Muscat, May 24 (QNA) - The total number of hotel establishments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries exceeded 11,200 in 2024, registering a growth of 1.3 percent compared to 2023. The total number of hotel rooms reached approximately 711,500, an increase of 0.2 percent.

Data issued by the GCC Statistical Center showed that these indicators reflect the continued growth of the tourism infrastructure in the GCC countries, supported by major hotel projects and the expansion of tourism facilities. This enhances the competitiveness of the Gulf tourism sector and its ability to attract more tourists and investments in the coming years.

The 2024 GCC Tourism Trends report confirmed that the Gulf tourism sector achieved strong growth indicators, reflecting the sector's recovery and reinforcing its position as a vital economic sector supporting economic diversification in the GCC countries.

The report indicated that the total number of international tourists visiting the GCC countries reached approximately 72.2 million in 2024, registering a growth of 51.5 percent compared to 2019 and an increase of 6.1 percent compared to 2023.

International tourism revenues in the GCC countries also rose to approximately USD 120.2 billion, achieving growth of 39.6 percent compared to 2019 and 8.9 percent compared to 2023, reflecting the increasing attractiveness of Gulf destinations on the global tourism map.

Furthermore, intra-GCC tourism constituted approximately 41.3 percent of total international tourists, registering a growth of 61.2 percent compared to 2019 and an increase of 1.2 percent compared to 2023. This underscores the importance of tourism integration among the GCC countries and the role of regional mobility in supporting the sector. (QNA)