emirates7 - The Ministerial Roundtable on “Investment in Tourism: Shaping Tourism Investment Opportunities through Policy Innovation” at AIM Congress 2025 gathered ministers and global leaders to discuss the future of tourism investment, focusing on strategic policy reforms.
The session featured 13 speakers, including ministers and officials from the UAE, Bahrain, Georgia, Montenegro, Egypt, and Iran, as well as senior executives from UNCTAD, UN Tourism, the World Economic Forum, ESCAP, and the World Free Zones Organisation.
The roundtable highlighted the significant role of tourism in driving economic resilience, job creation, and sustainable development. In the opening remarks, the region's leadership in crafting future-focused policies to attract high-quality investments that balance growth with environmental conservation was celebrated.
Abdulla Ahmed Alsaleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, stated, “Thanks to the vision of our leadership, the UAE has solidified its position as a global tourism investment hub. We aim to secure AED100 billion in new tourism investments by 2031.”
Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism, emphasized Bahrain’s evolving tourism policies and thriving investment environment. She highlighted the country’s role in promoting sustainable tourism while aligning with global tourism development goals and offering attractive investment opportunities through Golden Licences, including two specifically designed for the tourism sector. Bahrain's “one-stop-shop” approach and investor-friendly regulations continue to position it as a key player in global tourism collaboration.
Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, revealed a major shift in the country’s tourism strategy, focusing on greater private sector participation and investment-driven growth.
Yomna Elbahar, Egypt’s Vice Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, spoke about Egypt’s progress in tourism, emphasizing the country’s commitment to innovation in hospitality. She highlighted the nation’s efforts to bring together industry leaders to explore branded living and luxury hospitality, shaping the future of the sector.
Nan Li Collins from UNCTAD stressed the need for resilient, environmentally conscious investment frameworks, while Matthew Stephenson from the World Economic Forum discussed the transformative role of digital innovation and AI in reshaping post-pandemic tourism.
Speakers unanimously agreed that public-private partnerships, green financing, and investment in human capital are essential to unlock tourism’s full potential. The session concluded with a call to integrate policy innovation, technology, and sustainability as the driving principles for shaping the future of global tourism investment.
The session featured 13 speakers, including ministers and officials from the UAE, Bahrain, Georgia, Montenegro, Egypt, and Iran, as well as senior executives from UNCTAD, UN Tourism, the World Economic Forum, ESCAP, and the World Free Zones Organisation.
The roundtable highlighted the significant role of tourism in driving economic resilience, job creation, and sustainable development. In the opening remarks, the region's leadership in crafting future-focused policies to attract high-quality investments that balance growth with environmental conservation was celebrated.
Abdulla Ahmed Alsaleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, stated, “Thanks to the vision of our leadership, the UAE has solidified its position as a global tourism investment hub. We aim to secure AED100 billion in new tourism investments by 2031.”
Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi, Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism, emphasized Bahrain’s evolving tourism policies and thriving investment environment. She highlighted the country’s role in promoting sustainable tourism while aligning with global tourism development goals and offering attractive investment opportunities through Golden Licences, including two specifically designed for the tourism sector. Bahrain's “one-stop-shop” approach and investor-friendly regulations continue to position it as a key player in global tourism collaboration.
Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, revealed a major shift in the country’s tourism strategy, focusing on greater private sector participation and investment-driven growth.
Yomna Elbahar, Egypt’s Vice Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, spoke about Egypt’s progress in tourism, emphasizing the country’s commitment to innovation in hospitality. She highlighted the nation’s efforts to bring together industry leaders to explore branded living and luxury hospitality, shaping the future of the sector.
Nan Li Collins from UNCTAD stressed the need for resilient, environmentally conscious investment frameworks, while Matthew Stephenson from the World Economic Forum discussed the transformative role of digital innovation and AI in reshaping post-pandemic tourism.
Speakers unanimously agreed that public-private partnerships, green financing, and investment in human capital are essential to unlock tourism’s full potential. The session concluded with a call to integrate policy innovation, technology, and sustainability as the driving principles for shaping the future of global tourism investment.