London, Nov 9 (IANS) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host World Green Tourism Congress next year, WAM news agency reported Monday.
The event will be organised in Abu Dhabi Dec 6-8, and is the first of its kind in the Arabian Gulf, the report said. The UAE’s Streamline Marketing Group (SMG) and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), among others, will sponsor the event.

“This congress reflects the core values of the Abu Dhabi government’s 2030 plan which clearly identifies tourism as a key economic driver,” said Dayne Lim, product development director of ADTA.

The event will give an opportunity for industry leaders and associations to discuss the environmental challenges facing the tourism industry, green initiatives, technologies and solutions currently being implemented in the sector.

“We have already received interest from a number of prominent associations connected with green initiatives and hope to make partnership agreements in the not too distant future,” said Rich Theobald of SMG.

About 1,800 representatives of the tourism industry are expected to take part in the congress.