THE UAE is the most attractive location in the Mena region for developing the travel and tourism industry, according to a new industry report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The UAE ranked 30th out of 139 countries and first within the Mena region in the 2011 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), which measures factors and policies that make it attractive to develop the travel and tourism sector in different countries.
The rankings were established before the start of political unrest in parts of the Mena region earlier this year, which has since led to the toppling of the regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, and ongoing violent conflict in other areas.
The UAE, the Arab world's second-biggest economy, ranked ahead of traditional tourist destinations like Egypt, Jordan and Syria, according to the report. Switzerland retained first position globally, followed by Germany and France.
The report stated that the UAE is characterised by a strong affinity for travel and tourism. The country's infrastructure also gets good marks, particularly its air transport infrastructure, which is ranked a very high fourth out of all countries assessed.
And it added that an area of clear improvement over recent years is in the rules and regulations, which have been adjusted to better support the sector's development.
Within the Mena region, the UAE was followed by Bahrain in 40th place and Qatar in 42nd position. Oman and Saudi Arabia ranked 61st and 62nd respectively, while Egypt ranked 75th and Morocco 78th.