Tourexpi
Saudi Arabia's achievement of welcoming +100 million tourists receives global recognition
The Ministry of Tourism announced that the Kingdom
has achieved this milestone seven years ahead of the initial goal according to
the latest data. Motivated by this success, the Kingdom has now set a new
ambitious target of welcoming 150 million tourists by 2030.
Tourism has proven to be a significant contributor
to the nation's economy, with domestic and international tourists spending
over 250 billion riyals in 2023. This expenditure represents over 4%
of GDP and 7% of the non-oil GDP reflecting the crucial role of tourism in
diversifying Saudi Arabia's economy.
H.E. Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb,
commented: "This announcement demonstrates the scale of our
transformation since the National Tourism Strategy was launched five years ago.
Tourism is a key pillar in the nation's economic transformation under Vision
2030, creating jobs and revenue for the Kingdom. We thank both UN Tourism and
WTTC as valued partners in our journey for their shared commitment to a
sustainable and prosperous tourism sector."
"The tourism ecosystem continues to operate in
line with the national tourism strategy by developing diverse tourist
destinations. Our aim is to enrich the experiences of tourists, diversify
options for both local and international visitors, and enhance hospitality
facilities along with other services provided. We are committed to aligning
with top-tier international experiences and practices. This approach
contributes to shaping a prosperous future for our tourism industry, improving
the quality of life, and bolstering the Kingdom's position on the global
tourism map," said the Minister.
The tourism sector in the Kingdom has marked
significant qualitative leaps, with the total number of tourists, both domestic
and international, reaching 106.2 million in 2023. This represents a remarkable
increase of 56% compared to 2019 and a substantial 12% surge compared to 2022.
Among these, the number of international tourists reached 27.4 million, showing
a substantial 56% increase from 2019 and an impressive 65% rise compared to
2022.
Image
Credit: © Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia
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