The Deputy Interior Minister Lt-General Adel bin Khalifa Al Fadhel led the Bahrain delegation participating in the First International Forum on Integrity in the Tourism Sector, in the Maldives.
The forum is organised by the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Commission of the Maldives and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), with broad participation from OIC member states and relevant international organisations.
In his speech, the Deputy Interior Minister conveyed the greetings of His Excellency Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, to the participants and wished the forum success in achieving its intended objectives. He affirmed Bahrain’s firm commitment to upholding the values of integrity and principles of transparency.
He underscored the importance of enhancing international cooperation in combating corruption within the tourism sector, which would support sustainable development strategies and national economic growth. He highlighted Bahrain’s strong focus on the tourism sector as a vital contributor to economic and social development.
The Deputy Interior Minister outlined key initiatives Bahrain undertook to promote integrity, including developing regulatory and legislative frameworks, expanding public awareness programmes, and strengthening partnerships with the private sector and civil society.
He emphasised the need for collective national, regional, and international efforts to combat corruption and the importance of sharing expertise and best practices. He also supported capacity-building efforts to foster a transparent and sustainable tourism environment.
He also reiterated Bahrain’s support for all regional and international initiatives aimed at promoting integrity and combating corruption, praising the role of the OIC and its member states in this regard, and reaffirming Bahrain’s commitment to continued close cooperation in pursuit of common goals.
The forum is being held to implement the resolutions of the 50th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC Member States and the second Ministerial Meeting of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities in 2024. It reflects the member states’ commitment to strengthening international cooperation and embedding the values of integrity and transparency, particularly in key economic sectors such as tourism.
The forum discusses several topics, including promoting transparency and good governance in the tourism sector, mechanisms for combating corruption, and ways to enhance international partnerships and exchange expertise among member states and regional and international organisations.
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