World Expo 2020 and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2020 should become inspiring symbols of positive future change in the GCC, the 10th annual Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) was told this afternoon.
“This part of the world is still not well understood. These events will open a global mind’s eye and make the world excited about the region,” said STR Global managing director Elizabeth Winkle. “Success will be reflected in a much more diverse tourism base in terms of countries of origin and age. This region has so much to offer and give back and this should be a moment for them to make a difference.”
“I want to see it as a landmark for a new way of doing business and for change in society,”said International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) president Geoffrey Lipman. “I want to see young people of the Gulf saying they are proud of these events and for people elsewhere saying we want to be like them.”
AHIC is organised by Bench Events and MEED.
There is no other part of the world which has more resources available to make these events successful.