GCC Countries Travel Agency Services - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The GCC countries travel agency services market was valued at USD 14.31 billion in 2025 and estimated to grow from USD 15.01 billion in 2026 to reach USD 23.13 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 9.03% during the forecast period (2026-2031). This report is segmented by Service Type (Airline Ticketing, Packaged Tours, Cruises, Lodging Reservations, Travel Insurance, Others), Booking Mode (OTAs, Offline/Traditional Agencies, Hybrid Agencies), Trip Purpose (Leisure, Corporate and MICE), Traveler Type (Domestic, International), and Geography (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain). Forecasts are in Terms of Value (USD).

GCC Countries Travel Agency Services Market Trends and Insights

Tourism diversification and destination investment

Saudi Arabia's tourism-driven diversification is strengthening the GCC countries' travel agency services market. The Kingdom recorded significant visitor numbers in 2025, with tourism spending reaching SAR 300 billion (USD 79.94 billion), positioning it as a key hub for regional travel demand. Major projects such as NEOM, Diriyah, and the Red Sea development are shifting tourism trends toward longer stays and complex travel planning, moving beyond traditional city or religious trips. This shift benefits travel agencies, which are better equipped than direct channels to bundle lodging, transfers, experiences, and multi-stop itineraries into seamless packages. At the regional level, GCC tourism is expected to grow significantly, with its contribution to GDP projected to rise substantially over the next decade, supporting sustained destination-led demand.

Digital and mobile booking adoption

The GCC countries' travel agency services market has transitioned to a mobile-first phase, transforming how demand is captured, priced, and serviced. Digital distribution has become the primary channel for consumer travel demand, with OTAs holding a significant share of bookings. Digital behavior is shifting from self-service searches to assisted itinerary creation, favoring platforms with extensive inventories and strong Arabic and English interfaces. Larger digital players now integrate discovery, recommendations, payments, and post-booking support into a single experience. Smaller agencies, however, rely on hybrid models to remain competitive. The market benefits from digital adoption through channel migration and improved conversions on complex travel products.

Direct airline and hotel disintermediation

The market faces challenges as airlines and hotels aim to strengthen direct customer relationships. Hotels and independent operators are improving loyalty programs, mobile platforms, and direct booking tools, enabling repeat travelers to bypass third-party sellers. Airlines are exerting similar pressure through enhanced content strategies and direct distribution efforts, requiring agencies to adopt advanced technology to remain competitive in air retail. As a result, incumbents are focusing on NDC-linked capabilities and supplier partnerships instead of relying solely on legacy ticketing models. Agencies unable to match the quality of direct-channel content or service reliability risk declining margins and reduced booking retention over time.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Aviation and hotel capacity expansion
• Corporate travel and MICE rebound
• Margin pressure from OTA and offline competition

Segment Analysis

Airline ticketing accounted for 34.93% of the market in 2025, reflecting the region's reliance on aviation for international and regional travel, particularly in corridors involving Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. It remains central as it forms the basis for broader itineraries, including hotels, insurance, and destination services. Despite the shift toward bundled trip designs, airline ticketing continues to anchor agency revenues. Cruises are projected to grow at a 9.95% CAGR from 2026 to 2031, driven by increased port activity, destination collaboration, and the appeal of multi-stop Gulf travel. Cruises support bundled bookings, including pre-stay hotels, transfers, insurance, and excursions, while requiring more service support than standard reservations.

Lodging reservations, travel insurance, packaged tours, and ancillary transportation maintain significant roles in the GCC countries' travel agency services market. Growth in hotel supply and destination development boosts demand for reservations beyond transport sales, offering agencies higher revenue potential per booking. Agencies integrating supplier inventory with dynamic bundling are better positioned to capture end-to-end travel spending. The market is broadening its service mix while retaining air services as a core component. Differentiation by traveler type and purpose is increasing, with leisure bookings combining flights, resorts, insurance, and experiences, while corporate and MICE travel incorporates policy controls and managed accommodations. Religious and domestic tourism further drives demand for bundled services.

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) held a 58.21% share in the market in 2025 and are projected to grow at a 10.74% CAGR during 2026-2031. Digital booking remains dominant, driven by mobile usage, multilingual platforms, broad inventory access, and quick comparison tools for flights and hotels. OTAs benefit from repeat usage, as users often return to familiar platforms for leisure or hotel bookings. This creates an advantage for large digital players in high-volume, straightforward bookings. Offline and traditional agencies remain relevant for complex travel needs, including Hajj and Umrah arrangements, corporate travel, multi-country itineraries, and consultative bookings. These scenarios require human support, documentation assistance, policy checks, and after-sales services, which self-booking platforms cannot fully replicate. Offline channels persist where trust and assistance are critical.

Hybrid agencies are addressing the divide in the GCC countries' Travel Agency Services Market by combining digital booking tools with call centers, branches, or assisted services. This model captures online demand while maintaining margins in complex bookings. It aligns with corporate travel, where policy compliance and workflow integration are essential. The market is shifting toward a blended service model, integrating online reach with offline support. Consolidation is increasing as well-capitalized players invest in technology, service infrastructure, supplier relationships, and brand visibility, outpacing smaller agencies reliant on mark-ups.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Service Type
  • Airline Ticketing
  • Packaged Tours
  • Cruises
  • Lodging Reservations
  • Travel Insurance
  • Other Transportation and Ancillary Services
• By Booking Mode
  • Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)
  • Offline/Traditional Agencies
  • Hybrid Agencies
• By Trip Purpose
  • Leisure
    • All-inclusive Vacations
    • Cruises
    • Escorted Tours
    • FIT and Custom Itineraries
  • Corporate and MICE
    • SME and Enterprise Managed Travel
    • Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events
• By Traveler Type
  • Domestic Travelers
  • International Travelers
• By Geography
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Qatar
  • Kuwait
  • Oman
  • Bahrain

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• Almosafer
• Booking.com
• dnata Travel Group
• Kanoo Travel
• musafir.com
• Wego
• Almatar (Al Tayyar Travel Group)
• Expedia Group
• Agoda
• Trip.com
• Satguru Travel
• FCM Travel
• CWT / Orient Travel
• BCD Travel
• Corporate Travel Management
• Travelwings
• Holiday Factory
• Rehlat
• Rayna Tours
• Akbar Travels

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support