The travel and tourism sector in the UAE has seen a remarkable recovery and growth, according to a report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The President and CEO of WTTC, Julia Simpson, announced that the jobs lost during the pandemic have been fully recovered in 2022, with sector jobs increasing by 11 percent since the 2019 high point.
Simpson further revealed that in the next 10 years, the travel and tourism sector in the UAE is expected to create about a million jobs and be worth Dh275 billion. This growth will encompass various areas such as the hotel and hospitality sector, aviation, travel agents, and online travel agents.
The WTTC forecasts that the sector will continue to grow in 2024, with a GDP of over Dh236 billion. International visitor spending is projected to increase by nearly 10 percent to reach Dh192 billion, while domestic visitor spending is expected to rise by 4.3 percent to reach almost Dh58 billion.
The report by WTTC highlighted a record-breaking year for the sector in the UAE, with new records achieved in key metrics such as GDP contribution, jobs, and visitor spending. Simpson emphasized that the sector has surpassed all previous records, contributing a record-breaking Dh220 billion to the UAE’s GDP in 2023, representing 11.7 percent of the entire economy.
Simpson concluded by stating, “The UAE’s travel and tourism sector has not only recovered but soared to new heights. The significant growth in employment and visitor spending is a testament to the UAE’s strategic vision and commitment to enhancing the sector.”