Towards Understanding Outbound GCC International Tourism: The Role of Expatriates and Institutional Quality

This paper employs the gravity model using panel data analysis techniques to explain the dynamics of tourism outflows from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to high-, middle-, and low-income countries. The results show that, among other known variables, immigrants living in the GCC region have rendered a positive advertising impact on outbound tourism destination decisions in GCC citizens. Apart from the immigrant effect, institutional quality in the destination country is a key determinant of outbound GCC tourism.