His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), stated that the number of international tourists arriving in the GCC countries reached 68.1 million tourists by 2023, and that tourism revenues amounted to $110.4 billion for the same year.
He stressed that the approval of projects under the Gulf Tourism Strategy 2023-2030 aims to enhance the tourism position of the GCC countries regionally and internationally, in line with the noble directives of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC countries and thanks to the efforts of the Committee of Their Excellencies Ministers responsible for tourism in the GCC.
This was mentioned during His Excellency's speech at the 9th meeting of the Committee of Their Excellencies Ministers responsible for tourism in the GCC, held on Monday, February 17, 2025, in the State of Kuwait. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Mr Abdul Rahman Badah Al Mutairi, Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs in Kuwait – President of the current session – and attended by the GCC tourism ministers.
At the beginning of the meeting, His Excellency the Secretary General expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Shaikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait and President of the current session of the Supreme Council of the GCC for his noble directives and unlimited support for the march of joint Gulf action, as well as to His Excellency Abdul Rahman Badah Al Mutairi for the generous hosting and exceptional organisation of this meeting.
He also congratulated Kuwait on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of its Independence Day and the 34th anniversary of Liberation Day, as well as on the immense success it achieved in hosting the 26th Gulf Cup, which illuminated the region's skies and demonstrated to the world that Gulf countries possess the will, creativity, and capability to organise the largest regional and international events.
"The Gulf Cup 26 was a proud reflection of the spirit of unity and love among our peoples," His Excellency stated. Moreover, he congratulated Kuwait for hosting the Arab Capital of Culture and Media, a significant achievement that reflects Kuwait and the GCC countries' leading position in supporting culture, arts, and enhancing Arab identity.
Furthermore, His Excellency expressed great pride in the remarkable achievements of Gulf countries that enhance their standing on the international stage. He congratulated the United Arab Emirates, particularly the city of Al Ain, on its selection as the Gulf Capital of Tourism for 2025, noting that this achievement reflects the historical richness and natural beauty of Al Ain and strengthens its presence as a distinguished tourist destination in the region.
He also congratulated them on renewing their membership in the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation for the period from 2025 to 2029. Furthermore, he congratulated the Kingdom of Bahrain for its outstanding success in hosting the Gulf Capital of Tourism for 2024, as the exceptional events organised by its capital contributed to an 18.5% increase in tourist numbers compared to 2023, reflecting the positive impact of these initiatives on the tourism sector.
Besides, His Excellency praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its significant win in hosting the 2034 World Cup, which embodies the Kingdom's excellence in sports and infrastructure, confirming its ability to host the largest global sporting events with professionalism and distinction.
He also commended the Sultanate of Oman for launching the unified promotional identity for the Sultanate, which will contribute to enhancing its position as a tourist and investment destination regionally and internationally.
Additionally, he acknowledged the State of Qatar for its significant success in hosting the 51st meeting of the Regional Committee of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation for the Middle East, as well as the conference on "Sports Tourism and the Tourism Industry After the World Cup"
"This affirms that the ongoing achievements and continuous contributions exceed what words can express and confirm the GCC's commitment to joint work for a prosperous future for the tourism sector in our region," he said.
During his speech, His Excellency reviewed several tourism statistics that instill pride and honour among the citizens of the GCC countries, stating that the number of international tourists arriving in the GCC reached 68.1 million by 2023, with a growth rate of 42.8% compared to 2019, achieving 52.9% of the GCC targets for 2030.
"Additionally, tourism revenues amounted to $110.4 billion for 2023, with a growth rate of 28.2% compared to 2019, marking a significant leap that exceeded all expectations, achieving 58.7% of the 2030 target of $188 billion. The market share of the GCC countries in global tourism stood at 5.2% and 7.2% of international tourism revenues, solidifying their position as a key hub in the global tourism scene," His Excellency explained.
In terms of value added to the GDP, His Excellency confirmed that the tourism sector made a notable economic contribution of $223.4 billion to the GDP of the GCC countries, with a remarkable annual growth rate of 29.4% between 2022 and 2023. Additionally, the tourism sector added 1.5 million jobs in 2023, with a growth rate of 17% compared to 2020, he pointed out.
