International tourist arrivals up 5% in Q1, 2025, 1% in Middle East
Over 300 million tourists travelled internationally in the first three months of 2025, about 14 million more than in the same months of 2024, according to the May 2025 World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism.
That represented a 5 percent % rise on last year and is 3% more than in the pre-pandemic year 2019. The robust performance came despite the sector facing a range of geopolitical and trade tensions, as well as high inflation in travel and tourism services.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: 'In every global region, tourism stands out as a major services sector, supporting millions of jobs and businesses of all sizes. The continued good performance in international arrivals combined with stronger visitor spending in many destinations highlights the resilience of the sector in the face of numerous challenges and is good news for economies and workers everywhere.'
The Middle East recorded 1% growth compared to 2024, a more modest increase following the extraordinary performance in recent years. However, arrivals stood 44 percent above pre-pandemic levels this first quarter of the year.
The latest UN Tourism Confidence Index reflects cautious optimism for the period May-August 2025. Some 45 percent of Panel experts point to better (40 percent) or much better (5 percent) prospects for these 4 months, while 33 percent foresee similar performance to that in the same period of 2024. Some 22 percent expect tourism performance to be worse.
Experts highlighted the uncertainty and unpredictability derived from trade tariffs and their potential impact on travel sentiment.
Revised data shows that total export revenues from international tourism (receipts and passenger transport) grew by 11% (real terms) to reach a record USD 2.0 trillion in 2024, about 15% above pre-pandemic levels. This represents about 6% of the world's total exports of goods and services and 23% of global trade in services.
According to IATA, international air travel demand grew 8 percent in January-March 2025 versus Q1 2024, while international air capacity was up 7%.
Global occupancy rates in accommodation establishments reached 64 percent in March, about the same level as in March 2024 (65%).
It may be noted that Oman's airports, by the end of March 2025, reached approximately 3,541,038 passengers, compared to 3,840,354 passengers by the end of March 2024, according to preliminary data issued by the National Center for Statistics and Information.
The number of passengers traveling through Muscat International Airport by the end of March 2025 reached 3,183,817 passengers, compared to 3,482,325 passengers during the same period in 2024, recording a decrease of 8.6 percent.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
6 hours ago
- Observer
Balad Sayt village: A hub for tourism, adventure
Al RUSTAQ: Nestled amid lush oases and towering mountain peaks, Balad Sayt village in the Wilayat of Al Rustaq in Al Batinah South Governorate has emerged as a premier destination for adventure tourism. The village captivates international thrill-seekers due to its location along Wadi Bani Auf. It also serves as a gateway to an ancient mountain pathway officially recognised among Oman's mountain trails, linking Balad Sayt to the Wilayat of Al Hamra. Dr Al Mutasim bin Nasser al Hilali, Director of Heritage and Tourism in Al Batinah South, told Oman News Agency (ONA) that the village boasts five tourist facilities with 42 rooms, attracting numerous daily visitors. Its natural and heritage diversity, coupled with unique experiences, makes it particularly popular in winter (September to April) when temperatures drop and tourism peaks. Summer tourism (May to August) also thrives due to the village's moderate climate. Balad Sayt lies along an active tourist route promoted by travel companies for its historical landmarks, natural springs and traditional markets. These attractions complement the adventure offerings of Wadi Bani Auf and extend towards Al Hamra in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate. The canyon, a dramatic rock fissure in Wadi Bani Auf, earns its name from its serpentine twists. Adventurers can tackle three rappelling points — the highest at 23 metres — and navigate 13 natural water pools across a 3-kilometre stretch. A shorter trail, "Baseer Al Zama," features a 4-metre rappel and opportunities for swimming and cliff-jumping amid striking rock formations. Balad Sayt's origins are deeply rooted in history, with landmarks like the fortified "Al Manie Tower," the ancient "Al Madiq Mosque," and the 400-year-old "Great Falaj" irrigation system, now a Unesco-listed architectural heritage site. The village also preserves intangible heritage, including traditional crafts like basket-weaving, rope-making and palm-frond handicrafts. Funded by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources and Al Zubair Institution, the "Agri-Ecotourism in Aflaj Systems" project aims to revitalise rural areas. As Oman's first such initiative, it seeks to bolster economic sustainability and local community development. - ONA
