Total Economic Value Of GCC Tourism Reaches $254.7 Billion: GCC-Stat
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) | September 27, 2026
The report on Strategic Tourism Ambition in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries, issued by the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-Stat), reveals a significant figure:
The direct and indirect economic value of tourism in the GCC countries climbed to approximately $254.7 billion in 2025, contrasting with a global total of $11.7 trillion.
The GCC region boasts roughly 4.5 million jobs related to tourism, compared to a global total of 371 million. Despite geopolitical tensions, the sector demonstrated resilience, achieving competitive growth rates in terms of GDP contribution and employment compared to global averages.
The report tracks progress towards the goals set by the Gulf Tourism Strategy 2022–2030, showcasing notable achievements:
- Inbound Trips: In 2025, 89.9 million visitors entered the GCC region, approaching the 2030 target of 128.7 million by 69.9%.
- Inbound Tourist Spending: Total expenditure reached $131.9 billion in 2025, surpassing the 2030 goal of $188 billion by 70.2%.
- Domestic Tourism Spending: The GCC witnessed $42.9 billion in domestic tourist spending in 2025, aligning with the 2030 target of $49 billion (87.6%).
- Direct Travel and Tourism GDP: This crucial indicator stood at $101.7 billion in 2025, close to the $145.8 billion target for 2030 (69.8%).
These figures underscore the GCC tourism sector's resilience and growth trajectory, aiming for further expansion by 2030.