Arab aviation summit to take place in Salalah

Muscat: The third edition of the Arab Aviation and Media Summit will be held under the patronage of Maitha bint Saif bin Majid Al Mahrouqi, undersecretary, Ministry of Tourism, fro, June 25 to 27, in Salalah.

Organised by Air Arabia in joint partnership with Oman's Ministry of Tourism, Airbus, CNBC Arabia, and CFM, the Arab Aviation and Media Summit 2013 is themed, "Aviation and tourism: enabler of economic growth," said a press release.

In addition to assessing the impact of aviation and tourism on regional economic growth, the summit, in its third year, will focus on discussing and debating the challenges and opportunities faced by the industry in the wider Arab world.
The two-day event will feature a high-profile panel of speakers and a wide network of editors and media representatives from across the Arab world debating Arab aviation and tourism.

"The Sultanate offers a lot when it comes to travel and tourism. Hosting the 2013 Arab Aviation and Media Summit in Salalah is a great indicator of the importance we place on developing the tourism sector in our country. We are glad to join hands with our partners and present a remarkable summit that will serve as a platform for dialogue and the exchange of ideas between two important stakeholders — industry participants and the media," said Maitha Al Mahrouqi.

Sharjah event
This year's summit will bring together an array of international and regional industry experts, as well as media representatives from across the region to exchange ideas and strategies that will help address the challenges faced by the sector.

Last year, the event, which took place in Sharjah, drew more than 150 participants. "Over the years, the aviation and tourism industry in the Arab world has demonstrated its significance in economic growth. Underscored by job creation and bilateral trade, the sector will continue to be regarded as a catalyst for economic activities in the decades to come. However, the industry still has great potential for growth. We are confident that by joining hands with Oman's Ministry of Tourism, Airbus, and fellow partners, the summit is uniquely positioned to meet the most pressing needs, in addition to capturing future opportunities in this key sector," added Adel A. Ali, group chief executive of Air Arabia.

This year, the summit is eyeing increased regional and international participation by showcasing the rapid growth and development that the aviation and tourism sector is experiencing in Oman, the region, and the wider Arab world. 

Source: Times!