Tourism Economy and 2025 Developments in the Gulf Region
While the economic value of tourism in GCC countries rose to $254.7 billion in 2025, the progress rate in strategic targets was recorded at 73.8%.
The direct and indirect economic value of tourism in the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council reached a size of approximately $254.7 billion as of 2025, and tourism employment in the region rose to the level of 4.5 million.
Economic Size of Tourism
The direct and indirect economic value of tourism in the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council reached approximately $254.7 billion in 2025; this figure was recorded at $11.7 trillion on a global scale.
Employment Data
While tourism-related employment in GCC countries reached approximately 4.5 million jobs, this figure stands at around 371 million worldwide. Direct employment reached 2.2 million jobs.
Strategic Goals and Progress
According to the report published by the Statistical Center for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the average progress in the six main targets of the 2022-2030 Gulf Tourism Strategy reached 73.8% as of 2025.
Impact of War on Travel Mobility
It was stated that developments in the region due to the war could disrupt this progress, travel mobility was negatively affected in the first months, airports were temporarily closed, and hotel occupancy rates dropped.
Visitor and Expenditure Statistics
The report revealed that the number of visitors reached 89.9 million in 2025, incoming tourist expenditures rose to $131.9 billion, and domestic tourist expenditures rose to $42.9 billion.
Share from Global Tourism
Direct gross domestic product reached $101.7 billion. The share of GCC countries from international tourism was 5%, and their share from global tourism revenues was 6.9%.