Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector continues to grow at a rapid pace, with the kingdom now ranking first among G20 countries in terms of international tourist growth.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, the number of international tourists to Saudi Arabia increased by 50% in the first nine months of 2023, compared to the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
This growth is being driven by a number of factors, including the kingdom’s efforts to diversify its economy away from oil, its investments in tourism infrastructure, and its promotion of the kingdom as a tourist destination.
The Saudi government has set a goal of attracting 100 million tourists by 2030. To achieve this goal, the government is investing more than $800 billion in tourism projects, including the Red Sea Project, the Diriyah Project, and the Qiddiya Project.
Tourism Minister Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb said that the kingdom is committed to making tourism a major contributor to the economy. He noted that tourism is already one of the most important sectors in the kingdom, accounting for 4% of GDP.
“We are working to make tourism an even more important part of our economy,” Al-Khateeb said. “We are investing in tourism infrastructure, promoting the kingdom as a tourist destination, and making it easier for people to do business in the kingdom.”
