The number of leisure visitors to the Middle East region in 2023 is expected to reach 33 million, compared with 29 million in 2019, said the WTM Global Travel Report.
The research confirms that the strong performance from Saudi Arabia and the UAE is behind the Middle East tourism industry’s full recovery from the pandemic.
The 13% increase in tourist numbers this year means that the Middle East is the only region fully recovered from the pandemic in volume. When measured in dollar terms, the Middle East leads the way, in growth terms, with a 46% increase in inbound spend compared with 2019, the report, published in association with Tourism Economics to mark the opening of this year’s WTM London, the world’s most influential travel and tourism event, said.
Domestic tourism
The Middle East is also outperforming all other regions for domestic travel, which has grown by 176% since 2019, albeit from a low base.
The success of the region’s recovery from the pandemic is driven by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with their commitment to tourism showing signs of success. The report notes that “both countries are investing heavily in tourism infrastructure, viewing tourism development as a key strategy to diversify away from hydrocarbons reliance.”
Inbound and domestic in both markets is fully recovered from the pandemic. For Saudi Arabia, inbound is outperforming 2019 by 66% in dollar terms, with the UAE registering a 21% increase. For domestic visits, the countries are ahead by 37% and 66%, respectively.
2024 looks bright too
The next year is also looking good for the region’s overall inbound and domestic market as well as its two major markets. “Saudi Arabia will lead growth due to new visa arrangements and continued capacity development,” the report says, also noting Dubai’s “ability and desire to attract and host large-scale events of all types…” The picture is similar for domestic, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE reinforcing their leadership position in 2024.
The long-term picture is also positive for the region and Saudi Arabia in particular. Over the next decade, the value of inbound leisure tourism to the country will increase by 74%, comparable with the growth profile for established markets such as Spain (74%) and France (72%).
Juliette Losardo, Exhibition Director, World Travel Market London, said: “The Middle East is one the most exciting and dynamic regions for tourism. The positive findings from WTM Global Travel Report show that the initial investments made in developing new tourism infrastructure are already paying dividends.
“The WTM team continue to work closely with our sister event, Arabian Travel Market, to ensure continued support to the region in its ongoing endeavors.”
