The First Forum of Tourism in Islamic Countries has been organized by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in cooperation with the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on October 30-November 1, 2007.

The objectives of the Forum included adopting effective and strong strategies for the promotion and marketing of tourism among OIC countries, adopting a mechanism for improving infrastructures, and facilitate issuance of tourism visas among the Islamic countries.

The subjects of discussion have covered the position of tourism in Islamic countries and areas of development, tourism investment environment in the Islamic countries, regulations and bylaws of Haj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia, and successful tourism experiments of some Islamic countries.

Our Centre has been represented at the Forum by Mr. Nabil Dabour, Senior Researcher/Acting Director of the Research Department, who presented a paper titled “International Tourism in the OIC Countries: Prospects and Challenges”.

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

The paper also shed light on some issues and problems of tourism development and cooperation in the OIC countries and proposed 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