GCC Tourism And Travel Sector Achieves $247.1 Billion Value In 2024

The travel and tourism sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries significantly boosted their economies, contributing $247.1 billion to the GDP in 2024. This marks a 31.9 percent increase from 2019, as reported by the GCC Statistical Centre. By 2034, this sector is anticipated to contribute 13.3 percent to the GDP, equating to $371.2 billion, highlighting its growing importance.

Tourism plays a crucial role in job creation within the GCC region. In 2024, it contributed $4.3 billion to employment, reflecting a 24.9 percent rise since 2019. The sector is expected to create approximately 1.3 million new jobs by 2034, demonstrating its potential as a significant employment generator.

The tourism industry also empowers youth and women by increasing their participation in the workforce. In 2024, women made up 13 percent of the tourism workforce, showing a remarkable growth of 73.2 percent since 2019. This trend underscores the sector's role in promoting gender equality and social inclusion.

Sustainable tourism has gained traction across GCC nations, with efforts focused on conserving natural resources and promoting eco-tourism. By 2023, natural reserves covered 19 percent of the total area in the GCC, marking a rise of 7.5 percent from the previous year.

Intra-GCC tourism experienced substantial growth in recent years. In 2024, there was a notable increase of 52.1 percent compared to 2019, with around 19.3 million tourists travelling within GCC countries that year. These travellers accounted for 26.7 percent of all international visitors.

The report titled "Tourism in the GCC: A Gateway to Development and Sustainable Transformation" highlights these developments on World Tourism Day. It emphasizes tourism's role as a catalyst for economic, social, and environmental progress in the region.

The commitment to sustainable practices and eco-tourism reflects positively on regional integration efforts within the GCC. As tourism continues to grow, it strengthens ties among member countries while contributing significantly to their economies.

With inputs from WAM