The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is demonstrating robust growth and enhanced regional collaboration in its tourism sector, according to a recent workshop held in Muscat. The eighth Regional Workshop on Innovation in Tourism Statistics took place Monday and Tuesday, focusing on data integration and trend analysis to improve the accuracy and utility of tourism metrics across GCC member states.

Hosted by Oman, the two-day event brought together more than 30 officials and specialists from various GCC statistical authorities. It emphasized moving beyond reliance on isolated data sources toward a more comprehensive approach by integrating information from hotels, airports, border checkpoints, digital payment platforms, and other relevant databases. Participants engaged in mapping existing data streams, evaluating their quality, and discussing the legal and technical frameworks necessary to enable secure and efficient data exchange. The ultimate objective is to achieve improved linkage, calibration, and reconciliation of statistics, thereby ensuring consistency and comparability of tourism data throughout the region.

Intisar bint Abdullah al Wahaibi, Director-General of the GCC Statistical Centre, highlighted tourism’s growing importance as a cornerstone of economic development plans within GCC countries. She underscored the critical role of reliable statistics in informing policy-making and guiding investment decisions. According to the Centre’s data, the economic contribution of tourism within GCC nations expanded at an average annual rate of 7.3 percent between 2019 and 2025, surpassing the global rate of 6.7 percent.

In 2025, the GCC states collectively received approximately 75.7 million tourists, with inbound spending totaling about $131.9 billion. The tourism sector’s overall economic impact was estimated at $254.7 billion for the same year. The GCC now represents roughly 5 percent of worldwide tourist movements and accounts for 6.9 percent of global tourism receipts, indicating an increase in the region’s appeal to higher-value travelers.

Progress towards the goals outlined in the Gulf Tourism Strategy 2025 has reached nearly three-quarters completion, reflecting concerted efforts by member states to enhance the sector’s infrastructure and competitiveness. Oman’s hosting of the workshop signals its commitment to both national development ambitions under Vision 2040 and the broader agenda of strengthening cooperation among Gulf neighbors to further stimulate sustainable tourism growth.