JEDDAH. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries experienced a remarkable surge in international tourism in 2023, according to the latest data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) in December 2024. By the end of 2023, approximately 68.1 million international tourists visited the GCC countries, marking a 42.8% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Strategic Goals Achieved
The GCC countries have made significant progress towards their strategic tourism goals outlined in the joint tourism strategy for 2023-2030. The region has already achieved 52.9% of its target for increasing incoming trips, aiming for 128.7 million tourists. Additionally, tourism revenues reached US$110.4 billion in 2023, reflecting a 28.2% growth from 2019 and achieving 58.7% of the second strategic goal to boost international tourist spending to US$188 billion.
Intra-GCC Tourism and Regional Distribution
Intra-GCC tourism also saw a notable rise, accounting for 26.9% of total international visits, with a growth rate of 44.2% since 2019. The Asia-Pacific region remains the largest source of tourists, contributing 38% of total visitors, followed by the Middle East at 25.1%, Europe at 22.9%, Africa at 8.8%, and the Americas at 4.3%.
Infrastructure and Economic Impact
The growth in tourism is reflected in improved infrastructure, with 10,893 hotel establishments recorded in 2023. The travel and tourism sector contributed 10.8% to the Gulf’s GDP, with an annual growth rate of 29.4%, reaching an added value of about US$223.4 billion by the end of 2023. The total number of workers in the tourism sector reached about 1.5 million persons by the end of 2023, with a growth rate of 17% compared to 2019.
Gender Diversity and Environmental Sustainability
Women accounted for 12.4% of workers in the tourism sector in the GCC countries, achieving an annual growth rate of 27.5% compared to the figures recorded in 2020. This highlights the ongoing efforts to empower women in the industry. The region also saw progress in environmental sustainability, with natural reserves now comprising 15.1% of the GCC’s total area, up 39% since 2017.
The GCC countries have made significant strides in their tourism sector, achieving notable growth in visitor numbers, revenues, and infrastructure development. These achievements align with the region’s strategic goals and highlight its potential as a leading global tourism destination.