The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said Monday that tourism growth in the Middle East will probably slow to 4%, down from 11% last year. Interim Secretary General for UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, spoke about the tourism industry in the Middle East during the first day of the UNWTO tourism summit in Qatar.
Rifai said that internationally tourism is set to decrease to between 0% and minus 2%. The Middle East is an emerging market and has lots of room for growth. He said more than ten years ago the Gulf recognized the importance of the tourism sector and this is based on a strategy of diversifying the economic base. The UAE has an advantage over other Gulf States because they have made big investments in infrastructure over the past few years.
