Fujairah: Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, Fujairah held the first of its kind conference on adventure tourism in the country.

The opening ceremony of the Fujairah International Conference of Adventures Tourism, organised by Fujairah Adventures Centre in participation with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism), took place on April 30 in Fujairah.

The opening ceremony was attended by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the Crown Prince of Fujairah, and he emphasised the increasing significance of the adventure tourism sector globally and its contribution to economic growth, as well as its support for comprehensive and sustainable development.
During the opening ceremony, Amr Zein Eddine, Director of the Fujairah Adventures Centre and Head of the Higher Organising Committee for the conference, emphasised the significance of adventure tourism in achieving the vision and mission of the Fujairah Adventures Centre.

In his keynote speech, Mohammed Desouky, Senior Project Specialist with UN Tourism, highlighted adventure tourism as one of the fastest-growing and most impactful sectors in global tourism.

He also addressed its challenges and how Fujairah is setting a global benchmark for state-led adventure tourism.

Additionally, Dr Ayesha Almemari, an Emergency Medicine and Critical Care consultant who is passionate about mountaineering and long-distance running, shared her experiences.

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed also attended the first panel discussion of the day, titled Investment in Adventure Tourism: Opportunities and Challenges.

The panel featured Sheikha Shamsa bint Hashir Al Maktoum from the Ministry of Economy; Imani Kajula, CEO of East African Business Council; Suleiman Mohamed, Chairman of Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors; and Troy Ghilham, CEO and Founder of The Warrior Group who discussed a range of topics, including the role of government in facilitating investments, the importance of collaboration between the private and public sectors for the expansion of adventure tourism, optimal investment models with great potential in the market, and the use of modern technology in the sector.

The session following the opening ceremony featured the launch of a book, Alpine Skills: Summer, and books outlining standards and good practices for outdoor camping, hiking adventures and mountain biking adventures.

The conference also included signing ceremonies for two Memoranda of Understanding between Fujairah Adventures and the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), as well as Fujairah Adventures and Cyprus Mountaineering, Climbing, and Orienteering Federation. UN Tourism, the Ministry of Economy, the Fujairah Tourism and Antiquities Department, and the Fujairah Environment Authority were also honoured during the opening ceremony for their contributions in making the conference a milestone event.