This is how UAE tourism sector to create 23,600 new jobs in 2024
The sector set to grow in 2024, with a GDP of over Dh236 billion
Dubai: UAE’s travel and tourism sector is set to grow bigger with the creation of more than 23,600 new jobs in 2024.
This will bring the total workforce to nearly 833,000 in the fast-growing industry in the country, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) announced.
The WTTC, in its UAE 2024 Economic Impact report, said that jobs supported by travel and tourism grew by 41,000 last year to reach more than 809,000, representing one in nine jobs in the country.
Fully recovered
“Although the jobs lost during the pandemic were fully recovered in 2022, the new announcement shows sector jobs have increased 11 per cent since the 2019 high point,” said Julia Simpson, WTTC’s President and CEO.
She added: “In 10 years, there will be about a million jobs in the travel and tourism sector, and it will likely be worth Dh275 billion. These include jobs in the hotel and hospitality sector as well as those in aviation, travel agents, online travel agents, and more.”
Also, WTTC, a global tourism body, forecasts that the sector will continue to grow in 2024, with a GDP of over Dh236 billion.
International visitor spending is projected to grow by nearly 10 percent to reach Dh192 billion, and domestic visitor spending is forecast to increase by 4.3 percent to reach almost Dh58 billion.
The UAE’s #TravelAndTourism sector is now soaring past all previous records ????????????
— WTTC (@WTTC) April 18, 2024
The success is testament to the #UAE's commitment to attracting tourists from around the world to destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, & Ras Al Khaimah.
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Record-breaking year
TTC’s report has revealed a record-breaking year for the sector in the UAE, with new records achieved across key metrics, including the sector’s GDP contribution, jobs, and visitor spending.
Julia said the sector is now soaring past all previous records. Last year, it grew by more than a quarter (26 percent) to contribute a record-breaking Dh 220 billion to the UAE’s GDP, representing 11.7 percent of the entire economy.
She explained, “This exceeded the previous record set in 2019 by almost 15 percent and underscores the sector’s pivotal role in the nation’s economic framework.”
You have the power to make it happen ✨ What are you waiting for? ✈️ #VisitDubai
— Visit Dubai (@visitdubai) April 17, 2024
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Huge spendings
Moreover, international visitor spending surged by almost 40 per cent in 2023 to reach over Dh175 billion, 12 per cent above 2019 levels.
Simpson said, “The UAE’s travel and tourism sector has not only recovered; it soared to new heights. The remarkable growth in employment and visitor spending is a testament to the UAE’s strategic vision and commitment to enhancing the sector.”
According to the WTTC, domestic visitor spending fully recovered in 2022; it continued to grow last year to reach more than Dh55.5 billion, almost 40 per cent higher than in 2019.