In the wake of the geopolitical crisis triggered by the US-Iran conflict and its repercussions for the tourism sector, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have decided to strengthen collaboration and joint efforts to enhance tourism resilience.
At a meeting of GCC tourism ministers held in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, last week, member states approved a joint tourism recovery plan aimed at supporting the sector’s recovery.
“The global average contribution of tourism to GDP is around 10 per cent, while in the Gulf countries, it exceeded 11 per cent in 2025. When regional disruptions occur, travellers do not view our countries in isolation; they see the GCC as a collective destination,” said Fatima bint Jafar Al Sairafi, tourism minister for the Kingdom of Bahrain, at the Ministerial Debate: Building a Resilient Industry Through Collaboration session that was held on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) this week in Dubai.
“This recovery plan will be spearheaded by tourism ministers and tourism boards across the Gulf region. Through this initiative, we aim not only to develop global multi-destination experiences but also to launch international campaigns that strengthen the GCC’s positioning as a top-tier tourism destination,” Fatima added.
She highlighted that the Kingdom remained committed to its infrastructure development projects even during the crisis, ensuring that work continued without interruption. “We also made sure to continue hosting regional and international events. In November, Bahrain will host the 93rd UFI Global Congress for the first time,” she added.
UAE’s minister of economy and tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said the country is entering a new phase of growth.
“The descent is over, and we are now preparing for the ascent. We are ready for take-off. Our resilience is built on the strong foundation laid over the past 50 years,” he said.
The European Union has also expressed its support for the GCC’s efforts to strengthen tourism recovery and resilience. The second EU-GCC Summit is scheduled to take place on October 24 in Saudi Arabia.
“We will also convene the first EU-GCC Forum for Tourism in 2027,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Commission.
