Middle East Insights: New policies, new ideas, new models – A resilient and promising tourism sector in Middle East and North Africa

Editor's note: Middle East Insights is a special feature series by CMG (China Media Group) Middle East station, offering a comprehensive analysis of pivotal regional issues spanning politics, economics, culture and other pertinent fields within the area.

Despite regional geopolitical challenges, tourism in the Middle Eastern countries has shown remarkable growth over the past year, emerging as one of the fastest-growing regions globally. According to the recently published 2023 World Tourism Barometer by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international visitors to the Middle East reached 86.3 million in 2023, marking a 22 percent increase compared to 2019.

The region's unique cultural heritage and rich history provide a natural advantage for tourism development. Ghadah Shalaby, Egypt's deputy minister of tourism, noted in September 2023 that Egypt has established a strategic committee dedicated to revitalizing and stimulating tourism. The committee holds regular meetings to address specific challenges facing the sector. The Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo is slated to fully open to the public by the end of this year, promising to be a major attraction for visitors to Egypt.

Saudi Arabia is also making significant strides in developing its tourism sector, creating distinctive attractions. To draw investors and tourists, Saudi Arabia has launched several mega-tourism projects: the 28,000-square-kilometer Red Sea Project includes an airport, two resorts and 14 hotels; NEOM, a new city featuring innovative technologies, promises sustainable living experiences and will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games; the Qiddiya project will offer over 300 entertainment and sports facilities, including the world's largest theme park; and the ancient city of Al-Ula will be surrounded by a large nature reserve, expected to evolve into an open-air archaeological and cultural complex.

UNWTO data indicates that tourism accounts for about 5 percent of global carbon emissions, with the hotel industry contributing roughly 1 percent. The greenhouse effect from tourism-related emissions represents about 14 percent of the global total. While tourism significantly boosts economic growth, the sector's environmental impact is increasingly coming under scrutiny.

Innovative approaches to shaping the future of global tourism is a hot topic among tourism professionals in Middle East region. At the recent 31st Arabian Travel Market, the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority showcased measures to combine cultural heritage and environmental preservation with local economic growth, such as building luxury hotels powered by renewable energy, sourcing food locally instead of importing and conducting annual tree-planting events. Rudy Subramani, vice president of asset management for Dubai's Hatta development, noted that the area is being developed sustainably, avoiding large trailers and halting new road construction to preserve natural beauty.

In a recent announcement, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq  Al Marri revealed that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will introduce a unified visa this year. Named the GCC Unified Tourist Visa and similar to the EU's Schengen visa, it will allow holders to visit Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait, to stay exceeding 30 days in total. This visa aims to enhance travel convenience, allowing tourists to seamlessly explore the region's rich history and diverse natural landscapes while fostering cultural exchange, boosting employment, and promoting economic diversification within the Gulf states. The UAE's Ministry of Tourism predicts that the new visa could increase the number of tourists visiting GCC countries to a record 128.7 million by 2030.

More Middle Eastern countries are recognizing the importance of tourism for economic development and job creation, making it a strategic priority. These tourism initiatives are also contributing to the diversification of their economies.

Credits:

Supervisor: Mu Li

Producer: Li Chao

Reporter: Zhang Zhuoya