Saudi Arabia Attracted 60 Million Tourists in First Half of 2024

Saudi Arabia's minister of tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb, highlighted the achievements of the country’s tourism sector in a press conference. As per his statement, the country’s tourism industry saw impressive growth in 2024, with a record-breaking 60 million tourists coming to the nation. The preliminary data suggests that SR143 billion was spent on expenditures.

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The ambitious goals of the National Tourism Strategy were further emphasised by the tourism minister, who aims to attract over 150 million tourists by 2030. In 2023, the country welcomed 109 million tourists, and if the figures keep increasing at such a steady rate, the government believes that the tourism sector will account for 10% of the country's total GDP by 2030. The sector will also see an increase in employment from around 650,000 jobs in 2019 to 1.6 million jobs by 2030.

Al Khateeb further highlighted the Tourism Development Fund’s vital role in financing remarkable tourism projects. The fund has contributed SR7.4 billion to support over 100 projects across different regions, totalling SR35 billion. The importance of developing the skills of Saudi men and women in the tourism sector was mentioned, as the kingdom has allocated a special budget to train and qualify nationals in collaboration with top tourism institutions in Switzerland, Britain, and Spain.

Moreover, the minister announced the release of the ministry’s annual statistical report, documenting the achievements and targets of the tourism sector in 2023. The report revealed that the total number of domestic and international tourists reached 109 million in 2023, showing a 16% growth compared to 2022. Additionally, the number of foreign tourists visiting the Kingdom last year exceeded 27 million.

According to the report, preliminary figures for the first half of 2024 indicate that 60 million domestic and international tourists visited during that period and spent over SR143 billion. Of these, 44 million were domestic tourists, spending over SR52 billion, while 15 million were international tourists, spending over SR90 billion.

Regarding the impact of electronic visas on attracting tourists, the minister mentioned that in 2019, the nation implemented electronic visas for selected countries. Due to high demand, the number of eligible countries has now reached 66, making Saudi Arabia one of the fastest countries to obtain a visa.

The minister made these remarks during a press conference held by the Saudi Center for International Communication in Abha City, Asir region. He stated, “Vision 2030 focuses on enhancing the tourism sector as a key driver for economic and social development. The National Tourism Strategy, launched in September 2019, promotes the exploration of Saudi Arabia’s diverse regions, including its coastlines, mountains, plains, cultural heritage, and rich history. The introduction of the tourist visa allows visitors to discover the Kingdom’s treasures, customs, and traditions.”