Julia Maksutova, Director of the International Tourism Development Center at the Strategic Research Center, stated that Russia plans to increase the number of tourists from Saudi Arabia by the end of this year. Maksutova added, “In 2024, Russia plans to host more than 20,000 tourists from Saudi Arabia, approximately 2.6 times more than in 2023 (7,800).”
According to her, considering the development of direct flights and the simplification of the visa system between the Kingdom and Russia, the mutual tourist flow can increase by 60%. Maksutova continued, “The flow of tourists coming from Arab countries to our country could double at least.”
She noted that tourists from Russia travel to Saudi Arabia today not only for pilgrimage and visiting Mecca and Medina but also to visit Riyadh and Jeddah for secular tourism. She quoted Mohammed Saleh, the owner of a hotel chain in Saudi Arabia, saying, “We expect the influx of Russian arrivals to Saudi Arabia to grow by 112% in 2024. In 2023, 106,000 Russian tourists visited the Kingdom.”
Maksutova also pointed out that during the tourism exhibition in Riyadh, the center’s delegation held several meetings with 89 tour operators and hotel owners in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, local airlines confirmed that direct flights from Jeddah and Riyadh to Moscow and St. Petersburg will be launched by the end of this year
