With an outbound travel market made up of frequent travellers spending six times more than any other region in the world, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a lucrative source market that South Africa is positioned to take advantage of.
Speaking during a webinar titled “Unlocking the GCC Market for Southern Africa”, Isabel Tapp, founder and CEO of Dubai-based communications agency All Details outlined what travellers from the region are looking for in destinations.
The GCC comprises six oil-rich nations – including Bahrain, Omar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar – characterised by resident populations with high levels of disposable income.
According to data released by SA Tourism ahead of its visit to Arabian Travel Market last month, over 25 000 visitors from the Middle East made their way to South Africa in 2023 – up by over 60% from 2022.
And while the amount of money spent per trip fluctuated from quarter to quarter in South Africa, it reached…
