Nordic tourists travelling to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland are expected to generate an estimated USD 810 million in travel and tourism revenue by 2024, according to data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market 2020, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 19-22 April 2020.

The latest Colliers International research, commissioned by Reed Travel Exhibitions, the organiser of Arabian Travel Market, predicts the UAE will witness the highest growth, with total tourism spend by Nordic visitors projected to reach USD 718 million by 2024, an increase of 36% when compared with figures from 2018 and tourism spend per trip to reach USD 2,088.

Building on this, Saudi Arabia is expected to witness the second largest increase followed by Bahrain, with total Nordic tourism spend estimated to reach USD 86,670,000 and USD 53,000,000 respectively, by 2024.

Danielle Curtis, exhibition director of Middle East at Arabian Travel Market said: “The Nordic countries’ outbound tourism market has experienced incremental growth over the last five years, with 50.5 million overseas visits made by residents during 2018 alone. And, with Nordic citizens enjoying one of the highest average incomes in the world and being amongst the world’s highest spenders while travelling abroad, the GCC is looking to capitalise on their spending power over the next five years.”