According to the report released today, the UAE increased its score by 4.4 per cent in the 2024 index, moving up seven places from its 25th global ranking in the previous report issued in 2021.
The report ranks 119 economies based on a set of factors. The index consists of five sub-indices, including the enabling environment, travel and tourism policy and infrastructure, infrastructure and services, travel and tourism resources such as nature and culture, and the sustainability of the travel and tourism sector, as reported by Wam.
The index serves as a strategic benchmarking tool for companies, governments, international organisations, and others to enhance the travel and tourism sector.
The US ranked first in the index, followed by Spain and Japan. The top three countries maintained their positions from the previous report.
Among high-income economies, only the UAE and Saudi Arabia were ranked in the top ten for showing the most improvement in their performance between 2019 and 2024.
The Middle East experienced the highest recovery rates in the number of international tourist arrivals, surpassing 2019 levels by 20 per cent. Europe, Africa, and the Americas also showed a strong rebound, reaching 90 per cent of their 2019 levels.
“This year marks a turning point for the travel and tourism sector,” said Francisco Betti, Head of the Global Industries Team and Member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum.
The report predicts that the global tourism industry will surpass pre-COVID-19 levels, driven by increased demand, more available air travel, improved international openness, and growing interest and investment in natural and cultural attractions.