Page 48 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - JUNE 2024

Press Release

H.E. further highlighted that the UAE’s tourism sector experienced significant growth in the first
quarter of 2024. During this period, the country hosted over 7.7 million hotel guests across its

213,000 hotel rooms, witnessing a 5 per cent increase from the same period in 2023. Additionally,
the hotel occupancy rate reached an impressive 81 per cent, one of the highest among top tourist

destinations globally.

During his speech, H.E. Bin Touq discussed the remarkable accomplishments of the UAE's tourism

sector in recent years, transforming it into a vital contributor to the growth and sustainability of the
national economy. One remarkable achievement is the sector's significant contribution to the GDP,

which reached 11.7 per cent in 2023, totaling AED 220 billion. This represents a remarkable growth

of 26 per cent compared to 2022 and a 14 per cent increase from levels in 2019. Moreover, the
UAE has been ranked first in the region and 18th globally in the World Economic Forum’s Travel

& Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024, climbing seven places from its 25th global ranking
in 2019.

H.E. Bin Touq said: “We expect remarkable growth in the UAE’s tourism sector in 2024. This

surge is driven by the country's ongoing efforts to develop the sector, enhance its enablers and

competitiveness, and provide state-of-the-art infrastructure that adheres to international standards,
thereby ensuring the highest quality of tourism products and services. With a rich diversity of

cultures and a wide range of tourist destinations, the UAE offers a unique experience to visitors
and tourists from around the globe.”

His Excellency predicted that the tourism sector in the region will maintain its exceptional

performance in terms of indicators and outcomes in the next stage. This is particularly attributed

to the introduction of innovative tourism projects, strategies, and initiatives, including the
implementation of the unified Gulf visa, which will be implemented next year. This initiative aims

to establish a unified tourism route connecting the GCC countries, providing travelers multiple
options to plan their trips within the region.

-Ends-

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