Muscat: The total number of hotel establishments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries exceeded 11.2 thousand during 2024, registering a growth of 1.3% compared to 2023. Meanwhile, the total number of hotel rooms reached approximately 711.5 thousand, an increase of 0.2% over the previous year.

According to Oman News Agency, data issued by the Statistical Center for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries indicated that these figures reflect the continued expansion of the tourism infrastructure in the GCC states, driven by major hotel projects and the development of tourism facilities. This enhances the competitiveness of the Gulf tourism sector and its ability to attract more tourists and investments in the coming years.

The "Tourism Trends in GCC Countries 2024" report confirmed that the Gulf tourism sector has achieved strong growth indicators, reflecting the sector's recovery and reinforcing its position as a vital economic sector supporting economic diversification in the GCC states.

The report showed that the total number of international tourist arrivals to GCC countries reached approximately 72.2 million during 2024, recording a growth of 51.5% compared to 2019 and a 6.1% increase compared to 2023.

International tourism receipts in the GCC countries also rose to approximately USD 120.2 billion, achieving a growth of 39.6% compared to 2019 and 8.9% compared to 2023.

Intra-GCC tourism accounted for approximately 41.3% of total international tourists, registering a growth of 61.2% compared to 2019 and an increase of 1.2% compared to 2023. This underscores the importance of tourism integration among GCC states and the role of regional mobility in supporting the sector.