European visitors to GCC to increase 17% by 2020; Oman to receive 2.21mn

24.6mn EU residents will travel to the GCC between now and 2020

Arrivals from Europe to the GCC will increase 17 per cent from 2018-20. This will be driven by extra flights, routes, competitive fares, and the rising number of mid-market hotels throughout the region, according to the latest data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2018.

According to ATM’s research partner, Colliers International, as many as 24.6mn EU residents will travel to the GCC between now and 2020, an additional four million travellers when compared to figures for 2015-17, crease in low-cost flights.”

GCC hotel developers have also turned their attention to quality mid-market properties with Dubai and Riyadh now home to a collection of four-star hotels flagged by names such as Aloft, Centro and Studio M. This growth will continue with a 19.1 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) forecast in four-star development between 2018 and 2020.

Colliers data indicates GCC travel to Europe will grow 36 per cent over the next three years, with a forecasted 8.5mn GCC residents projected to visit Europe. While part of this growth can be attributed to the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s large expatriate populations, GCC nationals are no strangers to European destinations.

Press added, “Travel to Europe will continue to be dominated by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which together will account for 93 per cent of GCC arrivals to the continent. Germany, Italy, the UK, Austria and Switzerland have historically been the top European destinations for GCC nationals to visit.

ATM will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from April 22-25.