Page 82 - MOE ENGLISH PR - MAY 2024

Press Release

Moreover, H.E. reviewed the main performance indicators of UAE tourism,

emphasizing its contribution to the national economy and enhancing the country’s
status as a leading global tourism destination. The sector contributed 11.7 per cent to
the national GDP in 2023. This is expected to reach 12 per cent in 2024.

The GCC Unified Tourist Visa project was approved during the 44th GCC Summit
in December 2023. This visa contributes to effectively highlighting the diverse
tourist components of all GCC countries, thus increasing their hotel revenues,

expenditure and the length of tourists' stay in the GCC states. Overall, the initiative
will enhance the region’s status as a leading destination for regional and international
tourists alike.

The interactive session discussed several topics related to tourism development in
the GCC; the new opportunities to be offered by the proposed unified visa, and its

potential impact on tourism traffic among these countries. It also addressed the role
of educational institutions and programs in qualifying talent in the tourism and
hospitality sector, as well as ways to enhance cooperation between GCC countries
and relevant bodies. This is necessary to enrich the experience of visitors to the

region by marketing each country's tourism offerings and coordinating promotional
campaigns.

The total contribution of the GCC tourism sector to their collective GDP in 2021 was
USD109 billion, while international tourists accounted for 55 per cent of the total
tourism expenditure. Moreover, the sector's contribution to job creation was 9.8 per

cent. The number of hotel establishments in the GCC countries totaled 10,649 by the
end of the year 2022, a 1.2 per cent growth compared to 2016, with a total of 674,832
rooms with a 0.4 per cent growth. GCC countries aim to increase the spending of

inbound tourists by 8.0 percent annually and to reach USD 188 billion by 2030.

-Ends-

For further information, please contact:
Orient Planet Group (OPG)
Tel: +971 4 4562888
Email: media@orientplanet.com
Website: www.orientplanet.com

2