Saudi Arabia advances 15 places on...

Foreign visitors spent US$37 billion in Saudi last year

Saudi Arabia has advanced 15 places to 12th position in the global ranking of international tourist spending, according to new data.

Based on available data for the period from January to July 2024, Saudi led the list of G20 countries in the number of international visitors by 73% and in the growth of international tourism revenues by 207% compared to the same period in 2019.

Foreign tourists spent more than SR141 billion, or nearly US$38 billion, in the kingdom last year, the Saudi Ministry of Tourism reported.

The number of tourists in Saudi reached more than 100 million in 2023. Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb said that the country’s tourism sector had fulfilled a target of 100 million tourists with 77 million local visitors and 27 million foreign arrivals.

He credited the strategy charted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, envisaging 150 million tourists annually in the country by the year 2030, including 80 million domestic tourists and 70 million foreign arrivals.

The aim is also to make Saudi Arabia rank among the world’s top 10 tourist destinations and the strategy includes the issuance of tourist visas on arrival or online for citizens of several nationalities under an entry system launched in 2019.

The Middle East continues to lead growth among all regions, with a 26% rise in international arrivals compared to 2019.

For more information, visit www.unwto.org

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