Saudi tourism global ranking: Record-breaking visitor growth fuels significant economic gains in the industry

Saudi Arabia has made a significant leap in the global tourism industry, climbing 15 places to secure the 12th position in the Saudi tourism global ranking for tourist spending, according to a new report from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). This leap, the largest among the top 50 countries, showcases Saudi Arabia’s rapid development as a major tourism destination, driven by the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative.

The report highlighted that Saudi Arabia led G20 nations with a remarkable 73% increase in international visitor growth and a 207% surge in tourism receipts between January and July 2024 compared to pre-pandemic figures. The Kingdom’s tourism revenue for 2023 exceeded $37 billion, with a tourism surplus of SR48 billion ($12.8 billion), a year-on-year increase of 38%.

In the first seven months of 2024 alone, approximately 17.5 million international tourists visited Saudi Arabia, underscoring travellers’ growing interest in the Kingdom’s offerings. Overall, 27.4 million visitors came to Saudi Arabia in 2023, marking a 56% rise since 2019.

To sustain this momentum, Saudi Arabia has set an ambitious new target to welcome 150 million tourists by 2030, raising its initial goal of 100 million. Mahmoud Abdulhadi, deputy minister of destination enablement at the Ministry of Tourism, noted that these targets are continuously reassessed based on the sector’s performance. This target aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and elevate its global tourism standing.

The IMF also praised Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector’s impressive growth, emphasising its key role in economic diversification, job creation, and service-sector expansion. Saudi Arabia’s push in the tourism sector has not only boosted hotel capacity and visitor numbers but also driven economic benefits across the region, with the Middle East leading in global tourism growth at a 26% rise in international arrivals compared to 2019.

Saudi Arabia’s progress reflects a strong commitment to becoming a world-class destination, showcasing the Kingdom’s natural beauty, heritage sites, and cultural experiences. With the tourism sector now a critical driver of economic growth, Saudi Arabia stands at the forefront of the Middle East’s tourism renaissance, backed by Vision 2030’s transformative agenda.