Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia welcomed around 30 million international tourists in 2024, marking an 8 percent increase compared with 2023.

Spending by inbound tourists reached SR168.5 billion, up 19 percent year-on-year, the Ministry of Tourism said in a report released on the occasion of World Tourism Day.

The ministry highlighted significant growth across the sector, with the total number of domestic and international tourists reaching about 116 million in 2024, reflecting a 6 percent rise from 2023.

Combined tourism spending amounted to SR284 billion, an 11 percent increase compared with the previous year.

Saudi Arabia also maintained its global leadership in tourism indicators in 2025.

According to the UN World Tourism Organization’s May 2025 World Tourism Barometer, the Kingdom ranked first worldwide in international tourism revenue growth during the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period in 2019.

International arrivals to the Kingdom grew by 102 percent in the first quarter of 2025 over pre-pandemic levels.

The Kingdom, represented by the Ministry of Tourism, participated in the UN World Tourism Organization’s celebration of World Tourism Day on September 27, held under the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.” It aimed to raise awareness of the sector’s economic, social, cultural, and political value, while emphasizing its role in supporting sustainable development.