EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism visits UAE to strengthen tourism cooperation

EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas participated in the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai and held meetings with senior UAE tourism and transport stakeholders to discuss opportunities to further strengthen EU-UAE tourism cooperation.

The European Union and the United Arab Emirates share strong and growing tourism ties, with the EU accounting for more than 20% of visitors to Dubai alone.

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During his visit, the Commissioner held meetings with H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, as well as with the leadership of Emirates and Etihad Airways. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the European Union and the United Arab Emirates and exploring opportunities to build further on their strong tourism and connectivity links.

At the Arabian Travel Market, Commissioner Tzitzikostas took part in discussions on the future of tourism at the Global Stage, engaging with leading voices from the region and the global tourism industry. Discussions highlighted the importance of stronger international cooperation, connectivity, resilience and preparedness in supporting a sustainable and competitive tourism sector.

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He also visited a number of European Pavilions at Arabian Travel Market, showcasing the strong presence of European countries at the event and the diversity of Europe's tourism offer.

With robust connectivity, significant visitor flows and close economic and people-to-people ties, the EU and UAE have significant potential to deepen their tourism partnership further.