Sustainable tourism holds utmost importance within the future vision of the UAE government, placing it among its top priorities, benefiting this vital industry. This trend is growing in the Middle East, North Africa, and globally.
The UAE is a pioneer in the Arab and global regions in embracing the concept of sustainable tourism as part of its strategy to achieve economic development goals and preserve natural resources.
With the significant growth in demand for this type of tourism in global markets, coupled with the rapid development of infrastructure and systems supporting this trend in the UAE, the country is poised to be one of the leading beneficiaries of the growing demand for sustainable tourism in all its forms.
Experts from Future Insight Market Research anticipate that the size of the sustainable tourism market in the UAE will exceed forty million dollars this year and is expected to grow steadily until 2033 by 15 percent, reaching approximately 165 million dollars.
Last year, the green tourism sector captured 32.8 percent of the market share, with online bookings accounting for 37.9 percent of the market share.
According to Allied Market Research, the global sustainable tourism market was valued at 3.3 trillion dollars in 2022 and is expected to reach 11.4 trillion dollars by 2032, with an annual growth rate of 14 percent.
The UAE, hosting the Climate COP28 conference later this year, has made significant progress in sustainable tourism in recent years, taking initiatives and measures to enhance sustainability in this sector.
The country aims to be a leader in sustainable tourism by applying the best global practices in this field. To achieve this goal, the UAE is committed to enhancing collaboration with local and international partners, addressing challenges in this sector, and developing environmental awareness tools and programs.
All studies confirm that sustainable tourism is experiencing significant growth due to increased awareness and demand for all types of sustainable tourism. Sustainability considerations when choosing travel destinations or lifestyle are becoming more widespread.
According to a study by Bain & Company, two-thirds of consumers surveyed in selected markets consider sustainability aspects important or very important when traveling for leisure.
73 percent of these respondents expect sustainability to become more important in tourism over the next five years.
Sustainable tourism aims to reduce the harmful effects of travel on the planet while promoting social and economic benefits by focusing on environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, respecting indigenous cultures, and supporting ethical principles.