Ministry rolls out ecotourism project

It aims to attract visitors to country’s natural wonders and boost economy

Anew blueprint of sorts to attract ecotourists from around the globe to the UAE was unveiled yesterday by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

Known as the National Ecotourism Project, the effort aims to advance the UAE’s position to a leading global ecotourism hub.

In its push to diversify its economy away from oil, cities in the region such as Dubai have been moving to servicerelated industries such as tourism to bolster financial growth and support a sustainable environment. The project will promote the UAE’s ecotourism attractions in three phases that focus on environmental, economic and social factors.

The ministry is currently working on the pilot phase that includes making ample information and promotional footage available under the theme ‘The UAE’s Natural Wonders’ to showcase the rich biodiversity across the country’s 43 protected areas.

Dr Thani Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said at the launch yesterday that the project will help diversify the economy even more. “Over the past few years, the pioneering vision and directives of the UAE leadership have enabled the country to consolidate its leading global status across diverse sectors, with travel and tourism at the forefront.”

Al Zeyoudi said the UAE recorded nearly 15.87 million incoming tourists in 2017, a 6.5 per cent increase over 2016, with revenues amounting to Dh118.8 billion. Reports project tourist traffic to continue growing in the coming years to a record-breaking 25 million visitors between 2020 and 2021, coinciding with Expo 2020 being hosted in Dubai.