The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has secured the first position in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and 18th globally in the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) for the year 2024. The index, which ranks 119 economies based on their ability to foster a sustainable and robust travel and tourism industry, has highlighted the UAE's significant progress in the sector.
According to the report, the UAE has raised its score by 4.4 percent in the 2024 index, climbing seven places from its 25th global ranking in the previous report issued in 2021. This improvement is a testament to the country's continuous efforts to develop and promote its travel and tourism sector, despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic.
The TTDI is a strategic benchmarking tool for companies, governments, international organizations, and others to develop the travel and tourism sector. It consists of five sub-indices: the enabling environment, travel and tourism policy and enabling conditions, infrastructure and services, travel and tourism resources such as nature and culture, and the sustainability of the travel and tourism sector.
The United States topped the index, followed by Spain and Japan, with the top three countries maintaining their positions from the previous report edition. Among high-income economies, only the UAE and Saudi Arabia were ranked in the top ten countries showing the most improvement in their results between 2019 and 2024.
The Middle East region witnessed the highest recovery rates in the number of international tourist arrivals, "20% higher than the 2019 level," while Europe, Africa, and the Americas showed strong recovery, regaining 90% of their activity in 2023 compared to pre-COVID-19 levels.
The report predicts that the global tourism industry will recover from the lowest levels recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic and surpass pre-crisis levels, driven by a surge in demand worldwide, coinciding with more available air travel, improved international openness, and increased interest and investment in natural and cultural attractions.
The UAE's achievement in the TTDI is a reflection of its commitment to the development of its travel and tourism sector, which plays a crucial role in the country's economic diversification efforts. The country has been investing heavily in infrastructure, services, and marketing to attract more tourists and improve their experience.
The UAE's success in the TTDI is a testament to its resilience and adaptability in the face of global challenges. As the travel and tourism industry continues to recover and grow, the UAE is well-positioned to maintain its leading role in the MENA region and improve its global ranking.
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