

The high-profile event is being conducted in cooperation with the World Health organization (WHO), UAE Ministry of Health and Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB) operated by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).