More than 20 million tourists travelled between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2025, marking a 3.6 percent increase from the previous year, according to a statistical bulletin issued by the Statistical Centre for the GCC (GCC-Stat).
Released ahead of World Tourism Day under the title “Gulf
Tourism in the Era of Smart Transformation,” the bulletin highlighted growth
across the region’s tourism sector and the increasing role of digital
technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).
Inbound tourism to GCC countries reached about 75.7 million
visitors in 2025, up 4.9 percent from 2024.
Tourism revenues rose at a faster pace, increasing 9.7
percent to approximately $131.9 billion.
GCC-Stat said the stronger revenue growth suggests an
increase in the economic value generated by tourism and higher average visitor
spending, which reached about $1,743 per inbound tourist.
The region also continued expanding its tourism
infrastructure.
The number of hotel establishments rose 4.8 percent to
around 12,400, reflecting continued investment in accommodation capacity and
tourism services.
Looking ahead, tourism is expected to contribute about
$365.7 billion to GCC gross domestic product by 2035, while the sector could
support approximately 5.8 million jobs, according to the bulletin.
GCC-Stat said rapid advances in digital technologies and AI
are moving Gulf tourism toward a model increasingly based on data, innovation
and personalized services.
These technologies can support tourism planning, improve
decision-making, develop workforce skills and enhance the efficiency and
sustainability of destination management.
Digital readiness is also emerging as a key factor.
All GCC countries scored at least 60 points on the mobile
application development index, indicating capabilities that could support
innovative tourism applications and improve access to information and services
throughout the visitor journey.
The bulletin emphasized that future growth will depend not
only on attracting more visitors and expanding accommodation, but also on using
data, AI and digital applications to anticipate demand, understand tourist
preferences and manage destinations more efficiently.
It also highlighted the potential benefits of greater
integration among GCC tourism systems, including shared digital platforms
linking bookings, transportation and events.
Such integration could support a more connected regional tourism experience while increasing the economic value generated by visitors and strengthening the GCC’s presence in global tourism. -TradeArabia News Service
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