UAE Eyes $122 Billion a Year From Tourism by 2031: Middle East Travel Roundup

In a bid to boost tourism’s contribution to the national gross domestic product to $122 billion a year by 2031, the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 on Friday. Eyeing an annual increase of $7.4 billion, the tourism startegy aims to attract new investments of $27.2 billion to the tourism sector in the country, and attract 40 million hotel guests in 2031. The strategy includes 25 initiatives and policies to support the development of the tourism sector in the country, according to the government media office. With the return of tourists, the United Arab Emirates' tourism revenues surpassed $5 billion in the first half of this year.

Macro headwinds notwithstanding, airlines based in the Middle East and Africa region would return to profit by the end of the year as demand outstrips capacity, Kamil Al-Awadhi, International Air Transport Association's regional chief said during a conversation with The National. Repo