من 6 إلى 7 مايو: المملكة تستضيف الملتقى الدولي السعودي-المالديفي لتعزيز الشفافية في قطاع السياحة

Saudi Arabia and the Maldives to Host International Forum on Integrity in Tourism

In a significant collaborative effort, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the Republic of Maldives, is set to organize the Saudi-Maldivian International Forum on Enhancing Integrity in Tourism. This event is scheduled to take place from the 6th to the 7th of May 2025, corresponding to the 8th and 9th of Dhul-Qi’dah 1446H.

The forum is a joint initiative led by the Saudi National Anti-Corruption Authority, known as Nazaha, in collaboration with the Maldives’s Anti-Corruption Commission and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The event will witness substantial participation from OIC member states, as well as various international organizations dedicated to combating corruption.

The rationale behind this forum aligns with the resolutions approved during the 50th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers and the second ministerial meeting of the OIC Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Agencies. This initiative underscores the commitment of member nations to enhance international cooperation while fostering values of integrity and transparency, especially in vital economic sectors such as tourism.

The forum aims to tackle a variety of critical topics, with a primary focus on promoting transparency and good governance in the tourism sector and implementing anti-corruption mechanisms. Additionally, the discussions will explore avenues for strengthening international partnerships and sharing experiences among member nations and regional organizations, all of which will be instrumental in supporting sustainable development and constructing a trustworthy and secure tourism environment.

Participants will engage in high-level panel discussions and dialogues, bringing together ministers, leaders of anti-corruption agencies, and experts from various OIC countries. These sessions will highlight impactful principles aimed at enhancing integrity within the tourism industry, ultimately yielding a set of recommendations that will serve as a roadmap for bolstering transparency and combating corruption on both national and international levels.

Moreover, the forum will showcase cooperation mechanisms and information-sharing strategies among relevant parties, spotlighting best practices and successful methodologies adopted globally to combat corruption within the tourism sector. The aim is to adopt practical policies and procedures that allow for the reduction of gaps while enhancing preventative measures.

The event is expected to attract a diverse international audience, including representatives from over 40 countries, along with participation from more than 10 regional and international organizations. High-ranking officials, ministers, and representatives from the OIC’s anti-corruption law enforcement agencies will be in attendance. Esteemed international organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Interpol, the Global Law Enforcement Network Against Corruption (GlobE Network), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will also contribute to the forum, alongside a distinguished array of local and international experts.

The convening of this forum not only reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting global efforts aimed at reinforcing transparency and accountability in the tourism sector but also highlights its belief in the sector’s vital role in achieving sustainable development. This initiative aligns seamlessly with the objectives outlined in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to establish a flourishing tourism sector that diversifies national income sources and stimulates economic growth.

In this context, the forum serves as an extension of Saudi Arabia’s leadership in fostering international cooperation to combat corruption, emphasizing its proactive role in endorsing quality initiatives that embed integrity into the tourism sector. This initiative, in turn, aims to enhance the sector’s reliability as a crucial driver of development and a vibrant area for forming strategic partnerships founded on principles of transparency and mutual trust.

In summary, the Saudi-Maldivian International Forum on Enhancing Integrity in Tourism not only aims to combat corruption but also seeks to create a sustainable and esteemed tourism sector, fostering a global culture of transparency that can lead to substantial economic and social benefits for member nations.