Latest news with #EmiratesTourismCouncil
Sharjah 24
20 hours ago
- Business
- Sharjah 24
Mohammed bin Rashid: UAE in top 7 for tourist spending
GDP The sector contributed AED257.3 billion (US$70.1 billion) to the national GDP, accounting for 13% of the economy. This marks a 3.2% increase from 2023 and a remarkable 26% growth compared to 2019, one of the highest growth rates globally and regionally in terms of tourism's contribution to economic development. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, praised the sector's achievements, stating, 'In a new indicator of the strength and diversity of our national economy, the WTTC report highlights the exceptional achievements of the UAE tourism sector. International visitor spending exceeded AED217 billion last year, with domestic tourism expenditure reaching AED57 billion. The UAE ranks among the world's top seven destinations for international tourist spending, surpassing countries that have been in this industry for centuries.' He added, 'We welcome tourists, delight in attracting investors, embrace talent, and build the best environment for living, tourism, and visitation. Welcome to the world.' Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, emphasised that the UAE has placed tourism at the heart of its strategy to drive economic diversification and sustainable growth. He credited the nation's success to proactive initiatives and strategic tourism plans that have positioned the UAE as a unique and attractive global destination. These efforts include strengthening infrastructure across the seven emirates, enhancing the appeal of tourism-related investments, and showcasing the country's rich cultural and experiential diversity. Significant improvements in airport and travel infrastructure have also contributed to the country's elevated standing in global travel and tourism. UAE achieved a historic milestone in the tourism sector Al Marri also noted, 'Just days ago, the UAE achieved a historic milestone in the tourism sector with the election of Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Today's WTTC results reaffirm the wisdom of our leadership's vision in enhancing the competitiveness of our tourism sector, creating employment opportunities for Emiratis, and further cementing our position as a global tourism powerhouse.' 'These achievements underscore that the UAE tourism sector is confidently progressing toward the goals set out in the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031. The strategy aims to increase the sector's contribution to the national GDP to AED450 billion and raise the number of hotel guests to 40 million annually by the next decade.' He noted that national efforts are ongoing to develop a fully integrated tourism ecosystem, guided by international best practices. These efforts include strengthening engagement with key regional and international tourism markets, expanding the range of tourism offerings, and enhancing service quality to provide comprehensive and enriching experiences for visitors from around the world. 'These initiatives are in line with the UAE vision We the UAE 2031, and they aim to elevate the country's status as one of the world's leading tourism destinations in the coming decade,' he concluded. UAE continues to assert its position as one of the world's leading travel destinations Regarding international tourism, the WTTC report highlighted that the UAE continues to assert its position as one of the world's leading travel destinations. In 2024, the country welcomed international visitors from a diverse range of key markets, including India: 14%, United Kingdom: 8%, Russia: 8%, China: 5%, Saudi Arabia: 5%, and rest of the world: 60%. This broad geographical distribution reflects the UAE's growing global appeal and the effectiveness of its flexible and inclusive tourism policies in attracting a wide array of visitors. UAE reached AED217.3 billion (US$59.2 billion) in 2024 The report further revealed that international visitor spending in the UAE reached AED217.3 billion (US$59.2 billion) in 2024, marking a 5.8% increase from 2023 and a 30.4% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Meanwhile, domestic tourism spending also witnessed strong growth, reaching AED57.6 billion (US$15.7 billion) in 2024, an increase of 2.4% over 2023 and a remarkable 41% rise compared to 2019. These figures underscore both the resilience and upward momentum of the UAE's tourism sector across international and domestic fronts, further solidifying its position as a premier global destination. The WTTC report projects that international visitor spending in the UAE will rise by 5.2% in 2025, reaching approximately AED228.5 billion. Meanwhile, domestic tourism spending is expected to grow by 4.3%, hitting AED60 billion by the end of the year. The report also highlighted that leisure tourism accounted for 84.7% of total tourism expenditure in the UAE in 2024, while business tourism represented 15.3%. This demonstrates the sector's adaptability and its ability to balance both recreational and commercial tourism demands. Moreover, the breakdown of spending showed that 79% of total tourism expenditure came from international visitors, while 21% was attributed to domestic tourists. The report further emphasised that despite the UAE's rapid tourism sector growth, the country has remained firmly committed to environmental standards and sustainability goals. In 2023, carbon emissions linked to tourism activities accounted for only 13.3% of the nation's total emissions, reflecting the UAE's strategic focus on integrating sustainability across its tourism landscape. Aligns with the UAE's broader vision to promote sustainable practices across all sectors This performance aligns with the UAE's broader vision to promote sustainable practices across all sectors — ensuring that tourism growth goes hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility and long-term ecological balance. On the social front, the report highlighted that women accounted for 16.3% of the direct workforce in the UAE's travel and tourism sector in 2023. Additionally, youth aged 15–24 years made up 9.7% of the total employment in the sector, reflecting its growing role in empowering both women and younger generations within the national labour market. From a fiscal perspective, the tourism and travel sector generated US$8.6 billion in tax revenues in 2023, representing 5.4% of total government revenues. This underscores the sector's increasing financial significance and its vital contribution to the country's public treasury. On the global level, the report stated that the travel and tourism sector contributed US$10.9 trillion to the global GDP in 2024, representing 10% of the world economy. This reflects an 8.5% increase compared to 2023 and a 6% rise compared 2019. Looking ahead, the sector's contribution is projected to reach US$11.7 trillion in 2025, which would mark a 6.7% increase over 2024 and a 13% growth over 2019, underscoring the sustained recovery and expansion of global tourism. The report also highlighted the sector's robust role in job creation, with 356.6 million jobs generated worldwide in 2024, accounting for 10.6% of total global employment. This represents a 6.2% increase from 2023 and a 5.6% increase from 2019.
