UAE participates in BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in India to expand tourism cooperation

H.E. Bin Touq holds meetings with Indian and Brazilian counterparts to discuss strengthening cooperation and developing tourism partnerships

H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, led the UAE delegation participating in the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, hosted by the Republic of India in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 21 August, as part of India's BRICS Chairship 2026. The meeting was held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” with the participation of tourism ministers and heads of delegations from member states.

The meeting followed the BRICS Tourism Working Group meetings held on 19 and 20 August and aimed to strengthen tourism cooperation among member states, facilitate the exchange of expertise and experiences, and discuss shared priorities. These efforts seek to increase tourism flows and investment, enhance air connectivity, and develop a more resilient, sustainable and competitive tourism sector.

In this context, H.E. Bin Touq affirmed the UAE’s commitment, under the guidance of its wise leadership, to continuing cooperation and joint efforts with BRICS member states. This will contribute to translating tourism cooperation into practical initiatives and projects that support sustainable tourism development, promote travel and investment flows, and open up new avenues for shared tourism and economic opportunities.

H.E. Bin Touq said: “The meeting is a vital platform for strengthening travel and investment flows and enhancing connectivity between the tourism markets of BRICS countries, while fostering more effective partnerships between governments and the private sector. This will support the development of a more resilient, innovative and sustainable tourism sector.” He noted that enhancing connectivity and mobility remains a key priority for advancing intra-BRICS tourism and providing a smoother travel experience, helping unlock the full potential of the bloc’s markets and increase tourism flows among member states.

H.E. added: “We reaffirm our support for the initiative to establish the "BRICS Tourism Solutions Exchange Platform," viewing it as a practical mechanism for sharing expertise, solutions, success stories, and training opportunities among member states, thereby leveraging diverse experiences and fostering innovation within the sector.”

He also highlighted the importance of strengthening intra-BRICS tourism, particularly as the bloc brings together some of the world’s largest tourism markets. He also emphasized the need to develop more effective mechanisms for data sharing and the exchange of market intelligence, as well as to launch targeted tourism partnerships and campaigns.

At the conclusion of the meeting, H.E. Bin Touq welcomed the outcomes of the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ meeting and reaffirmed the UAE’s full support for the Indian presidency and the priorities of the tourism cooperation track. He noted that tourism extends beyond the movement of people between destinations; rather, it serves as a key driver of investment, economic growth, and job creation, while fostering stronger ties between peoples and communities.

Strengthening tourism cooperation with India and Brazil

On the sidelines of the meeting, H.E. Bin Touq held two bilateral meetings with H.E. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, India's Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, and H.E. Gustavo Costa Feliciano, Brazil's Minister of Tourism, during which they explored prospects for expanding tourism cooperation. They also discussed ways to strengthen diverse tourism partnerships to support the growth of tourism flows and develop new opportunities for collaboration in the coming period; in addition to ways to develop tourism products and experiences, organise joint events and initiatives, and exchange expertise and knowledge regarding the management and development of destinations.