Fatima Al Sairafi, Minister of Tourism, held a meeting with representatives of Bahrain’s hotel sector as part of regular meetings aimed at strengthening partnership with the hotel sector and following up on preparations for upcoming tourism seasons and events.
China’s travel and tourism sector is set for strong growth, with World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) data projecting a 5.3% expansion in 2026 and 6.5% annual growth over the next decade, reaching $3.5 trillion by 2036.
EU tourist accommodation recorded 471.1 million overnight stays in the first quarter of 2026, up 3.4% from a year earlier. Overnight stays increased steadily throughout the quarter, reaching 143.5 million in January, 154.4 million in February and 173.2 million in March.
Al Mouj Muscat, Oman's flagship integrated tourism destination, has contributed $2.3 billion to the sultanate's GDP over the past two decades, said a study, adding that it had evolved from a pioneering waterfront development into one of the region's most mature integrated destinations.
Saudi Arabia's Aseer Region Municipality is expanding investment opportunities in the tourism sector by offering 44 seasonal investment sites for the summer tourism season as it seeks to attract private investment and support the region's growing tourism sector, said a report.
Qatar Tourism recorded 1.13 million visitors in Q1 2026, including 646,000 in January, 423,000 in February and 63,000 in March, with experts expecting further growth in summer driven by events and family-focused activities.
Red Sea Global (RSG) has celebrated the graduation of its fourth cohort of the Red Sea Vocational Training Programme, with 386 graduates completing specialised training for careers in tourism and hospitality.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has unveiled its AI Tourism Vision, a strategic initiative aimed at accelerating digital transformation and positioning the Kingdom as a global leader in tourism innovation.
The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has completed the first edition of its Grow Tourism Incubator, supporting 30 Saudi startups over 10 months. Delivered with Almosafer, the programme provided business development sessions and service grants to participating companies.
The Saudi Ministry of Tourism used its participation at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Saudi Arabia 2026 in Riyadh to unveil the Global Investment in Saudi Tourism Report, highlighting the Kingdom’s expanding tourism sector and growing attractiveness to international investors.
