UAE tourism to add 7,000 more jobs in 2023, third consecutive year of growth

DUBAI: The UAE’s tourism industry continues to create jobs, with 7,000 new employees expected this year. If so, it would be the third straight year of workforce expansion in the industry, with airlines leading the charge and now major hotel operators not far behind.

Another reason is that more hotels are planned to open this year, each bringing more jobs.

“With an expected increase of 6,900 jobs by 2023, the industry (in the UAE) is expected to employ 758,000 people,” said Julia Simpson, president and chief executive of the World Travel and Tourism Council, which was announced this morning (May 17). Japan) released its latest economic report. Affect the study.

Tourism in the UAE added 89,320 jobs last year.

The industry will contribute AED180.6 billion to the UAE economy this year, compared to AED167 billion in 2022. This accounts for nearly 10% of the gross domestic product.

The sector’s recovery — driven by higher travel and tourism spending, hotel investment, and government-private sector initiatives — has maintained the job creation momentum.

“These jobs will be created across the board — hotels, airlines, airports, airlines, cruise lines, and OTAs (online travel agencies) and suppliers,” Julia said.

While businesses have long tried to bring back employees furloughed during the pandemic, the industry has actually surpassed the 2022 2019 figure of 745,000 workers.

Julia said: “Given the shortage of workers in the market, wages will be competitive. The hospitality industry is offering more flexibility to employees, especially women with children.”

According to PayScale, an executive chef’s base salary (depending on the hotel) is Dh48,000 and can go up to Dh240,000. A hotel manager earns between Dh10,000 and Dh14,000 at an airline.

“By the end of the year, the industry’s contribution will be on par with 2019,” Julia said. “Over the next decade, growth will exceed national GDP and create more than 114,000 new jobs, one in nine jobs.”

In 2022, international tourists will contribute AED117.6 billion to the national economy, a year-on-year increase of 65.3%. Julia said that in terms of domestic spending, there will be a year-on-year increase of 35.7 percent in 2022 to reach AED46.9 billion.

Last year, Dubai topped the list of cities with the highest spending by international tourists, taking in $29.4 billion.

However, Julia said the industry could reach even greater heights once Chinese tourists return home. “One factor is obviously that China has only just reopened, and if you look at international tourists, the Chinese make up 15 per cent of all international (consumption),” she said.

As long as supply exceeds demand, prices will remain competitive, increasing government profitability.