GCC Outbound Travel & Tourism Sector: Growth Drivers and Challenges
Growth Drivers
- Higher Number of Online Booking for Flights and Travel – Online bookings have facilitated the ease of booking air plane tickets, hotels and make other reservation, that in turn enhance the experience of outbound tourism. Online travel bookings in the gulf is expected to double in 2023. Moreover, the region's e-travel industry is anticipated to increase at least 20% annually for the following five years and reach around USD 15 billion by 2023. Furthermore, the business grew by approximately 140% between 2019 and 2023.
- Rise in the Number of Outbound Tourism – Higher number of people are interested in taking international trips to serve different purposes such as business, family trips, leisure, and others. In 2021, more than 8 million tourists from outside Saudi Arabia visited the country, up from just over 5 million the year before due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Rising Expenditure by People on Tourism- Improved economy of the country has enabled people to spend freely on travel and tourism to both domestic and international places. In that year, the GCC region as a whole spent 77 billion dollars on travel and tourism.
- Growing Trade of GCC with Other Countries – Rising trade with other countries, motivates people to visit other countries for more work opportunities. With bilateral trade in FY 2021–22 totaling more than USD 154 billion, including USD 44 billion in imports and USD 110 billion in exports, India is currently GCC’s largest trading partner region.
- Well-Developed Airline Chains in GCC– The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region serves as a significant aviation hub for international travel. Dubai International Airport was one of the busiest airports in the world, notably in terms of passenger volume, carrying more than 80 million people in 2019.
Challenges
- Higher Rejection and Late Arrivals of Visa- The outbound travel and tourism industry are struggling due to lengthy wait times and a lack of appointment times for securing a visa for various destinations. Moreover, UAE citizens are opting to travel to Far Eastern nations for their summer vacations. particularly those who are unable to acquire visas for the US or other regions. Therefore,
- Rising Preference of People Inter-Country Within the GCC
- Restriction Imposed Due to the Prevalence of COVID-19
GCC Outbound Travel & Tourism Market: Key Insights
|
Base Year |
2024 |
|
Forecast Year |
2025-2037 |
|
CAGR |
7.6% |
|
Base Year Market Size (2024) |
USD 76.4 billion |
|
Forecast Year Market Size (2037) |
USD 197.99 billion |
|
Regional Scope |
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Browse key industry insights with market data tables & charts from the report:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In the year 2025, the industry size of bio-solvents is assessed at USD 81.05 billion.
The GCC outbound travel & tourism market size was over USD 76.4 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to cross USD 197.99 billion by 2037, witnessing more than 7.6% CAGR during the forecast period i.e., between 2025-2037. Increasing number of outbound tourists, a rise in international trade, an increase in tourism spending, and a growing network of airlines will drive the market growth.
UAE industry is expected to account for largest revenue share of NA% by 2037, attributed to rising expenditure on tour and travels followed by higher outbound travel.
The major players in the market are Houseoftours.com, Dadabhai Travel LLC, dnata Travel Group, Saudi Ebreez Company, Travelex Travels & Tours LLC, Seera Group, Omeir Travel Agency LLC, AL Badie Group, Arabian Oryx Travel and Tourism LLC, STBE Plus
