Tourism Destination Market Insights - Gulf Cooperation Council (2020)

Summary

This insight report includes an analysis of source markets, infrastructure and attractions, and assesses the risks and opportunities for the Gulf Cooperation Council as a destination market.

Key Highlights

• The UAE is not the largest country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) however is the most internationally recognized and attracts the most visitors per year. Its main tourism destination, Dubai, attracted 16.73 million tourists in 2019.
• Saudi Arabia attracts many religious tourists per year, where millions of Muslims every year take the trip to visit Mecca, to the West of the country, to celebrate Hajj, the annual pilgrimage made by Muslims every year. It is however, moving to diversify its tourism offering under its Vision 2030 plan.
• Kuwait’s tourism industry is relatively underdeveloped compared to other GCC countries, however has recently benefitted from multiple tourism development projects, such as the $3.3 billion (USD) Failaka Island.
• Bahrain is connected by The King Fahd Causeway, which is a series of bridges and causeways which connect the country with Neighboring Saudi Arabia. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the King Fahd Causeway was closed from the 8th March 2020, in order to slow the spread of coronavirus.
• Foreigners make up over 40% of the population in Oman, signifying that VFR travel in and out of the country will be high.
• Qatar, alongside UAE, has marketed itself as a luxury tourist destination in the GCC, by offering luxury five-star hotels alongside luxury shopping opportunities and hospitality venues. Qatar, a nation with a population of 2.78 million, welcomed 2.12 million visitors in 2019, according to the publisher.

Scope

• This insight report includes an analysis of source markets, infrastructure and attractions, and assesses the risks and opportunities for the GCC as a destination market.

Reasons to Buy

• Obtain a clear and detailed insight into new developments in this increasingly popular tourist destination.
• Use data and analysis to explore future trends related to international arrivals, airlines, niche tourism, and hotel developments.
• Gain a strong understanding of the opportunities in the market, as well as the risks, to support better business decisions.