The UAE has achieved a significant milestone by ranking first in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Additionally, it is 18th globally in the latest World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) report. This marks a remarkable improvement, with the UAE raising its score by 4.4 per cent in the 2024 index. It moved up seven places from its previous ranking of 25th in 2021.
The TTDI is a comprehensive index that ranks 119 economies. It considers various factors such as the enabling environment, travel and tourism policy, infrastructure, services, and natural and cultural resources. This index serves as a strategic benchmarking tool for companies, governments and international organizations to develop the tourism sector effectively.
Globally, the United States topped the index, followed by Spain and Japan. These top three countries have maintained their rankings since the last report. Among high-income economies, only the UAE and Saudi Arabia were among the top ten that showed the most improvement in their performance between 2019 and 2024.
The Middle East has shown the highest recovery rates in tourism. I exhibited an international tourist arrival at 20 per cent above 2019 levels. However, Europe, Africa, and the Americas have also shown strong rebounds. They have regained 90 per cent of their 2023 movement compared to pre-COVID-19 levels.
“This year represents a turning point for the travel and tourism sector,” said Francisco Betti, head of the Global Industries Team and a member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum.
Looking ahead, the report predicts that the global tourism industry will recover from its COVID-19 lows and surpass pre-crisis levels. This positive outlook is driven by a surge in demand worldwide, increased air travel availability, improved international openness, and growing interest and investment in natural and cultural attractions.
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