During his participation at the Arabian Travel Market 2024 (ATM), Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, revealed that the UAE expects the tourism sector to contribute 12 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) this year, equating to AED236 billion.
“According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), our tourism sector has been a dynamic force within our economy, contributing an impressive 11.7 percent to GDP (in 2023), amounting to AED220 billion,” Al Marri said.
Gulf-wide collaboration in focus
A panel discussion featuring prominent tourism figures in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region delved into the importance of inter-regional initiatives in advancing the GCC tourism industry. The discussion at ATM 2024 also explored the balance between collaboration and competition among GCC destinations and the role of initiatives like the GCC unified tourist visa in enhancing accessibility, sustainability, infrastructure, and culture.
For her part, Danielle Curtis, exhibition director ME, ATM, said: “While it’s clear that healthy competition will continue to play an important role in strengthening the GCC’s world-class tourism offering, it was also encouraging to hear how collaboration is enabling the region to become more than the sum of its parts in terms of attracting global travelers.”
Read: ATM 2024: Dubai’s Emirates, China Cultural Centre join forces to amplify tourism opportunities
Infrastructure development
Panelists at ATM 2024 highlighted the significance of the GCC unified tourist visa in presenting the region as a connected destination, fostering accessibility, and driving key performance indicators such as length of stay and average spending. They emphasized the importance of ensuring that the travel industry positively impacts local businesses, communities and ecosystems. Hence, this contributes to the long-term sustainability of tourism across the region.
Discussions also underscored the role of infrastructure development, including investments in airports, cruise terminals, and the upcoming GCC railway, in optimizing accessibility within and between Gulf nations. Participants emphasized the importance of enhancing region-wide access for both domestic and international visitors.
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