'Gulf Statistical Center': Future of Gulf Tourism Depends on Leveraging Digital Apps and AI

The Gulf Statistical Center confirmed that the future of the Gulf tourism sector depends on increasing visitor numbers and expanding hotel facilities, alongside the sector’s ability to leverage data, applications, and artificial intelligence to understand tourist needs, forecast demand, customize services, and manage destinations efficiently and sustainably.

This statement came in a statistical report issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Statistical Center, titled “Gulf Tourism in the Era of Smart Transformation,” on the occasion of World Tourism Day, which falls on September 27 each year. The report reviewed the digital readiness of GCC member states and highlighted key tourism sector indicators.

The Center shed light on the digital enablers supporting the redesign of tourism’s future, emphasizing that advanced digital infrastructure serves as a fundamental pillar for developing tourism services and experiences and supporting the transition toward smarter, more integrated tourism. It also stressed the importance of enhancing data integration among GCC member states, developing shared digital platforms, and linking booking, transportation, and event services to deliver a cohesive Gulf tourism experience, maximize economic value for tourists, and consolidate the region’s position on the global tourism map.

The Center clarified that “rapid transformations driven by digital technologies and artificial intelligence are pushing Gulf tourism toward a new stage that relies on data and innovation to develop the tourist experience, support decision-making, enhance skills, and improve the efficiency and sustainability of destination management.”

In this regard, it noted that all GCC member states scored 60 points or higher on the Mobile Application Development Index, reflecting their possession of advanced digital capabilities that can be utilized to develop innovative tourism applications, facilitate visitors’ access to information and services, and enhance the user experience before, during, and after travel.

Regarding key tourism indicators, the Center projected that tourism would contribute approximately $365.7 billion to the GCC’s gross domestic product by 2035, with employment reaching 5.8 million jobs by the same year.

It noted that more than 20 million tourists traveled between GCC member states in 2025, representing a 3.6% increase compared to 2024. Meanwhile, the number of tourists arriving in GCC countries reached approximately 75.7 million in 2025, up by 4.9% compared to 2024.

Tourism revenues rose by 9.7% in 2025 to reach approximately $131.9 billion. The Center pointed out that this significant revenue growth, compared to the rate of tourist number growth, indicates “an improvement in the economic value generated by tourist movements and an increase in average tourist spending, with average revenue reaching approximately $1,743 per arriving tourist during the year.”

Regarding the number of hotel establishments in GCC countries, the Center noted that the figure reached approximately 12,400 establishments last year, a 4.8% increase compared to 2024, reflecting continued expansion in capacity and investment in accommodation facilities and tourism services.

The GCC Statistical Center, headquartered in the Sultanate of Oman, was established in 2011 to serve as the official body responsible for data, information, and statistics related to GCC member states, in addition to its role in enhancing statistical and informational efforts among national statistical centers and planning authorities within the region.