GCC Tourism Strategies Must Prioritise Sustainability And Community Engagement, Experts Say At ATM 2025

Tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is expanding rapidly, with a focus on involving local communities in development. This approach is crucial for sustainable growth. Abu Dhabi's Tourism Strategy 2030 aims to attract 39.3 million visitors annually, while Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 targets 150 million domestic and international visits. These initiatives highlight tourism as a key driver of economic diversification in the region.

At the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, industry experts stressed the importance of aligning tourism investments with community partnerships and cultural authenticity. This alignment ensures that revitalisation efforts provide lasting value for both residents and tourists. The session titled "Considerations and Implications of Involving Communities in Destination Revitalisation" focused on building resilience, enhancing local prosperity, and ensuring inclusive tourism growth.

Abdulaziz Alkhoori, Executive Director of Group Strategy and Transformation at Miral, emphasised the significance of people in nation-building. He quoted Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, stating that "the most important asset of any advanced nation is people." Alkhoori highlighted Emiratisation as a key initiative for Miral Group, focusing on development and training from pre-graduation to executive leadership.

Mashhoor Baeshen from Cruise Saudi discussed investing in local talent to enhance guest experiences. He noted that engaging with hospitality students helps echo authentic experiences to visitors. The Ministry of Tourism's Saudisation targets ensure that roles like tour guides are filled by Saudis, enriching the visitor experience through genuine interactions with locals.

The session underscored how empowering local communities can improve guest experiences while fostering job creation, cultural preservation, and economic resilience. By involving locals in tourism development, destinations can create long-term value that benefits both residents and visitors alike.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME at Arabian Travel Market, expressed pride in providing a platform for global and regional leaders to discuss the future of travel and tourism. She stated, "Through sessions like this, we bring together a variety of voices to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and develop innovative strategies that benefit the entire industry."

Arabian Travel Market 2025 Highlights

The Arabian Travel Market 2025 is themed "Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity." It continues at Dubai World Trade Centre until Thursday, 1 May. The event features over 200 speakers across three content stages and welcomes more than 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.

The discussions at ATM 2025 highlight how integrating community involvement into tourism strategies can lead to sustainable growth. By focusing on cultural authenticity and local empowerment, GCC countries aim to create vibrant tourist destinations that offer unique experiences while supporting economic diversification.

With inputs from WAM