Muscat: The tourism and property sector in the Gulf Cooperation council (GCC) states will see a significant growth in the next ten years, according to Khalil Abdullah Al Khonji, chairman, Oman Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (OCCI).

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Gulf Tourism and Property Investment Forum (GTPIF) on Sunday night.

“According to reports published by specialised organisations, the investment in tourism and property sectors has recorded a good increase in the GCC countries,” Al Khonji said in his speech.

“The volume of tourism projects under implementation up to the year 2018 is estimated to be $230 billion (Dh845.94 billion) in the GCC member states,” he said quoting the reports. The OCCI chief also said that the cost of real-estate projects currently under construction in GCC countries exceeds $2.4 trillion.

“We find a remarkable growth in the tourism movement among Arab and GCC countries,” he said.

The OCCI chairman also said that going by the reports by independent agencies, the growth rate of tourism in the Middle East was 11 per cent compared to the 2 per cent of global level last year. “The World Tourism Organisation predicts that the growth will remain in the Arab region with an average of 2 per cent to 6 per cent during the current year,” he said.

He also stressed that the OCCI accords top priority to the tourism and real estate sectors.

“Let me take this opportunity to emphasise that the Omani private sector is very much interested in improving its roles and contributions to achieve the ambitions of our country in the tourism related activities.”

He said that the he was optimistic about the forum’s success and hoped that delegates would come up with recommendations and proposals to serve the GCC vision for the comprehensive development of the tourism and real estate sectors.

The GTPIF is jointly organised by the OCCI, and Federation of GCC chambers.

Comprehensive

Dr Rajiha Bint Abdul Amir Bin Ali, Oman’s Tourism Minister, stressed the comprehensive development of the tourism and real estate sectors in the GCC. “The forum has come at the right time and will discuss ways of dealing with the present global scenario in the tourism and real estate investment sectors,” she said.

Dr Ebrahim Baqer Al Ajmi, an OCCI board member and head of the GTPIF Preparation Committee, said that the forum was one of the biggest and most important specialised events in this field.

“It will provide unique opportunities to meet with some well experienced speakers in order to exchange views on issues related to the comprehensive development of tourism and property investment as well as nature friendly projects,” he said.