Tourism Statistics Forum Urges Arab Nations to Adopt Advanced Data Technologies

Muscat: Participants at the 2nd Arab Forum for Tourism Statistics 2024 have called on Arab countries to adopt modern trends and technologies in the production of tourism statistics, aiming to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of tourism indicators through the use of big data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI). According to Oman News Agency, the forum, organized by the Sultanate of Oman and represented by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), took place today in collaboration with the Secretariat General of the Arab League and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism. Experts at the forum highlighted the importance of integrating modern technologies such as AI to improve the speed and accuracy of data processing, which could significantly benefit the tourism sector by providing more reliable and timely data. The conference also explored various international and Arab experiences in utilizing non-traditional sources of tourism data and the production of tourism statistics. This discu ssion underscored the evolving nature of data gathering in tourism, which increasingly relies on administrative records from different government departments. The recommendations from the forum are expected to guide future strategies in tourism data analytics across Arab nations, potentially leading to more informed decision-making and policy development in the tourism sector.