TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
The UK has been a consistent and key top source market for the GCC. According to research carried out by Colliers International, on behalf of ATM, as many as 2.8 million UK residents will travel to the GCC in 2024, an additional 500,000 travellers when compared to 2018 arrival figures.
TT Bureau
Research by Colliers International states that UK tourists travelling to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are expected to generate an estimated US$ 6.3 billion in travel and tourism revenue by 2024, an increase of 34 per cent when compared with figures from 2018. Building on this, total tourism spends in the GCC, reached US$ 70.2 billion last year, with the UK travellers average spend during trips to the region, 27 per cent higher than the average spend of any other visitor.
Arrivals from the UK to the GCC will increase 22 per cent over the period 2018 to 2024, driven by new and direct flight routes, competitive air fares and a growing number of leisure travellers, ahead of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2020, which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 19-22, 2020. Adding to this, figures from ATM 2019 show the number of delegates, exhibitors and attendees interested in doing business with the UK increased by 5 per cent.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said, “The UAE is expected to continue to be the preferred GCC destination for British tourists, welcoming a projected 2.23 million visitors by 2023. Saudi Arabia will follow with 251,000 visitors, while Oman will welcome 165,000, Bahrain 159,000 and Kuwait 5,000. The UK, as a consistent and key top source market for the GCC, continues to present significant growth potential for travel and tourism revenue across the region.”
ATM 2020 will welcome an array of UK exhibitors to the show, such as Visit Britain Shop, Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, Chelsea FC, Lancaster Landmark Hotel Group, Blenheim Palace and Historic Royal Palaces, to name a few. “But it is not just about inbound tourism to the GCC, ATM provides a perfect platform for UK destinations, hotels, attractions, tour operators and travel agents, to market their proposition to Middle East’s outbound operators and travel professionals, who continue to play a key role in the UK’s tourism industry,” added Curtis.
ATM 2020 will build on the success of this year’s edition with a host of seminar sessions discussing the impact events have on tourism growth in the region while inspiring the travel and hospitality industry about the next generation of events.