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Global visitors to UAE spent Dhs217 billion in 2024, says Sheikh Mohammed
A recent report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) revealed that the UAE's travel and tourism sector delivered an exceptional performance in 2024. The sector contributed Dhs257.3 billion ($70.1 billion) to the national GDP, accounting for 13% of the economy. This marks a 3.2% increase from 2023 and a remarkable 26% growth compared to 2019, one of the highest growth rates globally and regionally in terms of tourism's contribution to economic development. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, praised the sector's achievements, stating, "In a new indicator of the strength and diversity of our national economy, the WTTC report highlights the exceptional achievements of the UAE tourism sector. International visitor spending exceeded Dhs217 billion last year, with domestic tourism expenditure reaching Dhs57 billion. The UAE ranks among the world's top seven destinations for international tourist spending, surpassing countries that have been in this industry for centuries." He added, "We welcome tourists, delight in attracting investors, embrace talent, and build the best environment for living, tourism, and visitation. Welcome to the world." Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, emphasised that the UAE has placed tourism at the heart of its strategy to drive economic diversification and sustainable growth. He credited the nation's success to proactive initiatives and strategic tourism plans that have positioned the UAE as a unique and attractive global destination. These efforts include strengthening infrastructure across the seven emirates, enhancing the appeal of tourism-related investments, and showcasing the country's rich cultural and experiential diversity. Significant improvements in airport and travel infrastructure have also contributed to the country's elevated standing in global travel and tourism. Al Marri also noted, "Just days ago, the UAE achieved a historic milestone in the tourism sector with the election of Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Today's WTTC results reaffirm the wisdom of our leadership's vision in enhancing the competitiveness of our tourism sector, creating employment opportunities for Emiratis, and further cementing our position as a global tourism powerhouse." "These achievements underscore that the UAE tourism sector is confidently progressing toward the goals set out in the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031. The strategy aims to increase the sector's contribution to the national GDP to DHS450 billion and raise the number of hotel guests to 40 million annually by the next decade." He noted that national efforts are ongoing to develop a fully integrated tourism ecosystem, guided by international best practices. These efforts include strengthening engagement with key regional and international tourism markets, expanding the range of tourism offerings, and enhancing service quality to provide comprehensive and enriching experiences for visitors from around the world. "These initiatives are in line with the UAE vision We the UAE 2031, and they aim to elevate the country's status as one of the world's leading tourism destinations in the coming decade," he concluded. Regarding international tourism, the WTTC report highlighted that the UAE continues to assert its position as one of the world's leading travel destinations. In 2024, the country welcomed international visitors from a diverse range of key markets, including India: 14%, United Kingdom: 8%, Russia: 8%, China: 5%, Saudi Arabia: 5%, and rest of the world: 60%. This broad geographical distribution reflects the UAE's growing global appeal and the effectiveness of its flexible and inclusive tourism policies in attracting a wide array of visitors. The report further revealed that international visitor spending in the UAE reached Dhs217.3 billion ($59.2 billion) in 2024, marking a 5.8% increase from 2023 and a 30.4% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Meanwhile, domestic tourism spending also witnessed strong growth, reaching Dhs57.6 billion ($15.7 billion) in 2024, an increase of 2.4% over 2023 and a remarkable 41% rise compared to 2019. These figures underscore both the resilience and upward momentum of the UAE's tourism sector across international and domestic fronts, further solidifying its position as a premier global destination. The WTTC report projects that international visitor spending in the UAE will rise by 5.2% in 2025, reaching approximately Dhs228.5 billion. Meanwhile, domestic tourism spending is expected to grow by 4.3%, hitting DHS60 billion by the end of the year. The report also highlighted that leisure tourism accounted for 84.7% of total tourism expenditure in the UAE in 2024, while business tourism represented 15.3%. This demonstrates the sector's adaptability and its ability to balance both recreational and commercial tourism demands. Moreover, the breakdown of spending showed that 79% of total tourism expenditure came from international visitors, while 21% was attributed to domestic tourists. The report further emphasised that despite the UAE's