GCC travel, tourism sector generates USD247.1 billion in value added

Muscat: The value added of the travel and tourism sector to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states GDP rose to USD 247.1 billion by the end of 202...

Muscat: The value added of the travel and tourism sector to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states' GDP rose to USD 247.1 billion by the end of 2024, the Statistical Centre for GCC states (GCC-Stat) has revealed in a statistical report.

It explained that this marks an increase of 31.9 percent compared to 2019, noting that the sector's contribution to the GCC's overall GDP is projected to reach 13.3 percent, amounting to USD 371.2 billion, by 2034.

The data underscored the pivotal and growing role of the tourism sector as a driver of comprehensive development in the GCC states, encompassing the economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

According to figures published in the GCC-Stat report titled: Tourism in the GCC, A Gateway to Development and Sustainable Transformation released on the occasion of World Tourism Day, observed annually on Sept. 27, the tourism sector stands out as one of the principal engines for generating direct and indirect employment.

The sector's added value in employment reached USD 4.3 billion in 2024, registering growth of 24.9 percent compared to 2019, while the travel and tourism sector is expected to create around 1.3 million new jobs by 2034.