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
Airlines suffer from geopolitical crises, but they move on
Muscat: The Middle East and North Africa continue to face challenges due to disruptions to aviation caused by geopolitical tensions, according to IATA. The IATA/ICAO has established a series of Contingency Coordination Teams (CCTs) to ensure continuity of operations, with robust contingency plans and established routes. The regions affected are the airspaces of Kabul, Sudan, and South Sudan, Khartoum, Pakistan, and India. Kamil Alawadhi, regional VP, Africa & The Middle East, IATA, said airlines that do suffer, even if it is not their problem them they show resilience to move on in such situations. "Any political issue is a tough period for airlines." "The GCC and Arab states, and Africa are connected, and they can handle airspace closure crisis and airport crisis in cooperation with civil aviation authorities, air navigation, airlines, and so on. We are the mediator that tries to quickly solve this by handling the safety issues, like moving aircraft and stuff away from dangerous airspace, and so on. And then we move on to try to recover operations by harming the industry."
Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Oman posts RO 540m surplus on oil gains
MUSCAT, JUNE 1 Oman posted a fiscal surplus of RO 540 million at the close of 2024, outperforming initial expectations and reversing a projected deficit of RO 640 million. The stronger-than-anticipated outcome was fuelled by robust oil revenues and disciplined expenditure, reinforcing the Sultanate's progress towards fiscal sustainability under Oman Vision 2040. Citing the audited financial performance of the State General Budget for 2024, the Ministry of Finance noted that total state revenues reached RO 12.78 billion, representing a 16 per cent increase over the budgeted RO 11.01 billion. The uptick was largely attributed to favourable oil market dynamics. Oman's average oil price stood at USD 82 per barrel—well above the assumed USD 60—adding significant upside despite a decline in production volumes. Daily output averaged 997,000 barrels, compared to the budgeted 1.031 million barrels per day, reflecting Oman's continued adherence to voluntary OPEC+ cuts. Oil revenues rose by 26 per cent year-on-year to RO 7.45 billion, while gas revenues climbed to RO 1.82 billion, marking a 16 per cent gain from budget estimates. Non-oil revenues remained broadly stable at RO 3.51 billion, marginally below expectations. On the spending side, total public expenditure reached RO 12.24 billion, exceeding the original allocation of RO 11.65 billion by five per cent. The rise in expenditure was driven primarily by a surge in development spending, which grew by 31 per cent to RO 1.5 billion. Contributions and other payments increased 14 per cent to RO 2.2 billion, while current expenditure was maintained within target, declining slightly to RO 8.53 billion. The Ministry of Finance stated that the increase in development spending reflects the government's ongoing efforts to support infrastructure expansion, social protection, and economic diversification. Additional spending was directed towards accelerating project delivery, enhancing public services, and stimulating domestic growth—all core objectives under Oman Vision 2040. In parallel with its revenue performance, Oman made further progress on debt reduction. More than RO 660 million in public debt repayments were made during the year, bringing total outstanding debt down to approximately RO 14.6 billion. Additionally, over RO 1.6 billion in private sector obligations were fully settled through the automated financial cycle system, helping improve liquidity and bolster confidence among contractors and service providers. The Ministry affirmed its commitment to responsible fiscal management and stated that the 2024 performance demonstrates the effectiveness of its macro-fiscal strategy. The combination of higher revenues, contained spending, and debt reduction enhances Oman's credit outlook and positions the economy for greater resilience in the years ahead. As oil markets stabilise and domestic reforms advance, Oman's ability to generate fiscal space while investing in development priorities signals growing alignment with its long-term transformation goals. The 2024 budget execution stands as a key milestone in the country's journey towards balanced growth and economic diversification.
