GCC acknowledges cultural tourism importance: Al-Jabri

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 9, (KUNA): Kuwait’s Information Minister Mohammad Al-Jabri said Wednesday that GCC states acknowledge the importance of boosting cultural tourism and attaining their joint vision to enhance culture and tourism sectors on broader prospects.

Al-Jabri, also State for Youth Affairs Minister, made his remarks as leaving to Oman to attend the 23rd meeting of GCC Culture and Tourism Ministers.

He lauded the Kuwaiti-Omani solid brotherly relationship, and said it continues to prosper thanks to the wise leaderships of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al-Said.

The Kuwaiti minister, also Chairman of the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL), underlined the importance of such a meeting in bolstering and activating joint-cooperation in culture and tourism.

He said GCC states would see a major start in the culture and tourism sectors as projected by Gulf leaders’ wise directions and visions, and the ministers’ close follow-up.

These meetings are part of boosting the joint Gulf action, and drawing policies aimed to move on with cultural and touristic development plans and attain GCC visions in linking national heritage with cultural tourism, with a focus on their importance on the sustainable development march in GCC states, he noted.

Al-Jabri also added that GCC culture and tourism meetings are essential for reinforcing the national identity inside Gulf youngsters’ spirits, tighten their bonds with their nations and history, and benefiting from their potential for the construction and development process.

Meanwhile, GCC’s cultural undersecretaries approved, during their meeting in the Omani capital on Wednesday, the cultural strategy of GCC states 2020-2030, a senior Kuwaiti official said.

The one-day meeting’s outcomes and recommendations also approved establishing a translation and Arabization center based in Muscat with a focus on the Arabic language, Director-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL) Kamel Al-Abduljaleel told KUNA.