The two day Middle East Travel & Tourism Summit 2006 held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center on the Dead Sea in Jordan was an outstanding success. Over 350 delegates attended from across the region including government delegations from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Qatar, Sudan, and the UAE and senior international private sector executives.
METTS provided an ideal platform to promote the sustainable development of the regional economies through Tourism. The potential of travel and tourism can only be realised if all stakeholders take responsibility for its development. METTS provided a forum where governments, local communities (through NGOs) and the private sector can forge the partnerships that are vital to mutual success. This is a dialogue that needs to continue in order to deepen relationships and capture the benefits of new ideas and developments.
Held under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, METTS was attended by some very prominent personalities. From Jordan came His Excellency Munir Nassar, Minister of Tourism & Antiquities, His Excellency Akel Biltaji, member of the Senate, with strong links to the industry, Mr Ali Kolaghassi, Vice Chairman and CEO, the main sponsor of METTS, and Mr. Mazen Hmoud the Director General of the Jordan Tourism Board. Other important speakers include the Iranian Vice President and Minister of Tourism & Culture- H.E. Esfandior Rahim Mashaee, the Algerian Minister of Tourism H.E. Mr Noor al Din Mousa and H.E. Joseph Malwal Dong- Minister of Tourism in Sudan. Further key speakers included His Excellency Dr. Taleb Rifai, Deputy Secretary General, World Tourism Organisation; Mr Martin Whitaker, GM of the Bahrain Formula One International Circuit; Mr James Pringle, Senior Counsellor of M.A. Kharafi Group- Port Ghalib, Egypt; Sir Chay Blyth, the founder and Executive Chairman of Global Challenge; and Mr Tom Nutley, Chairman of Reed Travel Exhibitions in London. |