ATM’s research partner, Colliers International, as many as 8.3 million EU residents will travel to the GCC in 2023, an additional 1.9 million travellers when compared to 2018 arrival figures. Adding to this, figures from ATM 2018 show the number of delegates arriving from Europe increased 5 per cent between 2017 and 2018, while the number of delegates, exhibitors and attendees interested in doing business with Europe increased by 24 per cent. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Historically, Europe and the GCC have enjoyed excellent travel and tourism links and this trend is set to continue over the next four years. “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. While in Saudi Arabia, new routes to destinations including Vienna and Malaga were added during the same period.

Source: Standard Digital March 14, 2019 12:45 UTC