Tourism in Saudi Arabia had a record year, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
WTTC’s 2024 Economic Impact Study data recorded new records for GDP contribution, sector employment and visitor spending.
In 2023, the sector is expected to grow by more than 32 percent and contribute a record SAR 444.3 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP, accounting for 11.5 percent of the economy.
This is about 30% higher than the previous record.
Tourism employment increased by 436,000 to more than 2.5 million, accounting for nearly a fifth of employment in the country.
Tourism jobs lost during the pandemic were fully recovered in 2022.
According to the EIR report, spending by international visitors increased by nearly 57 percent to SAR 227.4 billion, breaking the previous record, while spending by domestic visitors increased by 21.5 percent.
Saudi Arabia expects to welcome 100 million tourists in 2023.
It achieved this goal seven years ahead of schedule and is now aiming for 150 million tourists by 2030.
“The incredible achievements made by Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism sector last year mark a pivotal moment in the country’s journey to become a global tourism leader,” said Julia Simpson, president and CEO of WTTC.
WTTC predicts that the Middle East’s tourism sector will continue to grow through 2024.
Tourism employment is projected to reach 8.3 million people across the region.
