Strong Market Performance Marked by Steady, Fast Growth The tourism industry in the country has experienced consistent and rapid growth over the years, largely due to the implementation of Vision 2030. This growth is mirrored in a significant increase in numbers of domestic and international travelers, as well as the ensuing rise in tourist expenditures since 2016. From 2016 to 2023, total visits to Saudi stood at 606 million, reaching a record high of 106 million in 2023, surpassing the initial set goal of welcoming 100 million visitors by 2030 and making Saudi the second-fastest-growing tourist destination as declared by United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Barometer. In the first half of 2023, the Kingdom received 53.6 million tourists, with spending amounting to SAR 150 billion, marking a 132% compared to the corresponding period in the year prior. Domestic tourism gathered strong momentum, with 39 million visitors recorded and spending of more than SAR 63.1 billion, indicating a 16% growth compared to the first half of 2022.
This underscores a growing trend of locals increasingly opting to vacate the country instead of traveling abroad, validating the country's expanding leisure and travel market. In 2023, apart from hitting the initial goal of welcoming 100 million visits, tourist spending reached SAR 135 billion ($40 billion), representing a 42% uptick from 2022, the highest tourist spending ever recorded in the Kingdom to date.
To
606 million Total visitors to Saudi
2023
2016 From
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