Promotion of citizenship depends on support of heritage: info minister
Sheikh Salman attends GCC tourism meet
RIYADH, Oct 12, (KUNA): Kuwait’s Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah said on Tuesday paying further attention and support for heritage was key to promotion of citizenship.
Sheikh Salman, in a statement after taking part in a joint meeting of the GCC Ministers of Tourism and Culture, called for involvement of juniors and youths in the support of heritage.
He said the Gulf countries have worked together to launch the first strategy to activate tourism in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Kuwait, which witnessed the launch of the strategic, always sought to support cultural and touristic activities in the GCC states, he said.
His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah was a staunch supporter of tourism and culture, said Sheikh Salman, and he blessed the establishment of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center, due to open on Oct 31, and Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Center.
Sheikh Salman, looking forward for the development of tourism among the Gulf countries, said His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah was always calling for the development of tourism to diversify national economy.More than 80 percent of tourism in the GCC countries rely on Gulf nationals themselves, he said, and Kuwait was qualified to be a touristic destination because of its rich human, cultural and civilizational merits.
RIYADH, Oct 12, (KUNA): The GCC Ministers of Tourism and Culture approved Tuesday in their joint meeting a mutual vision to boost culture and tourism sectors in Gulf countries.
It is important to bolster the cultural side of tourism and restore GCC countries’ cultural, historic, and archeological status in the international arena, especially since there are great civilizations emerged from the Gulf region, Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, said in his speech at the meeting.
Prince Sultan also called to prepare joint programs that show the Gulf heritage to the world and enhance media and cultural themes in order to boost Gulf region’s historic status in the world, pointing out GCC countries’ historic and cultural importance on economic dimensions and tourist activities.
He also hoped that GCC joint efforts contribute in raising the Gulf people’s awareness about their countries’ rich civilizations and history, as well as importance of their lands’ security and stability.
Prince Sultan also noted that holding such joint meetings are part of the fact that GCC countries have actually become some of the tourist destinations on the world level, stressing the importance of benefiting from the historic landmarks in Gulf countries in order to secure a much better future for Gulf people.
Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Tourism Sector Assistant Undersecretary at Information Ministry Jassem Al-Habib affirmed Tuesday on GCC continuous joint efforts to improve tourism in GCC countries based on a special comprehensive vision.
In a statement to KUNA, Al-Habib made his remarks at the conclusion of the 3rd GCC ministerial preparatory tourism meeting in Riyadh.
Al-Habib added the meeting tackled a number of topics, in addition to follow-up on the implementation of recommendations and initiatives adopted in previous meetings, including an initiative by Kuwait to produce a promotional short promotional movie to inspire tourism in GCC countries.
Al-Habib pointed out that they also reviewed topics on the agenda, mainly the importance of joint tourism work tourism in GCC and its strategic goals overall vision.
The official in this regard noted on the adoption by GCC undersecretaries in meeting to the overall vision provided by Saudi Arabia, praising efforts exerted in preparing the document.
The undersecretaries discussed efforts by member states to preserve architectural historic heritage as well as the development of joint work between tourism and culture sectors, Al-Habib added.
Last night, Saudi Prince Sultan Bin Salman, called for bolstering GCC ties and enhance cooperation in tourism and culture to fulfill the expectations of the GCC peoples.