Saudi Arabia has marked an exceptional milestone in the realm of tourism, experiencing a full recovery and an astonishing 156% surge in international arrivals in 2023 compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019. This outstanding achievement has been spotlighted in the January 2024 release of the World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Barometer report.
The impact of this achievement extends beyond economic growth, positioning Saudi Arabia as a pivotal catalyst in the Middle East’s tourism resurgence. Led by Saudi Arabia, the region is the sole one to surpass pre-pandemic tourism levels, registering a remarkable 22% growth in 2023 compared to 2019.
Globally, the tourism sector is on a steady rebound. As of the close of 2023, the global average remained 12% below pre-pandemic levels in international arrivals, with approximately 1.3 billion international arrivals. The sector’s international revenues approached $1.3 trillion, reaching 93% of the 2019 figure of $1.5 trillion. The direct contribution of tourism to the global GDP was estimated at 3%, or $3.3 trillion, in 2023, according to the UNWTO’s preliminary indicators.
Looking forward, the UNWTO predicts a complete recovery of global tourism from the COVID-19 pandemic by 2024, forecasting a growth of 2% compared to 2019.
Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector is prominently featured in UNWTO reports, leading the G20 nations in the growth rate of international arrivals in 2023 and securing the 2nd rank as the world’s fastest-growing tourist destination for Q1-Q3 2023.
The Kingdom has witnessed substantial growth across various tourist destinations, achieving a record in international visitor spending. The first three quarters of 2023 saw international visitor spending exceeding 100 billion Saudi riyals, as reported by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). The travel item of the balance of payments revealed a surplus of approximately 37.8 billion Saudi riyals by the end of the third quarter of 2023, reflecting a 72% growth from the same period in 2022.
These milestones underscore Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a distinctive and globally recognized tourist destination, as growing traveler confidence in the Kingdom’s diverse and appealing tourism offerings becomes increasingly evident.