rapid tourism sector growth, the country has remained firmly committed to environmental standards and sustainability goals. In 2023, carbon emissions linked to tourism activities accounted for only 13.3% of the nation's total emissions, reflecting the UAE's strategic focus on integrating sustainability across its tourism landscape. This performance aligns with the UAE's broader vision to promote sustainable practices across all sectors - ensuring that tourism growth goes hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility and long-term ecological balance. On the social front, the report highlighted that women accounted for 16.3% of the direct workforce in the UAE's travel and tourism sector in 2023. Additionally, youth aged 15-24 years made up 9.7% of the total employment in the sector, reflecting its growing role in empowering both women and younger generations within the national labour market. From a fiscal perspective, the tourism and travel sector generated $8.6 billion in tax revenues in 2023, representing 5.4% of total government revenues. This underscores the sector's increasing financial significance and its vital contribution to the country's public treasury. On the global level, the report stated that the travel and tourism sector contributed $10.9 trillion to the global GDP in 2024, representing 10% of the world economy. This reflects an 8.5% increase compared to 2023 and a 6% rise compared 2019. Looking ahead, the sector's contribution is projected to reach US$11.7 trillion in 2025, which would mark a 6.7% increase over 2024 and a 13% growth over 2019, underscoring the sustained recovery and expansion of global tourism. The report also highlighted the sector's robust role in job creation, with 356.6 million jobs generated worldwide in 2024, accounting for 10.6% of total global employment. This represents a 6.2% increase from 2023 and a 5.6% increase from 2019. WAM
Web Release
19-06-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Hospitality Advisory Council discusses new national initiatives to boost growth and employment opportunities in the sector
The Hospitality Advisory Council convened its second meeting of 2025 under the chairmanship of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council. The session brought together 16 Council members, including CEOs and senior executives from leading national and international hotel groups. Discussions focused on a range of new national initiatives developed in partnership with the private sector to accelerate the growth of the UAE's hospitality sector. The initiatives also aim to generate employment opportunities across all sectors of this vital industry. H.E. Bin Touq said: 'Thanks to the vision and guidance of our wise leadership, the UAE's tourism and hospitality sectors continue to thrive. In the first quarter of 2025, hotel revenues reached AED 13.5 billion, with over 8.4 million guests recorded, a two per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Total hotel nights reached 29.3 million, and the national hotel occupancy rate stood at 81.3 per cent during the same period.' H.E. added: 'These impressive figures reflect the UAE's strong commitment to advancing its hospitality industry in line with global best practices. We have invested heavily in developing hotel and entertainment infrastructure across all seven emirates, organizing major international events, and delivering exceptional hospitality experiences that reflect authentic Emirati heritage and culture. As a result, the UAE has become one of the world's leading hospitality destinations today.' The Minister of Economy continued: 'The year 2025 marks a major milestone for UAE tourism, marked by the election of Shaikha Al Nowais as the first woman globally to serve as Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization for the term 2026-2029. This achievement reinforces the UAE's prominent role in supporting international efforts to advance the global tourism industry.' The meeting's discussions covered a comprehensive array of key files and initiatives that support the UAE's efforts to enhance the growth and competitiveness of its hospitality sector. Participants emphasized the importance of promoting collaboration between the public and private sectors to meet the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to establish the UAE as the top global tourism brand by the next decade. The Council also reviewed the newly launched 'Summer Hospitality Camp' program by the Ministry of Economy. It is designed to support Emiratization across hospitality-related sectors by offering hands-on training to school and university students in real-world environments such as hotels and tourism facilities, in addition to its structured learning tracks. Established by the Emirates Tourism Council, the Hospitality Advisory Council serves as a strategic advisory body to the Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council on matters specific to the hospitality sector. It provides insights and data on industry developments, recommends private-sector initiatives to drive sector growth and reinforce the UAE's position as a leading global tourism destination, and offers feedback on government tourism policies and initiatives.
