GCC countries expand airports to meet tourism growth

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are expanding their airports in anticipation of a tourism-led increase in passenger numbers, according to a new report from Fitch Ratings. The GCC is brings together Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to further political and economic integration amongst them. The countries have set ambitious goals for the tourism sector to help reduce their dependence on oil. The GDP contribution from the tourism sector is expected to more than double from around $130bn in 2023 to around $340bn by the end of the decade. This would be equivalent to more than 10%