Data and projections: March 2022
Sources: PwC analysis, National statistical authorities, IMF estimates and forecasts (WEO, Oct 2021).
Note: The Middle East region is defined here based on PwC’s business coverage (which excludes non-Arab countries, Syria and Yemen).
Chart of the quarter
As the Delta coronavirus wave eased in the summer and autumn, tourists began to return to the GCC in significant numbers. Dubai was the first to reopen and had seen a partial recovery in winter 2020, albeit only to quarter 2019 levels, but was still around that mark in July 2021. The strong pickup came in October, with the start of Expo, reaching three-quarters of the 2019 level. Bahrain saw an even more rapid recovery in the second half of 2021, nearly reaching 2019 levels in November after the full reopening of the causeway to Al Khobar to all ages because the bulk of its visitors are Saudi day-trippers. Qatar’s recovery was more gradual, reaching about half the 2019 level. The odd one out is Oman, where visitor numbers remained below 10% of the 2019 level until September but are still two thirds below the pre-pandemic level.
This is probably because Oman’s tourists tend to be long-distance vacationers from Europe and the US, groups who were still unwilling to travel. This is problematic given the importance of tourism to Oman’s economy.
Tourist arrivals (% of same month in 2019)
Source: National statistical agencies
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Richard Boxshall
Global Economics Leader and Middle East Chief Economist, PwC Middle East
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