Qatar Tourism Chairman calls for greater GCC tourism integration at 10th Ministerial Meeting

H.E. Saad bin Ali Al-Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, participated in the 10th GCC Ministerial Meeting for Tourism Officials held in Manama, Bahrain, on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

During the meeting, he stressed the importance of building on the resilience of the Gulf tourism sector and moving towards greater integration and competitiveness among GCC destinations.

Focus on Joint Tourism Packages

Al-Kharji highlighted the importance of developing joint tourism packages that bring together destinations across the Gulf.

Such initiatives could provide visitors with more diverse travel experiences while strengthening cooperation between GCC countries.

Push for Unified GCC Tourism Visa

The Qatar Tourism Chairman also called for accelerating the implementation of the unified GCC tourism visa.

The initiative is expected to make travel between Gulf countries easier for visitors and support greater movement of tourists across the region.

He also highlighted the need to expand joint promotional campaigns in key international markets to strengthen the GCC's position as an integrated global tourism destination.

Doha Named Gulf Tourism Capital for 2026

Al-Kharji noted that Doha's selection as the Capital of Gulf Tourism for 2026 provides an important opportunity to promote greater cooperation among Gulf destinations.

The designation can also help showcase the region's shared cultural heritage and tourism identity to international visitors.

Qatar Supports Saudi Arabia's UNWTO Candidacy

As part of efforts to strengthen the Gulf's presence on the international tourism stage, Al-Kharji reaffirmed Qatar's support for Saudi Arabia's candidacy for membership of the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The move reflects Qatar's support for stronger Gulf representation in international tourism forums.

Support for Jabal Akhdar as 2027 Gulf Tourism Capital

Qatar also expressed support for the candidacy of Jabal Akhdar in Oman to become the Capital of Gulf Tourism for 2027.

The initiative is aimed at further strengthening tourism cooperation and integration among GCC countries while highlighting the diverse attractions of the Gulf region.

GCC Countries Aim for Stronger Tourism Cooperation

The discussions highlighted the shared ambition of GCC countries to create a more connected and competitive tourism sector.

Greater coordination on visas, tourism packages and international promotion could help strengthen the Gulf's appeal as a unified global tourism destination.