Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula resort town of Sharm El Sheikh, Tatweer member and Dubailand CEO, Salem bin Dasmal, pointed out earlier this week that a new strategy needed to be developed to attract more revenue in the region’ tourism industry.
Dasmal pointed out that although large numbers of tourists arrive in the Middle East region, they generally spend some 48 percent less than they would were they on holiday in North America, according to Khaleej Times. Dasmal also added that tourists spend 28 percent less daily when they are in the Middle East then they would were they to travel on vacation to the Asia-Pacific.
According to figures from the World Trade Organization, the average tourist spends some $1,140 a day in North America, while the same tourist will likely spend only $590 a day while in the Middle East.
Explaining the reasons behind such a phenomenon, Dasmal explained that tourists in the Middle East simply have less to spend their money on, requiring new strategies to develop to sustain the industry.
"The simple answer is that there is little or nothing for tourists to spend their money on outside their hotels in our part of the world.
"Investors put their money into real estate projects, such as hotels, and consider this to be a sound investment. However, if the region's tourism industry is to develop and be sustained in the long term, an alternative investment strategy must be implemented.”
