TRENDING ON
KSA to attract 5.8 million more visitors by 2024
The number of tourists visiting Saudi Arabia is expected to rise by 38 percent to 21.3 million by 2024, according to new research by Colliers International, commissioned by Arabian Travel Market (2020). Higher volumes will be driven by an increase in visitors from the GCC, keen to visit the Kingdom on short breaks, and business travelers extending work trips to explore the country’s rapidly developing tourism offerings or attend a sporting or cultural event. Danielle Curtis, exhibition director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “As Saudi Arabia continues to reduce its reliance on oil, increasing tourism arrivals are becoming instrumental in the country’s economic diversification.”
Dubai’s health tourism sector set to welcome travelers
The Dubai Health Authority sees the reopening of airports, aggressive testing and sanitization, and resumption of elective surgeries and other healthcare services as clear indicators of Dubai’s readiness to restart health tourism in the emirate, according to participants at a webinar.
The webinar, attended by key stakeholders from the tourism and health sectors, and led by key speakers from the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), and private hospitals which are members of the DXH, further shed light on how the country is planning to make Dubai a destination of choice for health tourists amidst the current situation as well as the strategic measures implemented by the authorities to ensure patient safety upon health tourists’ arrival.
Dr. Marwan Al Mulla, CEO – Health Regulation Sector, Dubai Health Authority, said, “As we all know, the world is currently facing an unprecedented crisis – one that has managed to impact various industry verticals, including health tourism. However, the government’s commitment and effort to address the impact of the pandemic has put us on the path to recovery rather soon. In fact, the exemplary actions of the government has allowed the UAE to be ranked as one of the safest nations during the pandemic—number one in the Arab region and one of the world’s top ten in managing COVID-19.”
The Health Tourism Department has stepped up its efforts to support Dubai in its journey to become the most preferred global health tourism destination and a hub for top-accredited healthcare facilities. It plans to boost its efforts post COVID-19 focusing on preventive and alternative health practices, such as ayurveda, homeopathy and yoga. Statistics have shown that the UAE’S wellness and spa travel market caters well to both inbound and domestic travelers, which is about 15 per cent of the total tourism market.