H.E. Bin Touq inspects tourism facilities, underscores human capital development in hospitality sector

As part of ‘UAE Hospitality Summer Camp’ that was recently launched by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism

His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the UAE Tourism Council, conducted an inspection tour of prominent hotel establishments to assess the progress of the newly launched ‘UAE Hospitality Summer Camp’ program. The ministerial initiative, developed in partnership with leading private-sector tourism and hospitality operators, aims to cultivate national talent and enhance industry capabilities. During visits to The First Collection and Anantara The Palm hotels, H.E. reviewed the ongoing summer training initiatives and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting public-private sector collaboration in advancing the UAE’s tourism sector.

During the tour, H.E. Bin Touq engaged with participating students, gaining firsthand insights into their immersive experiences in the hospitality working environment. He actively sought their feedback on the practical components of the program, evaluating how it contributed to their knowledge and skill development. In meetings with hotel management representatives, H.E. discussed innovative ways to enhance industry–academia collaboration, with a focus on expanding the initiative’s reach and deepening its impact on the competencies of the UAE hospitality sector.

The Minister of Economy and Tourism emphasized that the tourism sector is a fundamental pillar of the national economy, receiving increasing attention under the wise leadership’s vision of economic diversification and sustainable growth. His Excellency noted that the visit reflects the ministry’s commitment to supporting tourism and hospitality establishments, while strengthening communication and cooperation with private-sector partners. This is achieved by fostering on-the-ground partnerships, monitoring the progress of initiatives, and assessing their impact on both national competencies and the sector as a whole.

H.E. Bin Touq said: “The UAE Summer Hospitality Camp is an innovative national program designed to cultivate future-ready talent for our thriving tourism industry. Through this hands-on initiative, we equip our youths with both the technical skills and practical knowledge needed to excel in this dynamic sector. Its immersive approach transforms students into capable professionals while supporting our nation’s economic diversification goals. We deeply value our private-sector partners as indispensable allies in this endeavor; their active role in creating authentic training environments has been instrumental in bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world hospitality demands, ensuring participants gain meaningful experience that advances both their careers and the sector’s continued growth.”

H.E. reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to advancing similar training initiatives aimed at building an integrated system for human resource development in the tourism sector. These efforts align with the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy 2031, which seeks to drive sustainable growth and achieve sectoral excellence. Key priorities include enhancing tourism competencies, encouraging greater participation of national talent, preserving the UAE’s unique tourism identity, and increasing the sector’s contribution to GDP. Highlighting the strategic importance of investing in human capital, H.E. Bin Touq emphasized its critical role in ensuring the long-term sustainability and global competitiveness of the country’s tourism industry.

The UAE Hospitality Summer Camp is designed to equip students of diverse ages and nationalities with hands-on experience in the hospitality sector through immersive training at leading tourism and hotel establishments. This year’s edition has attracted over 500 participants from nearly 200 educational institutions across the country, in partnership with more than 40 premier hospitality service providers across the UAE.

The UAE’s hospitality sector demonstrated robust growth in the first quarter of 2025, with hotel revenues surging to AED 13.5 billion, driven by an influx of over 8.4 million visitors - a 2 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. The sector also saw a strong demand for accommodations, with more than 29.3 million hotel nights booked and an impressive average occupancy rate of 81.3 per cent, underscoring the industry’s sustained growth.