Page 551 - MOET ENGLISH PR REPORT - OCTOBER 2025 (Part 1)

10/28/25, 10:36 AM Tourism makes up 10pc of global economy but faces challenges: Al Nowais
Tourism makes up 10pc of global economy but faces challenges: Al Nowais

DUBAI Mon, 27 Oct 2025

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Shaikha Al Nowais, Secretary-General Elect of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for
the 2026–2029 term, revealed that the global tourism and travel sector contributed $10.9 trillion to the world’s
GDP in 2024, accounting for 10% of the global economy.

In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the UAE-Africa Tourism Investment

Summit 2025, which began in Dubai, Al Nowais said that this contribution is expected to continue rising to
US$11.7 trillion in 2025, marking an increase of 6.7% over 2024 and 13% higher than 2019 levels.
Citing a report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), she noted that the sector grew by 8.5% in

2024 compared with 2023, and by 6% compared with 2019.
Al Nowais stressed that these figures reaffirm tourism’s role as a key driver of sustainable economic growth,

highlighting it as one of the most dynamic sectors in attracting both domestic and foreign investment.

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