UAE among world’s top 10 tourist destinations in 2023

The United Arab Emirates ranked among the world’s top 10 tourist destinations with the strongest growth in international visitors this year compared to 2019, according to the travel analytics company “ForwardKeys.”

The UAE ranked eighth on the list, with the number of tourists arriving this year falling only slightly by 7% from pre-COVID levels, thanks to the influx of tourists from the US and Russia, as well as the strong air connectivity that particularly helped attract more Chinese travelers to the country.

Saudi Arabia ranked fifth in the world rankings of international arrivals in 2023, returning to pre-COVID levels for visitors supported by pilgrims.

The first four ranks were occupied by sunny beach tourism destinations: Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Greece, and Mexico.

Analysis of international tourist arrival data by destination countries in 2023, including future bookings for the fourth quarter, showed that the global tourism sector continued to recover after the pandemic.

Egypt was ranked 10th, with international arrivals estimated in 2023 to be only 10% below pre-epidemic levels, to return Russian tourism to the country, and also because it returned to the list of wishes to visit historic places.

Portugal was ranked sixth, and Argentina seventh.

The report showed that the number of international tourists arriving in the region since the beginning of the year was 14% lower than pre-pandemic levels but is expected to grow by 2% in the fourth quarter.

Globally, domestic tourism this year fell 27% from 2019 levels, but recovery is expected to accelerate in the fourth quarter to 13% below pre-COVID levels.

The data showed that the recovery of global travel is boosted by travelers from the United States and Canada visiting other parts of the world.