Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE’s Minister of Economy, has revealed that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are set to introduce a unified Gulf tourist visa, permitting visa holders to journey across all six Gulf nations.
Al Marri declared that this proposal was unanimously approved during the seventh meeting of GCC tourism ministers in Oman and will be presented at the forthcoming GCC summit.
The rollout of the new GCC unified visa is expected to become a reality in the near future. According to a statement to the state-run news agency WAM, the minister explained that specific regulations and legislation for the visa will be developed, with the launch anticipated between 2024 and 2025, contingent upon the readiness of each GCC country’s internal systems.
Al Marri emphasised that this innovative visa will grant travellers access to six nations under a single, unified tourist visa, thereby promoting economic collaboration throughout the GCC region.
The UAE’s Tourism Initiatives for a Unified Visa and Global Appeal
He also mentioned that the UAE is preparing to welcome the influx of international tourists with the introduction of this unified visa.
Furthermore, the Emirates Tourism Council has devised a tourist route within the UAE that connects its seven emirates. This strategic move positions the UAE to be well-prepared and equipped for integration with the GCC when the unified tourist visa is fully implemented, introducing a new tourism product to captivate international tourists in the Arabian Gulf region.
“This initiative is an integral part of the GCC 2030 tourism strategy, designed to elevate the tourism sector’s contribution to the GDP through increased inter-GCC travel and elevated hotel occupancy rates, transforming the GCC into a pre-eminent global destination for both regional and international tourists,” Al Marri added.
The current share of the tourism sector in the UAE’s GDP is 14%, with ambitions to raise this proportion to 18% in order to meet the nation’s strategic tourism goals, according to Gulf Business.
GCC’s Robust Tourism Infrastructure and Ambitious Growth Goals
Al Marri also stressed that the GCC countries possess advanced and qualified travel and tourism infrastructure.
As of 2022, the GCC boasted a total of 10,649 hotel establishments, representing a 1.2% increase compared to 2016.
In the GCC, the UAE alone has 1,114 hotel establishments, ranking second after Saudi Arabia. The combined number of hotel rooms in the GCC has reached 674,832, with a 0.4% growth rate.
He additionally mentioned that the joint tourism strategy for the GCC, known as “2023-2030,” aims for a yearly increase of 7% in inbound trips to GCC nations.
The number of visitors to GCC countries reached 39.8 million last year, demonstrating a substantial 136.6% growth compared to 2021, with a goal to reach 128.7 million visitors by 2030.
GCC countries are targeting an annual 8.0% increase in the spending of inbound tourists. This spending is expected to reach $96.9B by the end of 2023, reflecting a 12.8% growth compared to 2022, and is projected to reach $188B by 2030.
He clarified that GCC countries are aiming to enhance the direct GDP contribution of the travel and tourism sector by 7% annually.
The total value added to the GDP of the travel and tourism sector in GCC countries is expected to reach $185.9B in 2023, indicating an 8.5% growth compared to 2022 when it reached $171.4B.
