COMCEC Tourism Outlook-2019
24
inbound arrivals in the next five years. A slight increase in arrivals and a larger impact on
receipts from 6bn to 7 billon USD is already recorded in 2016. Qatar recorded a 19% decrease
in arrivals and 7 % decrease in receipts after diplomatic crises. Yet the impacts are fading with
the help of visa facilitation, investments and marketing efforts.
The highest growth was experienced in Iran. Iran reported 50% increase in tourist arrivals in
2018. The government has defined twelve areas in the Sixth Development Plan (2016-21) with
solely focusing on tourism. Since desert-trekking appears to be a favorite hobby of western
travelers, the authorities have resolved to create 2,000 ecotourism resorts by the end of the sixth
five-year development plan (2016-21), nearly a third of which will be located in Lut Desert
Tunisia also experienced a double digit growth in arrivals with 18% and 31% increase in
receipts. Albania also made it to the top 10 arrival list within the OIC countries recording a 15%
increase in arrivals and 14% in receipts. Palestine also experienced a 20% growth in arrivals
and 9% in receipts.
In order to compare the performance of the countries, major surplus on the travel balance would
be a useful tool, since it shows that more foreign exchange stays in the country. Table 4.2 shows
member countries by major surplus on the travel balance between 2013 and 2016.
Table 4.2 Member Countries by Major Surplus/Deficits on the Travel Balance in 2013-2016
(US$ billion)
Source: UNWTO, 2017 Tourism Barometer Volume14, June 2017.
According to the Table 4.2, Turkey ranked as 6th, Malaysia as 14th, Morocco as 19th and Indonesia
as 22nd country by major surplus on the travel balance in international tourismmarket. In 2016,
for example Turkey’s tourism receipts from foreigners were US$ 18.1 billion, however Turkish
citizens spent around US$ 5 billion in other countries. This means that US$ 14.2 billion stayed in
the country as a surplus on the travel balance. This surplus is very important for countries as a
source of foreign exchange in their economies. It can be realized from the Table 4.2 that some
countries have a tendency to spend more than their tourism receipts. It is obvious that the
majority of these countries are the main OIC international tourism destinations and earners. It
is also observed that the balance of international tourism of some member countries accounts
for a high percentage of their international tourism receipts. For example, countries like Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar have deficits on travel balance.
Tourism Receipts Tour. Expenditures Balance
2014 2015 2016 2014 2015 2016 2014 2015 2016
Turkey 29.6 26.6 19 5.1 5.4 4,8 24.5 21.2 14.2
Malaysia 22.6 17.6 18.1 12.4 10.5 10.5 10.2 7.1 7.6
Morocco 7.1 6.0 6.5 1.4 1.4 1.5 5.6 4.6 5
Indonesia 10.3 10.7 11.3 7.7 7.3 7.7 2.6 3.4 3.6
Egypt 7.2 6.1 2.6 3.1 3.4 - 4.1 1.7 -
Kuwait 0.4 0.1 0.2 11.3 12.4 12.3 -10.9 -12.3 -12.1
S. Arabia 8.2 10.1 12.1 24.1 20.7 16.7 -15.9 -10,6 -4.6
UAE 14.0 16.0 19.4 14.4 15.1 17.1 -0.4 0.9 2.3
Qatar 4.6 5.0 5.4 8.7 8.2 9.6 -4.1 -3.2 -4.2