Page 75 - MOE ENGLISH PR - MAY 2024

Press Release

Emirates Tourism Council reviews progress made in the
achievement of UAE Tourism Strategy 2031

Third Council meeting takes place on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market
2024 in Dubai

Abu Dhabi, 7 May 2024:

The Emirates Tourism Council held its third meeting for the year 2024, chaired by H.E. Abdulla
bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Head of the Council, and attended by chairpersons
and directors of all local tourism entities in the country. The meeting took place on the sidelines
of the Arabian Travel Market 2024 held in Dubai from 6 to 9 May. It discussed an array of topics,
including latest updates on the implementation of the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 and the
recommendations put forth during the Council’s previous meeting.

Addressing the meeting, H.E. Bin Touq said that the UAEs tourism sector is witnessing a new
phase of growth and prosperity as reflected by various performance indicators and record-breaking
results that have solidified the country's position in the global tourism landscape. The sector
witnessed a significant 26 per cent growth in 2023 compared to that of 2022, surpassing the levels
achieved in 2019 by 14 per cent. As a result, it contributed approximately AED 220 billion to the
national gross domestic product (GDP), accounting for 11.7 per cent of it. Citing the recent report
from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), H.E. said that the sector's contribution to
the national economy is expected to go up further in 2024 to reach AED 236 billion, contributing
12 per cent to the GDP.

The Minister of Economy added: "Under the wise leadership’s directives, the UAE's tourism
industry is experiencing significant growth and diversification. The sector’s AED 220 billion
contribution to the national economy takes us halfway towards the achievement of the goal set by
the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031. Our ultimate goal is to increase the sector's contribution to the
country's GDP to AED 450 billion by 2031."

H.E. explained that the total number of guests in hotel establishments across the seven emirates
reached 28 million in 2023, up 11 per cent from 2022. It also signifies the steady progress towards
achieving the strategic goal of attracting 40 million guests to the country's hotels by the next
decade.