Mubasher: GCC countries are expected to invest $56 billion in tourism infrastructure by 2022, while the UAE ranked the most competitive in the region, a recent report has revealed.
Lightening-speed, state-of-the-art Hyperloop train systems, in addition to the Haramain High Speed Railway, the development of Saudi Arabia’s key airports and airport expansion in the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait are the primary projects set to transform tourism infrastructure development in the GCC, according to Colliers International's, the research partner of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), report.
Tourism infrastructure is to top the agenda of ATM 2018, which will kick off at Dubai World Trade Centre from 22-25 April.
“As we move towards an innovative and technologically-driven future, it is important to explore the impact ultra-modern travel infrastructure will have on the tourism industry in the UAE and wider GCC region,” Simon Press, senior exhibition director of ATM, said.
Virgin Hyperloop One tops the UAE's tourism infrastructure development at present, according to the report named “Investments in tourism infrastructure to reach $56 billion by 2022 driven by innovative Hyperloop connections”.
Virgin Hyperloop One, which is a futuristic transportation concept through which pods, propelled by magnets and solar, will move passengers and cargo at speeds of 1,200kph.
Backed by Dubai's DP World, Los Angeles-based Hyperloop One, which is developing super high-speed transportation systems, is expected to transport around 3,400 people per hour, 128,000 people a day and 24 million people in over the year, the report highlighted.
In 2016, Dubai's state-run Road and Transport Authority (RTA) revealed schemes to evaluate a hyperloop connection between Dubai and Abu Dhabi in a bid to slash travel times between the two emirates by 78 minutes.
“Providing a hyperloop connection that allows both UAE residents and tourists to travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi in just 12 minutes is just the beginning,” Press added.
On the other hand, it is expected that air passenger arrivals to the GCC to see an annual growth of 6.3% to 55 million by 2022, Canada-based Colliers International noted.
