According to the World Travel and Tourism Board, spending on recreational tourism in the UAE is expected to grow by 9.22% to AED 158.7 billion over the next year, compared to the current year.

Data showed that the local market accounted for 26.93% of the total volume of expenditure in the Middle East last year.

Emirates entertainment and travel managers said the growth in entertainment spending in the UAE will continue in the coming years as visitors continue to flock and more leisure options open, pointing to the country's attractiveness to visitors from different categories in a variety of destinations. Tourist products, luxury hotels and resorts, as well as hotels offering affordable accommodation options.

Spending growth

In addition, the World Travel and Tourism Board predicted that spending on leisure tourism excluding business tourism and conferences in the UAE will increase from AED 145.3 billion this year to AED 158.7 billion next year, a growth rate of 9.22%.

According to data presented to the Emirates today, the volume of spending on leisure tourism in the domestic market reached AED 136.2 billion last year, accounting for 26.93% of the total volume of expenditure in the Middle East during 2018, which amounted to 505.7% Billion dirhams.

The average spending on leisure tourism grew by 12% between 2010 and 2018, indicating that spending on entertainment accounts for about three quarters of the total volume of total spending within the UAE market, including spending on business tourism and conferences.

Possibilities and ingredients

"Revenues and spending on leisure tourism have continued to grow significantly over the past few years in the UAE market," said Samer Asha, General Manager of Skyline Travel & Tourism. "Spending rates are expected to rise further Over the next two years, especially with the hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai. "

"The availability of tourism potential has the greatest impact on the continued growth of the sector as a whole," said Asha. "The large investment and strong infrastructure of the sector, which is witnessing the opening of more facilities and tourist attractions, will contribute to supporting growth rates for the coming period, As visitors from various markets continue to flock to the UAE. "

He pointed out that the UAE attracts visitors from different categories in light of the diversity of the tourism product, the presence of many luxury hotels and resorts, as well as the hotels that offer accommodation options at a moderate cost, noting that «entertainment spending is not only about attracting high-income visitors, Integrated solutions that support sustainable sector trends. "

Continuous improvement

"The spending on leisure tourism does not include activities related to business tourism and conferences," said Neroz Sarkis, general manager of Belhasa, a tourism company. "Public spending rates are constantly improving."

"During the first quarter of this year there was a significant growth in the volume of tourism flows, especially from some destinations," Sarkis said. "The continued annual growth in visitors will reflect the continued rise in tourism revenues and spending rates for the coming years."

"The local market is a major destination for international tourism and offers more leisure options by opening new tourist attractions," he added. "The advantage of a tourist destination is that there is always something new to visit."

Tourist Flow

"The growth in spending will continue in the coming years, with the influx of visitors and the opening of more entertainment options," said Trauma Travel and Tourism General Manager Usama Boshra. "Expo 2020 Dubai will contribute to the Growth ".

"As the international visitor base expands to the local market and from various markets, we expect this to be reflected in total spending, including business tourism," Bushra added. "The first quarter of this year was a good indicator of tourism flow."

26.9%

Of the total spending in the region was acquired by the UAE in 2018.