Ras Al Khaimah, March 3 / WAM / The Air Arabia Summit, a leading event for the aviation and tourism sector in the region, concluded today at its ninth edition at the Al Hamra International Exhibition and Convention Center in Ras Al Khaimah. Partners of the sector related to the recovery of the region and a strong return to the path of recovery.

Participants noted the importance of greater cooperation and a constructive dialogue between governments, regulators and operators, so that the sector could recover quickly.

They pointed out the importance of making greater investments in response to changes in the behavior and needs of travelers who want a seamless digital experience.

The summit also focused on the importance of sustainability and the role of the sector in achieving climate neutrality.

Furthermore, experts highlighted the role of tourism as a catalyst for economic development, calling for the need to support small and medium enterprises in the next phase.

Under the slogan “The Path to the Recovery Sector”, more than 750 local and international experts and numerous media representatives discussed various topics of interest to the aviation and tourism sector during the two-day summit. .

On its first day (February 28), the summit hosted workshops covering various topics related to regional and international practices in tourism, aviation, airports and other fields.

The second day, March 1, will include dialogue sessions to discuss the reality of aviation and tourism in the Arab world and its impact on the world economy.

Based on the unique experiences and knowledge of these companies, a group of senior aviation and tourism leaders gathered to discuss ways for airlines to thrive after epidemics, new operating models and success stories.

Adel Al Ali, Group CEO of Air Arabia, commented on the changing behavior of consumers, particularly the importance of providing travel experiences that ensure continuity and peace of mind, especially to the younger generation who value value more than competitive prices and luxury.

Rocky Phillips, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, stressed the importance of designing new features for the aviation sector to revive tourism in the region. Economy for future generations.

For his part, Kamel al-Awadi, regional vice president of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for Africa and the Middle East, said the region is characterized by high flexibility and can adapt quickly to changes.

He hopes that his outlook for the aviation sector will be positive this year and that demand will increase significantly over the next six months.

Samer Al-Majali, CEO of Royal Jordanian Airlines, expressed caution for the aviation sector as barriers to entry for passengers around the world began to be lifted, but at the same time pointed out the regional and global challenges posed by the current conflict. Eastern Europe.

Mann Razuki, CEO of Kuwait Airways, stressed the need for cooperation through joint ventures and joint ventures to ensure the recovery and sustainability of the sector.

Michael Howry, head of Airbus in the Middle East and Africa, expects the Middle East to be one of the most resilient regions for the aviation sector, saying the sector has the best potential to deal with the crisis and is ready to face any possibility. Crisis in the future.

Majid Khan, vice president of aviation development at Istanbul International Airport, expressed hope that the sector would be fully recovered by the end of this year, noting that the Middle East was a strong market for the airport.

Hussein, the vice president of the Sira Group’s tour, went further with his optimism that his confidence in the region, where current data are positive, is very well established and expects to return to pre-epidemic levels by 2022. Saudi Arabia today is a favorite destination of many tourists.

Zamzam CEO Omar Siraj Akbar commented that while many travelers still needed help booking through travel agents, with the major shift towards electronic solutions, the epidemic was a major factor in changing people’s mindset about the booking system.

The Arab Aviation Summit has the full support of the Governments of the Arab world, as its previous sessions were held in many of these countries. Such as Airbus and CFM. , “Air Arabia”, “Alpha Flight Academy” and many more .. Ras Al Khaimah’s Emirate is scheduled to host the summit in 2023.