MUSCAT, SEPT 27
The travel and tourism sector contributed around $247.1 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states by the end of 2024, marking a 31.9% increase compared with 2019.
According to the GCC Statistical Centre, the sector’s share is projected to reach 13.3% of the region’s GDP by 2034, equivalent to $371.2 billion, underscoring its growing role as a key driver of economic, social and environmental development across the Gulf.
The data was released in a report titled “Tourism in the GCC: A Gateway to Development and Sustainable Transformation” issued on World Tourism Day (September 27). It highlights the industry’s importance in job creation, with the sector’s contribution to employment valued at $4.3 billion in 2024, up 24.9% from 2019. By 2034, travel and tourism are expected to generate around 1.3 million new jobs.
The sector is also strengthening youth and women’s participation in the labour market. Women accounted for 13% of the workforce in 2024, a rise of 73.2% compared with 2019.
On the environmental front, GCC countries have advanced efforts in eco-tourism and sustainability by expanding natural reserves. Protected areas — land and marine — now represent 19% of the GCC’s total territory as of 2023, an increase of 7.5% from the previous year.
The report also noted a sharp rise in intra-GCC tourism. The number of travellers moving between Gulf states reached 19.3 million in 2024, a 52.1% increase from 2019. These trips accounted for 26.7% of all international tourist arrivals in the region. — ONA
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