UAE's Travel And Tourism Sector Expected To Create 833,000 Jobs This Year
UAE's travel and tourism sector is set for significant expansion, poised to introduce 23,600 new jobs this year, escalating the total workforce to nearly 833,000. This forecast was revealed by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in its UAE 2024 Economic Impact report. The report highlights a robust growth in the sector, with jobs supported by travel and tourism increasing by 41,000 last year, reaching over 809,000, which equates to one in nine jobs across the country.
Julia Simpson, WTTC's President and CEO, noted the full recovery of jobs lost during the pandemic by 2022, with a current 11 percent increase in sector jobs since the 2019 peak. She projected that in a decade, the travel and tourism sector would support about a million jobs and could be valued at Dh275 billion. This growth encompasses roles in hotels, hospitality, aviation, travel agencies, and online travel services.
The WTTC's analysis further predicts the sector's growth trajectory into 2024, with its GDP contribution expected to exceed Dh236 billion. International visitor spending is anticipated to rise by nearly 10 percent, reaching Dh192 billion, while domestic visitor spending is forecasted to see a 4.3 percent increase, climbing to almost Dh58 billion.
Record-Breaking Year Of Travel And Tourism
2023 has been marked as a record-breaking year for UAE's travel and tourism sector, with significant achievements in GDP contribution, job creation, and visitor spending. Simpson highlighted the sector's remarkable 26 percent growth last year, contributing a record Dh220 billion to the UAE's GDP, which represents 11.7 percent of the nation's entire economy. This growth surpassed the previous high in 2019 by almost 15 percent, emphasizing the sector's critical role in the economic development of the UAE.
The report also sheds light on the recovery and growth of visitor spending. Domestic visitor spending fully rebounded in 2022, with last year's figures exceeding Dh55.5 billion, marking an almost 40 percent increase from 2019. Additionally, international visitor spending witnessed a nearly 40 percent surge in 2023, reaching over Dh175 billion, which is 12 percent higher than the levels recorded in 2019.
Simpson praised the UAE's travel and tourism sector's exceptional growth, attributing it to the nation's strategic vision and commitment to enhancing the industry. The significant increase in employment opportunities and visitor spending underscores the sector's vital contribution to the UAE's economy.
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