Statistical trends of international tourism in the Middle East in 2000–2024: regional differences and macroeconomic consequences

A comprehensive statistical, economic, geographical, and cultural analysis of international tourism in the Middle East for the period 2000–2024 has been carried out. The study is based on systematization of data from the UNWTO (renamed in UN Tourism as of January 2024), the World Bank, the IMF, the Arab Tourism Organization, and national statistical agencies. The purpose of the study is to identify key trends in inbound tourism development and factors of territorial concentration of tourist flows and to determine the impact of tourism on regional macroeconomic stability. Special attention has been paid to the spatial and temporal dynamics of tourist arrivals, changes in the tourist income structure, and the role of tourism in the post-oil economy of the Persian Gulf countries. The analysis showed that in 2000–2024, the volume of international arrivals more than tripled, and the contribution of tourism to the region’s GDP reached 9.7%. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are showing the highest growth rates, where tourism is becoming an element of the soft power strategy and a tool for promoting national cultural identity. A cross-country comparative analysis has been conducted on indicators of employment, investment activity, and tourist products diversification. It has been shown that digitalization and cultural positioning of countries have a decisive impact on their competitiveness in the global tourism hierarchy. The scientific novelty of the research lies in an integrated approach to assessing the tourism potential of the Middle East as an integrative indicator of economic diversification and cultural development. The obtained results can serve as an analytical basis for forming national and interstate programs of sustainable tourism in the region. 

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