The travel and tourism sector contributed $247.1 billion to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies in 2024, marking a 31.9 percent rise compared with 2019, according to new data from the GCC Statistical Centre.
Tourism’s share of the region’s gross domestic product is forecast to climb further, reaching $371.2 billion by 2034, or 13.3 percent of GDP. The findings were released in a report titled Tourism in the GCC: A Gateway to Development and Sustainable Transformation to mark World Tourism Day.
The sector has also become a significant source of employment, adding $4.3 billion in value to jobs in 2024, up nearly 25 percent from 2019. By 2034, it is expected to generate about 1.3 million new jobs. Women accounted for 13 percent of the workforce in 2024, a 73 percent increase over five years, highlighting tourism’s role in economic empowerment.
Sustainability is emerging as a core pillar of GCC tourism strategies. Protected terrestrial and marine reserves now cover 19 percent of the region’s total area, a 7.5 percent increase in just one year, underscoring efforts to advance eco-tourism and preserve natural resources.
Tourism has also bolstered regional integration, with intra-GCC travel rising 52.1 percent in 2024 compared with 2019. Nearly 19.3 million tourists traveled within the bloc last year, representing more than a quarter of total international visitors.
The report underscores tourism’s growing importance as a driver of economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development across the Gulf.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
