Gulf travellers lead on the road to recovery

Global travel recovery is being led by traffic through Gulf airports...

International tourism arrivals in the Middle East climbed 33 per cent in the first four months of the year compared with the same period of 2009, the highest of any region, according to the World Tourism Organisation. This compares to 7 per cent growth for the global travel industry, even after the disruption caused by a volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Tourism and air travel in the region are outperforming Europe, Africa, North America and Asia Pacific, fuelling optimism about a recovery in the regional economy. Tourism accounts for almost a fifth of Dubai's economy.

In the UAE, tourism and aviation are key economic engines. The growth of Emirates and its tourism properties such as Arabian Adventures helped Dubai to diversify away from a reliance on its modest oil reserves in the 1980s and 1990s.

In Abu Dhabi, Etihad, the Tourism Development and Investment Company and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority are working together to increase international tourism arrivals and create a more dynamic local economy. The oil-rich Al Gharbia desert region, for example, is now home to luxury resorts such as the Qasr Al Sarab in Liwa and the Desert Islands Resort and Spa on Sir Bani Yas Island.

This year, high-profile events - including the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Expo 2010 Shanghai and the Commonwealth Games in India - will enable the recovery of tourism and air travel.

Source: The National