The 8th Session of the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers (ICTM) was hosted by the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of The Gambia and held on 4-6 December 2013 in Banjul, the Gambia.

The meeting of the Senior Officials preparatory to the Ministerial Meeting was held on 4-5 December 2013. Senior officials from 25 member states and representatives of four OIC institutions, namely SESRIC, IRCICA, ICDT, and ISESCO, attended the meeting. The meeting considered the Report of the Secretary General, which embodied the Progress Report on the Implementation of the Framework for Development and Cooperation in the domain of Tourism between the OIC member states as well as its recommendations. It highlighted various activities accomplished under the Short Term Plan and Program, including recent bilateral activities and regional projects as well as the activities of the OIC institutions towards the implementation of the Framework for Development and Cooperation in the domain of Tourism.

The Meeting discussed various technical background reports by relevant OIC institutions. In this context, SESRIC submitted and presented its report titled “International Tourism in the OIC Countries: Prospects and Challenges”. Dr. Kenan Bagci, Senior Researcher, representing the Centre thereat, made a presentation on the recent performance of the OIC member countries in the area of international tourism sector. The presentation also involved some issues and problems of OIC countries in the area of tourism development and cooperation and a set of recommendations. IRCICA, ICDT and ISESCO also presented their progress reports.

The Meeting subsequently discussed various issues of cooperation in the field of tourism in the OIC member countries. It considered the draft Mechanism and Criteria for the Selection of OIC City of Tourism and the draft Mechanism and Criteria for the Award of OIC Seal of Excellence for Handicrafts, and after making several amendments, approved the both mechanisms. The Meeting also reviewed the proposal by the Islamic Republic of Iran on the Establishment of the Heritage Centre for Islamic Countries and the proposal has been decided to be considered by existing OIC institutions IRCICA and ISESCO within their respective mandates.

The Ministerial Meeting was held on 6 December 2013 with participation of the guest of honour Vice President of The Gambia. The meeting approved the mechanisms and criteria for the Selection of OIC City of Tourism as well as for the Award of OIC Seal of Excellence for Handicrafts. The meeting also agreed on the members of the Coordination Committee for the implementation of the Framework on Tourism, which consists of Gambia, Iraq, Malaysia, Niger, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Turkey and Uganda.

The Meeting also welcomed the offer by the Government of the Republic of Niger to host the 9th Session of ICTM in 2015. 

Documents

• Draft Agenda  (English)
• Draft Work Program for the Senior Officials’ Meeting  (English)
• Work Program  (English)