Madrid: Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Brazil, Portugal, Azerbaijan, and Argentina. These discussions, held on the sidelines of the International Tourism Fair - FITUR Madrid 2026, aimed at bolstering tourism cooperation and sharing best practices in sustainable tourism development.
According to Emirates News Agency, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri emphasized the UAE's commitment to fostering strategic partnerships with leading global tourism markets, aligning with its leadership's vision of openness and international cooperation. He highlighted that international visitor spending in the UAE reached AED217.3 billion in 2024, marking significant growth compared to previous years and projecting further increases in 2025. This underscores the UAE's strategic focus on enhancing its tourism sector and competitiveness.
In discussions with Pedro Machado, Portugal's Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade and Services, the focus was on enhancing cooperation in cultural, environmental, and maritime tourism, improving air connectivity, and sharing expertise in tourism development and vocational training. The UAE has seen a rise in Portuguese tourists, with nearly 89,000 visiting in 2025, facilitated by 21 weekly direct flights between the two nations.
Meetings with Daniel Scioli, Argentina's Minister of Tourism, Sports and Environment, explored opportunities in sports and cultural tourism, including organizing joint events to boost tourism flows. The UAE attracted 34,900 Argentine tourists in 2025, reflecting a 9 percent increase from the previous year.
Discussions with Gustavo Feliciano, Brazil's Minister of Tourism, focused on expanding partnerships in joint destination promotion and attracting tourism infrastructure investments. The UAE witnessed an increase in Brazilian hotel guests to 165,000, supported by 14 weekly direct flights, emphasizing the growing mutual interest in tourism cooperation.
Lastly, discussions with Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan, explored tourism investment, event organization, and destination management. Azerbaijani tourist numbers rose to 38,600, with 20 weekly flights between the countries, highlighting the strengthening tourism partnership.
Source: Emirates News Agency