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During the opening day of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, the Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, highlighted the significant contribution of the tourism sector to the UAE’s economy, Wego reports. The sector’s GDP increased by 11.7 percent in 2023, amounting to AED 220 billion, and it is expected to reach 12 percent of GDP, which is equivalent to AED 236 billion.
The 31st edition of ATM was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre until May 9th, with a focus on Gulf-wide collaboration, inter-regional travel ease, and infrastructure development.
Furthermore, the benefits of the GCC Unified Tourist Visa have been emphasized. This visa presents the region as connected and accessible, driving tourism metrics such as length of stay, spending, and job creation while ensuring positive impacts on local communities and ecosystems. They also highlighted the role of infrastructure investments, such as airports and the GCC Railway, in enhancing accessibility for both domestic and international visitors.
Overall, the discussions at ATM 2024 highlighted the importance of collaboration, infrastructure, and the unified visa in advancing the GCC tourism industry and fostering economic growth and sustainability in the region.
