The travel and tourism sector in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has contributed 11.4 per cent to the region’s GDP by the end of 2024, reaching $247.1 billion, according to the latest data from the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat).
The figures represent a 31.9 per cent growth compared to 2019 levels, showcasing the sector’s significant recovery and expansion following the global pandemic.
The data indicates that the sector’s contribution to global GDP in 2024 stood at 2.2 per cent, highlighting the Gulf’s strong position in the international tourism market.
Looking ahead, GCC-Stat projects the sector’s contribution to reach 13.3 per cent of the Gulf’s GDP by 2034, valued at $371.2 billion.
The average annual growth rate during the 2024-2034 period is expected to exceed 4.2 per cent.
Intra-GCC tourism has emerged as a key driver of this growth. Statistics show that the average annual growth rate in the number of tourists travelling between Gulf countries from 2019 to 2023 reached 41.5 per cent.
These intra-regional visitors accounted for 26.5 per cent of all international tourists arriving in GCC countries in 2023.
The strong performance reflects the region’s investment in tourism infrastructure and strategic initiatives to diversify economies beyond the oil sector.
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