The tourism industry in the UAE is on course to soon return to pre-pandemic levels, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2023 Economic Impact Research.

The industry is forecast to contribute AED180.6 billion ($49 billion) to the UAE economy by the end of 2023, close to the high of AED183.4 billion ($50 billion) in 2019, just 1.5% under pre-pandemic levels. 

In addition, the tourism boom in the UAE is forecast to generate almost 7,000 jobs this year, exceeding the pre-Covid high of 745,100 to reach more than 758,000 people employed in travel and tourism positions.

Last year, the sector’s contribution to GDP registered growth of over 60% to reach close to AED167 billion, making up 9% of the national economy.

Furthermore, according to the latest Economic Impact Report by WTTC, over 6.8 million people were employed in the region last year, a rise of 865,000 from the previous year, but fell short of the 2019 high by 8.7%.

That said, by the end of 2023 it’s forecast the industry will almost recover the jobs lost during the pandemic, the report adds, just 2% behind pre-pandemic levels.

In addition, the travel and tourism industry is expected to make a considerable contribution of close to AED2.5 trillion ($681 billion) over the coming decade, and employ more than 9.8 million people.

The WTTC also forecasts the sector’s GDP contribution will hit AED235.5 billion ($64 billion) by 2033, making up 10.2% of the UAE economy. The travel and tourism industry is also predicted to employ over 872,000 people throughout the country.

Moreover, the return of international visitors to the UAE was prevalent in 2022, with the majority coming from India (13%), Oman (8%), Saudi Arabia (8%), and the UK (7%).

WTTC President and CEO, Julia Simpson said of the findings: “The national travel and tourism sector is recovering at a rapid pace, proving the UAE continues to grow in popularity among international travellers. The UAE is home to one of the world’s busiest and successful airports, Dubai International, which acts as a gateway to the Middle East.

“The future for the sector looks positive. By the end of this year, the sector’s contribution will level that of 2019, and over the next decade, growth will outstrip the national GDP and create more than 114,000 new jobs, representing one in nine jobs.”

She added: “Our recent Cities EIR Report highlighted the appeal tourist destinations across the country, such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, continue to hold for international travellers. These cities have shown an incredible resilience and strong leadership.”