Mid East Info
18-06-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Hospitality Advisory Council discusses new national initiatives to boost growth and employment opportunities in the sector
Tourism and hospitality sectors see sustained growth as hotel occupancy rates reach 81.3% in Q1 2025 The Hospitality Advisory Council convened its second meeting of 2025 under the chairmanship of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council. The session brought together 16 Council members, including CEOs and senior executives from leading national and international hotel groups. Discussions focused on a range of new national initiatives developed in partnership with the private sector to accelerate the growth of the UAE's hospitality sector. The initiatives also aim to generate employment opportunities across all sectors of this vital industry. H.E. Bin Touq said: 'Thanks to the vision and guidance of our wise leadership, the UAE's tourism and hospitality sectors continue to thrive. In the first quarter of 2025, hotel revenues reached AED 13.5 billion, with over 8.4 million guests recorded, a two per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Total hotel nights reached 29.3 million, and the national hotel occupancy rate stood at 81.3 per cent during the same period.' H.E. added: 'These impressive figures reflect the UAE's strong commitment to advancing its hospitality industry in line with global best practices. We have invested heavily in developing hotel and entertainment infrastructure across all seven emirates, organizing major international events, and delivering exceptional hospitality experiences that reflect authentic Emirati heritage and culture. As a result, the UAE has become one of the world's leading hospitality destinations today.' The Minister of Economy continued: 'The year 2025 marks a major milestone for UAE tourism, marked by the election of Shaikha Al Nowais as the first woman globally to serve as Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization for the term 2026-2029. This achievement reinforces the UAE's prominent role in supporting international efforts to advance the global tourism industry.' The meeting's discussions covered a comprehensive array of key files and initiatives that support the UAE's efforts to enhance the growth and competitiveness of its hospitality sector. Participants emphasized the importance of promoting collaboration between the public and private sectors to meet the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to establish the UAE as the top global tourism brand by the next decade. The Council also reviewed the newly launched 'Summer Hospitality Camp' program by the Ministry of Economy. It is designed to support Emiratization across hospitality-related sectors by offering hands-on training to school and university students in real-world environments such as hotels and tourism facilities, in addition to its structured learning tracks. Established by the Emirates Tourism Council, the Hospitality Advisory Council serves as a strategic advisory body to the Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council on matters specific to the hospitality sector. It provides insights and data on industry developments, recommends private-sector initiatives to drive sector growth and reinforce the UAE's position as a leading global tourism destination, and offers feedback on government tourism policies and initiatives.
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Hospitality Advisory Council discusses new national initiatives to boost growth and employment opportunities in the sector
Abu Dhabi: The Hospitality Advisory Council convened its second meeting of 2025 under the chairmanship of H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council. The session brought together 16 Council members, including CEOs and senior executives from leading national and international hotel groups. Discussions focused on a range of new national initiatives developed in partnership with the private sector to accelerate the growth of the UAE's hospitality sector. The initiatives also aim to generate employment opportunities across all sectors of this vital industry. H.E. Bin Touq said: "Thanks to the vision and guidance of our wise leadership, the UAE's tourism and hospitality sectors continue to thrive. In the first quarter of 2025, hotel revenues reached AED 13.5 billion, with over 8.4 million guests recorded, a two per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Total hotel nights reached 29.3 million, and the national hotel occupancy rate stood at 81.3 per cent during the same period." H.E. added: "These impressive figures reflect the UAE's strong commitment to advancing its hospitality industry in line with global best practices. We have invested heavily in developing hotel and entertainment infrastructure across all seven emirates, organizing major international events, and delivering exceptional hospitality experiences that reflect authentic Emirati heritage and culture. As a result, the UAE has become one of the world's leading hospitality destinations today." The Minister of Economy continued: "The year 2025 marks a major milestone for UAE tourism, marked by the election of Shaikha Al Nowais as the first woman globally to serve as Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization for the term 2026-2029. This achievement reinforces the UAE's prominent role in supporting international efforts to advance the global tourism industry.' The meeting's discussions covered a comprehensive array of key files and initiatives that support the UAE's efforts to enhance the growth and competitiveness of its hospitality sector. Participants emphasized the importance of promoting collaboration between the public and private sectors to meet the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy 2031, which aims to establish the UAE as the top global tourism brand by the next decade. The Council also reviewed the newly launched 'Summer Hospitality Camp' program by the Ministry of Economy. It is designed to support Emiratization across hospitality-related sectors by offering hands-on training to school and university students in real-world environments such as hotels and tourism facilities, in addition to its structured learning tracks. Established by the Emirates Tourism Council, the Hospitality Advisory Council serves as a strategic advisory body to the Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council on matters specific to the hospitality sector. It provides insights and data on industry developments, recommends private-sector initiatives to drive sector growth and reinforce the UAE's position as a leading global tourism destination, and offers feedback on government tourism policies and initiatives. For further information, please contact: Orient Planet Group (OPG) Email: media@ Website:
