Abdullah bin Touq Al Mari, the UAE’s Minister of Economy and Tourism, recently led a delegation to the BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. This significant event took place under India’s presidency of the BRICS group for 2026, embracing the theme “Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.” The meeting brought together tourism ministers and heads of delegations from member states.
Focus on Collaborative Tourism Efforts
The meeting followed earlier discussions within the BRICS Tourism Working Group that took place on August 19 and 20, where member nations deliberated on enhancing tourism cooperation, sharing best practices, and identifying joint priorities. The objective is clear: to boost tourism traffic and investment, enhance air connectivity, and develop a more resilient, sustainable, and competitive tourism sector.
Commitment to Sustainable Development
Al Mari emphasized the UAE’s commitment, guided by visionary leadership, to foster collaboration and joint initiatives with BRICS member countries. He noted that turning tourism cooperation into actionable projects can significantly support sustainable tourism development, enhancing travel and investment opportunities while opening doors to new tourism and economic prospects.
Strengthening Travel and Investment Links
During the discussions, Al Mari highlighted the meeting as a vital platform for stimulating travel investment flows and connecting the tourism markets of member countries. The focus was on developing more effective public-private partnerships to create a tourism sector characterised by resilience, innovation, and sustainability.
Prioritising Connectivity
Enhancing connectivity and mobility was reiterated as a primary focus to improve intra-BRICS tourism. Al Mari stressed the need for smoother travel experiences, tapping into the full potential of member markets and increasing tourism influx among them.
Support for the Tourist Solutions Exchange Platform
He expressed strong support for the proposed establishment of a “Tourist Solutions Exchange Platform for BRICS,” envisaged as a practical mechanism for sharing experiences, innovative practices, and successful training opportunities among member states. This initiative aims to leverage diverse expertise and foster innovation in the tourism sector.
Importance of Intra-BRICS Tourism
Al Mari underscored the significance of enhancing intra-BRICS tourism, which comprises some of the largest tourism markets globally. He called for the development of more effective strategies for data sharing and market information exchange, along with initiating targeted tourism campaigns and partnerships.
Concluding Remarks
At the end of the meeting, Al Mari expressed the UAE’s welcoming attitude towards the outcomes of the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, reaffirming full support for India’s presidency and tourism cooperation priorities. He highlighted that tourism extends beyond mere movement between destinations; it serves as a crucial driver for investment, economic growth, job creation, and the strengthening of ties between peoples and communities.