Tourism Sector
A sector that achieved one of Vision 2030's goals seven years ahead of schedule!
What is the vision for the tourism sector in the Kingdom? And what are the key facts about it?
In this report, Leen Alajaji presents the most important details about this promising sector
Tourism is one of the most important economic sectors in the Kingdom and a key part of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy away from oil dependence. The Kingdom boasts natural, cultural, and heritage assets that position it as a world-class tourist destination.
Key points:
- Vision
- Saudi Arabia’s tourism ecosystem
- Domestic and inbound tourism in numbers
- Major tourism projects
Vision:
for the kingdom to be the world’s leading tourism sector driving the highest sustainable impact
Saudi Arabia’s tourism ecosystem:
It consists of six entities working together to implement the National Tourism Strategy:
- The Ministry of Tourism
- The Tourism Development Fund
- Saudi Tourism Authority
- Tourism Development Council
- National Air Connectivity Program
- Saudi Red Sea Authority
Tourism ecosystem objectives:
- Contributing to national economy diversification
- Creating suitable job opportunities for saudi citizens
- Attracting investments
- Increasing income resources
Tourism in Saudi Arabia by the numbers:
In 2023, the number of tourists in Saudi Arabia reached 109.3 million, including 27.4 million inbound tourists—a 64.8% increase compared to 2022.. The number of inbound tourists reached its peak in December 2023 with 2.9 million tourists.
Approximately 81.9 million were domestic tourists, a 5.2% increase compared to 2022. June experienced a high number of Domestic tourists, reaching its peak with 9.5 million tourists.
Total tourism spending:
Total tourism spending reached SAR 255.6 billion.
- SAR 141.2 billion was from inbound tourists, a 43.7% increase compared to 2022.
- SAR 114.4 billion was from domestic tourists, a 6.7% increase compared to 2022.
Inbound tourism:
The number of inbound tourists to Saudi Arabia set a new record in 2023, reaching 27.4 million visitors. This was due to promotional efforts through marketing campaigns and the expansion of electronic visa eligibility.
In 2023, non-religious tourism grew by 108% compared to 2019, with non-religious tourists representing 58% of all inbound visitors in 2023, up from 44% in 2019.
Inbound tourism to Saudi Arabia in 2023.
Domestic tourism has shown significant growth since 2018, with the Kingdom recording the highest ever number of local tourists at 81.9 million, marking a 5.2% increase compared to 2022.
Domestic tourism spending across various destinations in the Kingdom reached SAR 114.4 billion, an increase of 138% compared to 2018.
June recorded the highest number of domestic tourists, accounting for 12% of all local trips in 2023. The number of tourists reached 9.5 million, driven by the summer holiday, the end of the school year, and Eid al-Adha.
Leisure tourism topped the list of purposes for local tourist trips, with 35 million tourists, representing 43% of all domestic tourism trips.
A comparison between domestic and inbound tourists in terms of :
- Average spending
- Average length of stay
- Most visited cities
A comparison between domestic and inbound tourists in terms of accommodation types.
As the Kingdom continues to grow and develop across all sectors, driven by Vision 2030 with its ambitious goals to strengthen the economy and diversify income sources, some of the most prominent tourism projects that mark a turning point for Saudi tourism include:
- Qiddiya
- NEOM
- The Red Sea Project
- Diriyah Gate
- The Mukaab
- The Line
- AlUla Development Project
Resources:
https://mt.gov.sa/tic/publications https://www.pif.gov.sa/en/