The UAE ranked first regionally and 18th globally in the 2024 Travel and Tourism Development Index issued by the World Economic Forum, achieving an advance of 7 places compared to 25th place globally in 2019.
His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Emirates Tourism Council, affirmed that UAE tourism, thanks to the forward-looking vision of the wise leadership and its sound directives, continues to lead at the regional and international levels, achieving positive results that reflect the country’s leading position on the global tourism and travel map, and enhances reaching the goals of “ “National Tourism Strategy 2031”, which aims to raise the UAE’s position as the best tourism identity around the world by the next decade.
His Excellency said: “We expect increasing growth for the tourism sector in the country during the year 2024, in light of the pioneering tourism projects and initiatives that the country is working to implement, providing advanced infrastructure based on the best international practices, and ensuring the provision of distinguished tourism products and services and a unique experience for visitors and tourists from all over the world.” the whole world”. Pointing out that national efforts are continuing to innovate flexible tourism policies and enhance the tourism sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product of the national economy, in line with the “We Are the Emirates 2031 Vision.”
For her part, Her Excellency Hanan Ahli, Director of the Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics, praised the UAE’s success in strengthening its position on the global tourism map, as one of the most attractive and safe travel destinations, and it is the result of an effective, participatory and integrated work strategy implemented by the country under the guidance of its wise leadership towards achieving economic diversification.
Her Excellency added that the results of the 2024 Development and Tourism Index report, issued by the World Economic Forum, confirmed that the UAE continues to consolidate its competitiveness in the national tourism sector, as it is one of the strategic sectors and the fuel for building a prosperous economy for the future, as the country topped the global tourism scene in indicators of the provision and comprehensiveness of travel data. and tourism, an index of policies and possible conditions for travel and tourism.
The report issued by the World Economic Forum measures the factors and policies that contribute to creating a sustainable and flexible environment for the travel and tourism sector, which in turn enhances the country’s development process, as it classifies the economy of 119 countries according to five sub-indices, from which 17 axes and 102 indicators branch.
The report indicated that the UAE ranked first globally in the index of providing travel and tourism data, and in the “infrastructure for the air transport sector” axis, and ranked second globally in the index of infrastructure and services, and ranked third globally in the index of comprehensiveness of travel and tourism data, as well as In the index of efficiency of air transport services, and in the index of policies and enabling conditions for tourism and travel.
In addition, the report showed that the country ranked first globally in 6 indicators, among the top five in 15 indicators, and among the top ten in 27 indicators. The country also achieved progress in 32 indicators out of the total indicators included in the report.
It is noteworthy that the UAE tourism sector achieved significant growth by 26 percent in the year 2023 compared to 2022, exceeding 2019 levels by 14 percent, bringing its contribution to the country’s gross domestic product to about 220 billion dirhams, equivalent to 11.7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. Its contribution to the national economy is expected to rise in 2024 to reach 236 billion dirhams, equivalent to 12 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, according to a report issued by the World Travel and Tourism Council.
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