Mubasher: European visitors to the GCC nations are forecast to grow 29% by 2023, recent data released on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019 showed.

Colliers International, which is ATM’s research partner, expected that up to 8.3 million visitors from Europe will go to the GCC by 2023, which is 1.9 million persons higher compared to figures from 2018.

This expected growth will likely come from higher number of millennial and middle-class travellers, new and direct flight routes, and competitive airfares.

“The UAE and Saudi Arabia are expected to continue to be the preferred GCC destinations for European tourists, welcoming a projected 6.15 million, and 1.11 million visitors, respectively by 2023,” ATM exhibition director for the Middle East Danielle Curtis said.

Travellers from the GCC to Europe are also forecast to increase by a record 50% or 6 million people by 2023, the report indicated.

Saudi Arabia is expected to retain its position “as the largest outbound travel market destination in the GCC, with an additional 1.2 million trips forecast per year by 2023 – a 70% growth on 2018 trips,” Curtis added.

ATM is the leading, global travel and tourism event in the Middle East for the sector’s inbound and outbound professionals.

ATM 2019, which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 28 April until 1 May, will host over 100 European exhibitors from Italy, Germany, Serbia, Austria, Belarus, Russia, and Port Aventura World.