Bahraini Deputy Prime Minister: Stability in Gulf States Enhances Their Status as a Tourist Destination
Bahraini Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa affirmed that the stability and prosperity enjoyed by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, thanks to the wise visions of the GCC leaders, have enhanced the region’s status as a preferred and attractive destination for family tourism from around the world.
The BNA news agency reported that these remarks were made during a meeting between Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah and the heads of delegations participating in the 10th meeting of the Committee of Ministers Responsible for Tourism in GCC countries, held at his office in the Qudibiya Diwan.
The agency noted that the delegation heads conveyed greetings from the GCC leaders to Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and to Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah, in turn, conveyed greetings from the Bahraini King and Crown Prince to the GCC leaders.
He emphasized that under the leadership of King Hamad bin Isa and the directives of Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad, security serves as a fundamental pillar for development and progress across various fields. This approach aligns with the stability and prosperity enjoyed by GCC countries, thanks to the wise visions of their leaders, thereby reinforcing the region’s position as a favored destination for family tourism globally.
He pointed out that these foundations, rooted in a solid legacy of shared values among GCC states, represent a robust base for launching broader inter-tourism integration. This is supported by their readiness to handle challenges with flexibility and high efficiency, which bolsters economic diversification efforts and fulfills comprehensive development aspirations.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his best wishes for the participants’ success in reaching decisions and recommendations that would drive the growth of the Gulf tourism sector. He also highlighted the importance of joint initiatives currently underway, which will facilitate tourist and visitor movement and enhance the competitiveness of the region’s countries as a tourism destination through cultural, heritage, and urban diversity.
He praised the diligent efforts of the tourism ministries and authorities in GCC countries, as well as the GCC Secretariat General, in translating shared visions and aspirations into realistic work programs and integrated projects that support the progress of development.
For their part, the heads of delegations participating in the 10th meeting of the Committee of Ministers Responsible for Tourism expressed their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Bahraini Deputy Prime Minister for the warm reception. They reaffirmed their commitment to advancing cooperation and integration to enhance the competitiveness of the Gulf tourism sector, wishing Bahrain continued development and prosperity.
On his part, GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al Budaiwi stated in Manama that the ambition extends beyond making GCC countries individual leading tourism destinations to forming an integrated, diverse, and cohesive Gulf tourism system with unified aspirations.
This was said in a speech delivered by Al Budaiwi during the 10th meeting of the Committee of Ministers Responsible for Tourism in GCC countries, chaired by Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism Fatima Al-Sairafi, and attended by the tourism ministers of GCC states.
He noted that the meeting takes place amid accelerating regional challenges and crises that have cast shadows on many economic and vital sectors, most notably tourism, which is highly linked to travel flows, transportation, market stability, and traveler confidence.
He added that these challenges arise at a time when Gulf tourism has achieved significant gains, strengthened its presence, and increased its contribution to GCC economies. This makes preserving the sector’s momentum and enhancing its capacity to face exceptional circumstances a priority for the coming phase.
In this context, he explained that recent developments have proven the importance of the advanced infrastructure, robust security and regulatory systems, flexible institutional capacities, and effective coordination mechanisms among GCC states, which have collectively contributed to maintaining tourism continuity and travel flows.
He also pointed to positive indicators witnessed by the Gulf tourism sector in 2025, reflecting the progress achieved by GCC countries and underscoring the growing status and role of tourism in supporting growth and economic diversification.
In this regard, he stated that the number of tourists arriving in GCC countries exceeded 75 million in 2025, representing an 8.4% growth, while tourist spending surpassed $131 billion, compared to approximately $120 billion in 2024.
He added that more than 20 million tourists traveled within the GCC in 2025, a 3.6% increase compared to 2024. Furthermore, the direct and indirect contribution of tourism to GCC economies reached about $254 billion that year, accounting for 11.4% of GDP.
He clarified that these figures are not merely growth indicators but reflect important developmental and economic gains. “Our responsibility today extends beyond building on them to enhancing our ability to protect and sustain them in the face of changes, in order to achieve the targets of the Gulf Tourism Strategy (2023-2030).”
He added that recent developments in the tourism sector have confirmed that its strength is measured not only by its growth rates but also by its ability to maintain trust and continuity under various conditions.
Al Budaiwi said, “We have practically witnessed the importance of joint Gulf action, as relevant authorities in GCC countries activated direct coordination mechanisms to preserve travel flows, air, land, and sea connectivity, accelerate information exchange, and coordinate responses.”
He emphasized that, from this perspective, the coming phase requires focusing on three main paths: protecting the tourism sector’s gains and enhancing its resilience and readiness; accelerating the implementation of joint Gulf initiatives and projects to boost intra-GCC tourism; and deepening tourism integration among GCC countries to maximize the benefits of their diverse foundations and strengthen their presence as an integrated, globally competitive Gulf tourism system.
