The second half of 2019 saw some of the most exciting developments yet for Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector. In a softening of visa regulations, the government created a new visa category for tourists as it looks to grow the industry. Numerous opportunities and tourism experiences are on the horizon as the government opens the country’s vast and...
While much public focus is on preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a number of government and private sector initiatives are laying a foundation for Qatar to become a global centre for sporting. Under the guidance of Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030), the country is building a sports event management and research centre as part of its...
Tourism is one of the most promising prospects for growth as Qatar aims to shift its economy from one dependent on hydrocarbons to one that is more diversified and sustainable, and less susceptible to commodity price fluctuations. Between 2020 and 2030 tourism is expected to add over 100,000 jobs and contribute over $20.3bn to GDP. In October...
Medical tourism is on the rise across the world, driven by the increasing cost of health care services in many developed economies, coupled with falling costs for international travel. The global market was valued at $16.8bn in 2018 and at the time was expected to grow to $27.2bn by 2024. While disruptions to international travel triggered by...
With the GCC retail sector valued at $253.2bn in sales in 2018 and tourists one of the main sources of mall footfall across the region, Bahrain is keen to consolidate its position as an important regional and international shopping destination. A major expansion of the kingdom’s mall offering is under way, while the upgrade and expansion of...
Aided by easier and cheaper travel, global tourism has experienced two decades of almost uninterrupted growth. According to the World Bank, the number of international departures more than doubled between 1997 and 2017, from 687m to 1.57bn per annum. With the global middle class estimated by the US-based think tank Brookings Institution to be...
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