Exploring GCC Tourism Innovations at Arabian Travel Market 2024

The Arabian Travel Market 2024 saw key stakeholders come together to discuss ways to enhance the tourism sector in the GCC region. The event, opened by H.E. Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, emphasized the economic significance of tourism, with the sector contributing 11.7% to the UAE’s GDP in 2023.

During a panel discussion, H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, H.E. Fahd Hamidaddin, H.E. Azzan Al Busaidi, and H.E. Sarah Buhijji, along with moderator Richard Dean, explored the importance of collaboration and competition in boosting the GCC tourism industry. The planned GCC Unified Tourist Visa was highlighted as a key initiative to enhance regional connectivity.

The panelists discussed how the unified visa would present the GCC as a connected destination, driving factors like length of stay, average spend, and employment. They also emphasized the role of infrastructure development, including investments in airports, cruise terminals, and the upcoming GCC Railway, in improving accessibility for visitors.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME at ATM, emphasized the need for both healthy competition and collaboration to advance GCC tourism. The event provided a platform for sharing insights on the future of unified tourism in the region, with a focus on sustainability, infrastructure, and cultural preservation. The discussions at the Arabian Travel Market 2024 set the stage for a more integrated and prosperous tourism sector in the GCC.