Skift

Episode Notes The Middle East was the fastest-growing tourism region this year until the Israel-Hamas war began in October. No other region in the world saw its tourism fully recover this year — let alone surpass their pre-pandemic level, reports Dawit Habtemariam, Skift's Global Tourism Reporter. Through September, the Middle East saw its international tourist arrivals rise 20% above pre-pandemic levels, according to the UN World Tourism Organization. Two factors boosting Middle Eastern tourism were expanded air connectivity by airlines like Emirates and investments by tour operators like Intrepid Travel. Those ongoing strengths may help the broader region rebound if a truce in Gaza is brokered. Next, more travel companies are investing in the potential for artificial intelligence to help overhaul both customer sales and internal operations. Amazon Web Services had a conference last week, sharing AI-based updates to services used by travel companies such as Accor, Cathay Pacific, and Booking.com, reports Jus