Saudi Arabia’s Tourism: Record Growth and Global Recognition
Saudi Arabia is rapidly establishing itself as a world-class tourism destination, guided by the ambitious Vision 2030. The country is developing dynamic experiences that celebrate its rich heritage while embracing cutting-edge innovation, leading to exceptional growth throughout the tourism sector.
This transformation is fueled by significant infrastructure improvements, streamlined visa procedures, and increasing demand from both domestic and international visitors.
The year 2024 proved to be a turning point. The Kingdom welcomed 116 million tourists.
More than 16.9 million Umrah pilgrims traveled from overseas, easily exceeding the annual target of 11.3 million. While Al-Ula earned the award for Best Cultural Tourism Project in the Middle East for 2023.
Saudi Arabia achieved one of Vision 2030’s key tourism targets years ahead of schedule. International visitors reached 29.7 million, while 86.2 million domestic tourists explored destinations throughout the country. Total tourism spending hit 283.8 billion riyals, with 168.5 billion from international travelers and 115.3 billion from domestic tourism.
Inbound tourism saw a 8% surge in visitor numbers and 19% growth in spending compared to 2023 well above pre-pandemic levels. Simplified electronic visa procedures were instrumental in this success, with non-religious tourism now making up 59% of all international visits.
Domestic tourism also remained strong. Local trips rose by 5%, and spending increased by 1%, with leisure travel making up 37% of all domestic journeys.
These achievements reflect the Kingdom’s growing strength as a global tourism player, one that offers visitors an experience that’s both culturally rich and forward-looking. This also highlight the vital role tourism is playing in diversifying the economy, creating new opportunities, and moving Saudi Arabia closer to its Vision 2030 objectives..
