UAE tourism forecasts annual growth of 6.5% until 2021
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
In an effort to boost the growing tourism sector, the UAE’s tourism and shopping sector has been projected to grow at an impressive 6.5% per year until 2021. This is according to a study by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
This optimistic forecast is a massive boost to the prospects of the UAE’s entertainment and shopping destinations, particularly new attractions like Al Shaab Village in Sharjah. This world-class mega-attraction has commenced operations in its first phase which is worth AED100 million. Its second phase will be launched in six months, and is valued at AED50 million.
The study goes on to zoom in on the precise types of tourism spending, and reveals that the vast majority of tourists’ expenditure in the UAE (74.7%) was devoted to leisure activities. The boom to UAE’s tourism and shopping segment has been attributed to diversification of its offerings, which lures visitors of all ages, nationalities, cultures and tastes.
Abdulla Al Dah, CEO Al Zajil Fair Management, was very upbeat about the growth projections: “These optimistic forecasts confirm our belief that this is the perfect time to launch Al Shaab Village. We expect a high turnout of shoppers, families and general leisure tourists in its first phase which started last week.”