The Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, current Chairman of the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers, has organized an International Conference on the Role of Tourism in the Economies of OIC Countries on 21-22 June 2007 in Baku.

The Conference beared scientific and research character and has been devoted to exchanges of views and opinions on how tourism influences economy and its spheres, as well as which concrete strategies should be applied to manage the sphere in an extremely successful way.

Our Centre has been representative at the Conference by Mr. Nabil Dabour, Senior Researcher, who presented a paper titled “International Tourism in the OIC Countries: Prospects and Challenges”.

This paper attempts to assess the performance and the economic role of the international tourism sector in the OIC member countries. It examines the traditionally used indicators in measuring international tourism (i.e. international tourist arrivals and international tourism receipts). The analysis is made at both the individual country and the OIC regional levels.

The paper also sheds light on some issues and problems of tourism development and cooperation in the OIC countries and proposes a set of recommendations to serve as policy guidelines to which the attention of the member countries needs to be drawn.

International Tourism in the OIC Countries: Prospects and Challenges

Presentation