ATM 2024: Unified GCC Tourist Visa Set For Launch By 2024, Boosting Regional Travel

In a significant development for the travel industry, officials have announced the introduction of a unified Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tourist visa, set to be implemented by the end of this year. This initiative, revealed during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, is designed to enhance travel convenience across the GCC countries.

The UAE Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, highlighted that this visa would enable tourists to explore Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait, extending their stay beyond 30 days in the region This move comes after tourism ministers from the GCC countries approved the unified Gulf tourist visa in October last year.

Al Marri emphasized the importance of the GCC Grand Tours, stating, "The GCC Grand Tours, that we are working on and aiming to finish, will allow tourists to spend more than 30 days in the region." This statement underscores the GCC's commitment to fostering tourism and simplifying travel logistics for visitors.

Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Authority (SCTDA), expressed optimism about the new visa system's readiness by year's end. He mentioned the collaborative efforts led by the Ministry of Economy in the UAE and other ministries across the GCC, focusing on digital transformation to facilitate the visa system's implementation.

Al Midfa projected that this initiative would significantly contribute to the regional GDP over the next eight to ten years. This aligns with the GCC 2030 tourism strategy, aiming to enhance the tourism sector's impact on the GDP. The strategy includes increasing hotel occupancy rates and promoting intra-GCC travel as key components for boosting the region's economy.

By the end of 2022, the GCC boasted 10,649 hotel establishments, with the UAE ranking second after Saudi Arabia. The total number of rooms available across these establishments reached 674,832. The joint Gulf tourism strategy for 2023-2030 aims to increase inbound flights to the GCC by an annual rate of 7%, targeting 128.7 million visitors by 2030. Furthermore, the countries plan to boost tourist spending by an annual growth rate of 8%, aiming for $188 billion by 2030.

The direct GDP contribution of the travel and tourism sector is anticipated to grow at an annual rate of 7%, with a total added value of $185.9 billion in 2023, marking an 8.5% increase compared to the previous year. This ambitious vision reflects the GCC’s commitment to enhancing its tourism industry and economic growth through strategic initiatives and collaboration.