Tourism in the GCC

REPORT TourismintheGCC Acomparativecountrybycountryanalysis Summary N estledintheheartoftheArabianPeninsula,theGulfCooperationCouncil(GCC)regionoffersablendof ancientheritageandmodernallure,attractingtravelersfromacrosstheglobe.TheGCCregionishometoancientcivilizations,stunningarchitecturalwonders,andtime-honoredtraditionsthatofferaglimpseintoitshistory. Complementingthisheritageisanetworkofmoderninfrastructureandvariousdevelopments,hostingairports,hotels,andmultipleattractionsthatcatertotravelers'needs.Yet,itisthewarmhospitalityandwelcomingcultureingrainedintheregion'sDNAthatleavealastingmarkonvisitors. Furthermore,robusteconomicgrowthandinvestment,withgovernmentsandprivatestakeholdersinvestinginthetourismsector'sofferingsandaccessibility,fuelthisfocusontourism. AtRolandBergerMiddleEast(RBME),ourregionaltourismconsultingpracticeisattheforefrontofthisexcitingandexpandingindustry.Ourrecentendeavors,suchascraftinginnovativedestinationstrategiesandestablishingdedicatededucationalinitiativestonurturelocaltalentinthetourismsector,exemplifyourcommitmentandexpertiseinadvancingtherealmoftourismandtravelwithintheregion.Wetakeprideinourroleascatalystsforpositivechange,shapingthefutureoftourismacrosstheGCC. Cover:1314953611/iStock Inthisarticle,wewillexaminethevibranttourismsceneacrosstheGCCcountries,sheddinglightoneachnation'suniqueofferingsandcontributionstotheregion'stourismlandscape.Wewillexploreeachcountry'sdiverseattractions,economicimpact,andevolvingglobalpositioning. 2RolandBerger|TourismintheGCC Contents Page 4 Introduction 6 Analysisbycountry KingdomofSaudiArabia: UnitedArabEmirates Qatar Bahrain Oman Kuwait 23 Comparativeoverview 31 RB’sviewforthewayforwardforGCCtourism 34 Concludingremarks 3RolandBerger|TourismintheGCC Introduction 1 TourismintheGCChasemergedasavibrantandrapidlygrowingsector,shapingtheregion'seWconomyandglobalimage.Thissurgeintourismisnotmerelyacontemporaryphenomenonbuthasdeeprootsintheregion'shistory,markedbystrategicinitiativesandsignificantmilestones. TheGCC,comprisingBahrain,Kuwait,Oman,Qatar,theKingdomofSaudiArabia(KSA),andtheUnitedArabEmirates(UAE),haslongbeenrecognizedforitsstrategicgeographicallocation,richculturalheritage,andgrowingeconomy.However,itwasonlyinthelatterhalfofthe20thcenturythattourismbegantotakeitsinitialstepsintheregion. TheemergenceoftourismintheGCCcanbetracedbacktothelate20thcentury,withthedevelopmentofinfrastructureandthefosteringofaconduciveenvironmentfortourism.Theturningpointcamewithlandmarkeventsthatcapturedglobalattention,suchastheFormula1GrandPrixinBahrainin2004andtheAsianGameshostedbyQatarin2006.TheseeventsshowcasedtheGCC'scapabilitiesinhostingworld-classeventsandhighlighteditspotentialasapremiertouristdestination. Inthesubsequentyears,theGCCwitnessedasignificantevolutioninitstourismlandscape,characterizedbykeymilestonesandiconicdevelopments.EventssuchasExpo2020inDubaiandtheFIFAWorldCup2022inQatartestifytotheregion'sgrowingprominenceontheglobaltourismmap. Moreover,theregionhasinvestedheavilyinenhancingitstourisminfrastructure,expandingairportsandairlines,developinghotels,andcreatingiconiclandmarks.Thesedevelopmentshavenotonlyattractedtouristsbuthavealsocontributedtotheregion'seconomicdiversificationefforts. AswedelveintotheGCC'stourismlandscape,weunravelastoryofresilience,innovation,andambition—astorythatcontinuestounfold,shapingthefutureoftourismintheregionandbeyond. 5RolandBerger|TourismintheGCC 6RolandBerger|TourismintheGCC Analysisbycountry 2.1/KingdomofSaudiArabia Nationalstrategy TheKingdomofSaudiArabiadevelopedVision2030toreduceitsoildependencybyfosteringsectorsliketourism,health,education,andinfrastructuretostimulateeconomicgrowthandculturalinteraction.Centraltothisisthekingdom'sambitiontobecomeahubforinternationalanddomestictravelers,aimingtowelcome150millionvisitsayearby2030andgenerating1.6millionjobopportunities. SaudiArabia'snationaltourismstrategy,anchoredinVision2030,seekstoharnessthekingdom'srichheritage,vibrantculture,anduntappednaturalbeauty.Thestrategyprioritizesaccessibilitythroughvisareform(e.g.,softeningvisarequirementsfortouristsandstreamliningthevisaissuingprocess).Itsupportsthedevelopmentoftop-tierinfrastructure,suchasGigaandMegaprojectstoaccommodatetourists,fromluxuryhotelstoefficienttransportationsystems. MultipleecosystemplayersintheKingdomareintegraltotheenablementandexecutionofthetourismstrategy: •TheMinistryofTourismfocusesonestablishinglawsandfosteringaninvestment-friendlyenvironmenttostimulatesectorgrowthandemployment. •SaudiTourismAuthoritymarketsthenationasadestinationofchoice,ensuringthedistributionofattractivetourismpackagesandenhancingthetouristexperience. •TheTourismDevelopmentFundcreatesfinancialinstrumentscateringtosmallandlargeinvestors,enhancingtheeconomicimpact. •SaudiRedSeaAuthorityregulatesmarinetourismwithintheRedSeacoast,ensuringenvironmentalprotectionwhilepromotingsustainabletourismactivities. •TheAirConnectivityProgramisdedicatedtoimprovingairtravelconnections,whicharevitalforboostingtourismbyfac