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Nordic tourists travelling to the UAE are expected to spend $718 million by 2024, a report revealed ahead of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2020 event that will be held later in Dubai.
According to the study conducted by the Colliers International, between 2018 and 2024, the UAE will witness a 36 percent surge in total tourism spend by Nordic visitors, while spend per trip is expected to reach $2,088.
The country will see the highest growth in spend by Nordic visitors compared to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The UAE will be followed by Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Nordic tourists travelling to the GCC from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland are expected to generate an estimated $810 million in travel and tourism revenue by 2024.
“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,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME of ATM.
“And, with Nordic citizens enjoying one of the highest average incomes in the world and being among the world’s highest spenders while travelling abroad, the GCC is looking to capitalise on their spending power over the next five years,” Curtis added.
The report said that arrivals from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland to the GCC will increase 23 percent over the six year period, driven by an increasing number of new and direct flight routes, relaxed visa requirements and the vast number of unique travel experiences that the region has to offer.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai announced on Monday the UAE’s first multi-entry five-year tourist visa. At present, tourists can visit the UAE with a free multiple entry visa for up to 90 days, from the date of entry.
Saudi Arabia had also launched in 2019 a new tourist visa scheme, as part of efforts to open the country to foreign visitors and diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on oil.
Bahrain reduced pre-entry visa fees by more than 50 percent, down to 40 Bahraini dinars from 85 Bahraini dinars previously, effective January 2020.
Colliers International estimates that approximately 383,800 Nordic citizens will travel to the GCC by 2024, with Swedish tourists leading the number of arrivals at 191,900. Visitors from Denmark will follow with 76,700 arrivals, closely followed by Norway, Finland and Iceland at 62,800, 47,200 and 5,200 tourist arrivals, respectively.
The report adds that Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia have been popular destinations for Norwegian business tourists for many years due to their joint interests in the oil industry.
Curtis said: “The UAE will continue to be the preferred GCC destination for Nordic tourists, welcoming a projected 342,200 tourists by 2024. Saudi Arabia and Oman will follow with 17,300 and 16,500 respectively, while Bahrain will welcome 7,000 and Kuwait 800.”
“Driving this demand in the UAE, Emirates [airline] currently operates direct flights to Norway, Denmark and Sweden and last year introduced a direct flight to Iceland, following the closure of low-cost Icelandic carrier WOW air. Meanwhile, Norwegian Air operates direct flights between Oslo and Dubai five times a week and Flydubai has direct flights between Dubai and Helsinki in Finland,” Curtis added.
ATM 2020 will be held at Dubai World Trade Centre from Sunday 19 to Wednesday April 22, 2020.
(Writing by Gerard Aoun; editing by Mily Chakrabarty)
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