Visa-Free Travel and Digital Payments Fuel Asia-GCC Tourism Boom

The Asia-GCC travel corridor is emerging as a significant growth engine for the Middle East's tourism industry, propelled by visa-free travel policies, improved connectivity, and a focus on smooth visitor experiences. This trend was a key discussion point among industry leaders at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 in Dubai.

Record Growth and Key Markets

According to Aaron Goldring, Senior Economist at Oxford Economics, the GCC welcomed nearly 165 million overnight guests from Asia-Pacific in 2025. This represents an increase of over 160% in just six years, despite a global pandemic within that period. India remains a crucial source market, while China contributed 10% growth during the same timeframe.

Shahab Abdollah Shayan, Regional Director Asia Pacific at Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, highlighted that Dubai achieved visa-free access for Chinese travellers in 2016. Beyond that, efforts were made to integrate payment systems like Alipay and WeChat Pay, involving training the Central Bank, malls, and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth experience for Chinese visitors. This approach effectively removed major travel barriers, allowing visitors to arrive with "just their passport and their phone."

China's Reciprocal Impact

Waad Melliti, Senior Business Manager at the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), noted the reciprocal impact of China's visa reforms. By 2018, all GCC countries had achieved complete visa-free coverage for Chinese visitors. In 2025, arrivals to China from the six GCC countries surpassed 150,000, marking a 100% increase compared to 2024. Specifically, arrivals from Saudi Arabia surged by approximately 110%, and from the UAE by 113%, demonstrating a strong interest among GCC travellers in visiting China.

Industry leaders, including Frederic Brohez of Pulse Hotels & Resorts and Danielle Curtis of RX Global, emphasised the need for hospitality providers to adapt to evolving traveller preferences, particularly for experiential holidays. They foresee continued dividends from the collaborative efforts between public and private sectors in both regions to foster accessible and smooth travel.