Saudi Arabia's tourism sector, particularly the leisure and holiday segments, has witnessed substantial growth, due in no small part to the Kingdom's Vision 2030 directives, reported SPA, citing the Ministry of Tourism data. 

 

In a statement marking World Tourism Day, observed every year on September 27, the ministry said that the kingdom welcomed nearly 17.5 million international tourists between the January to July period, up 10% over the same period last year and a 73% increase compared to the 2019 figures.

 

Most striking is the 656% increase in the number of tourists arriving specifically for entertainment and holiday purpose. 

 

The ministry said that 4.2 million tourists arrived for these purposes in the first seven months of 2024, a 25% increase over the previous year and an enormous leap over pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

 

These impressive results highlight the success of the Kingdom's long-term tourism strategy, under Vision 2030, which seeks to transform Saudi Arabia into a global tourism destination. The Kingdom had set the goal of 100 million tourists by 2030, but achieved this milestone in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule.

 

Saudi Arabia was acknowledged as the fastest-growing G20 country in the latest UN World Tourism Barometer report. According to September report, Saudi Arabia leads both in the growth of international tourist numbers and in tourism revenues, said the SPA report.

 

These figures underscore the Kingdom's strategic focus on developing a sustainable tourism sector, improving infrastructure, and promoting Saudi Arabia as a premier global destination.

 

The ministry's achievements reflect the effectiveness of these efforts and position the Kingdom as a key player in the field of global tourism, it added.