Tourism of Middle East could reach $246 billion, WTTC says

Friday, March 4, 2022

The World Travel and Tourism Council, or WTTC, carried on a study which has predicted that in 2022, Middle East’s travel and tourism sector could reach $246 billion, just 8.9 percent behind pre-pandemic levels.

The travel and tourism sector in the Middle East, before the outbreak of the pandemic, had experienced huge growth. In 2019, it was generating $270 billion in the economy of the region.

In 2020, because of restrictions related to COVID-19, the tourism sector was impacted a lot, and the contribution of the sector dropped 51.1 percent by more than $138 billion.

“2022 is poised for a strong recovery if governments across the region continue to open up their borders and remove restrictions to travel which will have a massive positive effect on both the economy, society, and jobs,” said Julia Simpson, WTTC president and chief executive officer.

Also, the report saw that governments worldwide should aim on the vaccine rollout and allowing travellers fully vaccinated to move freely to achieve business levels that existed during pre-pandemic times.

Now, the sector is slowly reviving as all the important markets have reopened borders and travel restrictions are getting eased.

Also, the research study observed that in 2022, the contribution of the sector to employment could almost reach pre-pandemic levels.

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