RIYADH: The OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) will hold its 4th international seminar on “The Role of Media in Combating Hate Speech” at the Hotel La Tour Hassan Palace, Rabat, Morocco, Oct. 23-24.
“The IPHRC is mandated to address issues concerning Islamophobia and hate speech which are serious violations of human rights and an affront to human dignity,” Maha Akeel, the director of the OIC information department, told Arab News on Saturday.
Akeel added that at present “we are witnessing an increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric and violent acts in Europe and the US.”
She added that the seminar is “part of the OIC’s and IPHRC’s efforts to confront this phenomenon and contribute to mitigating the negative effect it has on society, while promoting tolerance, understanding and multiculturalism.”
“And of course, the media plays a big role in that so this seminar will focus on that,” Akeel said.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the symposium will focus on analyzing the role of the media and professionals in promoting freedom of expression in a responsible manner.
The seminar will be attended by OIC members and observer states, including their national human rights institutions, experts from different relevant international and regional organizations, senior officials of the UN, Moroccan state ministries and media representatives.
KSA calls UN for action against hateful media
During the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, Saudi UN official Yasser Al-Dabaan urged the UN to seek accuracy, ensure credibility, enforce precision and rely on official news platforms to obtain the information used in its reports and statements.
“The UN Department of Public Information must not rely on media that encourages hate speech, promotes extremism, violence and destruction, threatens countries’ security and stability, and spreads falsified reports,” Al-Dabaan said in a meeting of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee).
“Saudi Arabia has launched many communication initiatives through several ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Communication and Media Center, which communicates with the world in 18 languages, and the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology,” he added.
Al-Dabaan also highlighted that Saudi Arabia, through its traditional and new media, is working hard on instilling the values of moderation, justice and transparency, in addition to combating extremism and its ideology, promoting peaceful dialogue and increasing women’s contribution to the media industry.
“Saudi Arabia reaffirms its support for the UN’s efforts and the undersecretary-general for global communications, as well as its transparent cooperation with all UN agencies, IGOs and INGOs in communicating and providing information,” Al-Dabaan concluded.
OIC to hold forum on media role in combating hate speech
OIC to hold forum on media role in combating hate speech
Saudi tourism minister urges governments to ease travel barriers amid global tensions
- Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said visa restrictions and connectivity were major hurdles disrupting global movement, urging more frequent flights to smaller destinations
- Panel examined key challenges facing the $10 trillion global travel industry, including rising geopolitical tensions, climate volatility, artificial intelligence and growing cyber risks
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s tourism minister, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, has said travel should be made more accessible and flexible as it fosters dialogue and peace at a time when geopolitical tensions are prompting governments to impose stricter visa restrictions.
He was speaking during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, which examined the key challenges facing the $10 trillion global travel industry. These include rising geopolitical tensions, climate volatility, artificial intelligence and growing cyber risks.
“Tourism brings peace at a time where everybody wants to hear about peace. It connects people, encourages dialogue, creates economies, and serves smaller economies like Africa, Latin America, the Pacific and the Caribbean countries,” said Al-Khateeb.
His remarks come as the US has tightened visa and immigration policies, affecting nationals from dozens of countries, and as anti-tourism protests have surfaced in parts of Europe amid mounting concerns over overtourism in major destinations.
He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s achievements in tourism, saying the sector has created 250,000 jobs in the last five years and boosted female participation to 47 percent, exceeding the global average of 45 percent. He highlighted the Kingdom’s focus on building new airports and expanding existing ones, as well as boosting the hotel sector to cater for 150 million travelers by 2030.
The sector’s contribution to the economy has grown from about 3 percent in 2020 to 5 percent today, with plans to raise that figure to between 8 and 10 percent by 2030.
With travel and tourism accounting for around 10 percent of global GDP, Al-Khateeb said that raising the sector’s contribution in Saudi Arabia would strengthen the Kingdom’s economy, make it more resilient and sustainable, and “allow us to share our beautiful culture with the world.”
He said visa restrictions and connectivity were major hurdles disrupting global movement, urging more frequent flights to smaller destinations to diversify traveler experiences and expand economies beyond major hubs.
With panelists citing last year’s anti-tourism protests in Spain and Mexico, Al-Khateeb said overtourism, already a challenge in some cities, will worsen as the UN projects an increase in the number of global travelers from 1.5 billion to 2 billion by 2050. He therefore urged governments to promote smaller cities and spread tourism beyond traditional hotspots to boost economic growth and create more jobs.
Expressing similar sentiments, Martin Eurnekian, CEO of Corporacion America International, linked economic growth to travel and said travel deregulation in the past had boosted European economies.
“Our history shows when growth was accelerated and these were the cases where the (travel) industry was set free,” said Eurnekian, adding geopolitical tensions and economic regulations were exacting a heavy cost on the industry.
“This is an industry based on freedom and globalization and if we lose sight of that we can really hurt the industry,” he added.
Cara Morton, CEO of global businesses and operations and a member of the executive committee at Zurich Insurance Group, said “disruption is now the norm,” citing an in-house assessment that found 80 percent of 4,000 business travelers experienced some form of disruption during their journeys.
She highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in steering people to new, less crowded destinations: “Obviously that will require governments to then make sure that those places have got the right infrastructure, but we will be able to see wealth distributed more equally. So the key is how we use AI in this area.”
Al-Khateeb said that while AI can enhance traveler experience, it should not replace human interaction.
“We will use tech when it isn’t necessary … such as using AI (for passengers to) move fast and finish their biometrics, but when you go to destination, you want to be served by humans not machines.”
He highlighted global travel trends, including the growing role of airports as destinations in their own right, driven by retail and food and beverage offerings, as well as the rapid rise of wellness tourism.
“Travel interacts with a wide range of sectors from aviation and airports to mobility, transportation, hotels, retail, and entertainment,” said Al-Khateeb.
