Gulf Visitor Spending Expected to Reach $224bn by 2034, GCC-Stat Says
Economic diversification, mega-projects, infrastructure upgrades, and relaxed visa policies are driving the projected growth in visitor spending across Gulf Cooperation Council nations.
Visitor spending in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is anticipated to hit $223.7 billion by 2034, as per new data from the GCC Statistical Center.
This growth can be attributed to economic diversification efforts, investments in mega-projects, infrastructure improvements, and the relaxation of visa policies.
The influx of international visitors is expected to account for approximately 13.4 percent of the region's total exports, highlighting tourism's expanding role in Gulf economies that aim to reduce their dependence on oil revenues.
GCC nations have ramped up initiatives to shift their economic focus towards tourism, with Saudi Arabia at the forefront of these efforts through its Vision 2030 plan.
This vision includes goals such as raising the contribution of tourism to gross domestic product from 3 percent to 10 percent and attracting a substantial increase in annual visits, supported by developments like NEOM.
According to the GCC Statistical Center's report, the region saw a notable surge in international visitor spending in 2023, reaching $135.5 billion with a 28.9 percent rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
The steady progress made by GCC countries in various tourism-related indicators reflects their growing appeal as both a tourist destination and a hub for business travel.
Additionally, the region leads safety and security benchmarks across the Middle East and North Africa, with all six Gulf states enjoying high rankings in passport power and global travel competitiveness.
This positive trajectory is driven by broader economic diversification strategies that favor hospitality, entertainment, and business travel sectors.
Furthermore, GCC countries are enhancing their infrastructure with modern airports and robust safety measures to attract international tourists, presenting a viable alternative to traditional destinations such as Europe and Asia.
The strategic geographic position of the GCC as a connector between East and West, coupled with investments in aviation, has established the region as a prominent global tourism hotspot.
Each Gulf state is leveraging its unique strengths under national strategies, contributing to the collective emergence of the GCC as a powerful force in the global tourism industry.
For instance, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aims to merge religious travel with large-scale projects like NEOM, while the UAE's Tourism Strategy 2031 seeks to double visitor numbers to 40 million through luxury and cultural experiences.
Qatar is refining its appeal after hosting the World Cup by focusing on urban tourism, and Oman is banking on natural attractions to draw 11 million visitors annually.
Even smaller Gulf states such as Bahrain and Kuwait are making strategic moves to enhance their tourism sectors, with Bahrain leveraging Formula 1 events for leisure tourism growth and Kuwait investing in entertainment infrastructure.
This growth can be attributed to economic diversification efforts, investments in mega-projects, infrastructure improvements, and the relaxation of visa policies.
The influx of international visitors is expected to account for approximately 13.4 percent of the region's total exports, highlighting tourism's expanding role in Gulf economies that aim to reduce their dependence on oil revenues.
GCC nations have ramped up initiatives to shift their economic focus towards tourism, with Saudi Arabia at the forefront of these efforts through its Vision 2030 plan.
This vision includes goals such as raising the contribution of tourism to gross domestic product from 3 percent to 10 percent and attracting a substantial increase in annual visits, supported by developments like NEOM.
According to the GCC Statistical Center's report, the region saw a notable surge in international visitor spending in 2023, reaching $135.5 billion with a 28.9 percent rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
The steady progress made by GCC countries in various tourism-related indicators reflects their growing appeal as both a tourist destination and a hub for business travel.
Additionally, the region leads safety and security benchmarks across the Middle East and North Africa, with all six Gulf states enjoying high rankings in passport power and global travel competitiveness.
This positive trajectory is driven by broader economic diversification strategies that favor hospitality, entertainment, and business travel sectors.
Furthermore, GCC countries are enhancing their infrastructure with modern airports and robust safety measures to attract international tourists, presenting a viable alternative to traditional destinations such as Europe and Asia.
The strategic geographic position of the GCC as a connector between East and West, coupled with investments in aviation, has established the region as a prominent global tourism hotspot.
Each Gulf state is leveraging its unique strengths under national strategies, contributing to the collective emergence of the GCC as a powerful force in the global tourism industry.
For instance, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aims to merge religious travel with large-scale projects like NEOM, while the UAE's Tourism Strategy 2031 seeks to double visitor numbers to 40 million through luxury and cultural experiences.
Qatar is refining its appeal after hosting the World Cup by focusing on urban tourism, and Oman is banking on natural attractions to draw 11 million visitors annually.
Even smaller Gulf states such as Bahrain and Kuwait are making strategic moves to enhance their tourism sectors, with Bahrain leveraging Formula 1 events for leisure tourism growth and Kuwait investing in entertainment infrastructure.
