The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) holds the 9th Session of the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers (ICTM) in Niamey, capital of Niger, on 21-23 December 2015. The session will focus on a matrix of major priority actions to be taken towards the implementation of the OIC Framework for Development and Cooperation among OIC Member States in the field of tourism over the next two years.

Items on the agenda of the conference include the selection of the OIC City of Tourism for the years 2017 and 2018, adoption of activities in commemoration of the Islamic Tourism Award, discussion of tourism occupational skills and standards development, tourism facilitation, research, training, and marketing. A cultural and tourism exhibition will be held on the sidelines of the Conference. 

The ICTM will review the reports of relevant OIC institutions, namely the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), the Islamic Center for the Development of Trade (ICDT), the Islamic Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA).

Tourism Ministers are expected to focus on encouraging Member States to promote cooperation in the areas of education, vocational training, organization of workshops, symposia to consider urgent matters and elaborate concepts and new methods to expand and diversify touristic activities in OIC Member States. 

The Conference will also discuss the elaboration of marketing strategies for potential tourism demand and motives of travel for tourism, and encouragement of Member States to develop projects in the framework of public-private cooperation and benefit from the facilities offered by OIC institutions in this regard. 

The Ministers will also discuss the promotion of Islamic tourism through development of hotels and parks in line with the Islamic Shariah, halal food as well as leisure and sports facilities, and by promoting Islamic tourism at the international level

Source: BNA