Saudi Tourism Boosts Inbound Visitors by 8% in 2024

Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector marked a historic year in 2024, welcoming a record-breaking 30 million inbound tourists, an 8% increase from 2023’s 27.4 million, as reported in the Ministry of Tourism’s 2024 Annual Statistical Report. This growth, driven by Vision 2030’s ambitious economic diversification strategy, underscores the Kingdom’s rising status as a global travel destination. Total tourism spending reached SR284 billion ($75.7 billion), reflecting an 11% year-on-year growth, with international visitors contributing SR168.5 billion, a 19% surge from SR141.2 billion in 2023. Domestic tourism also thrived, with 86.2 million travelers spending SR115.3 billion, up 5% from the previous year.

Key factors fueling this boom include streamlined visa processes, such as the eVisa program for 63 countries and a 96-hour stopover visa, alongside heavy investments in infrastructure, including 53,000 new hotel rooms annually and giga-projects like NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea Project. Religious tourism remained strong, with 35.8 million Umrah pilgrims, a 33% increase, and Makkah hosting 17.4 million overnight visitors. However, non-religious tourism now dominates, comprising 59% of inbound visits, driven by leisure (24%), visits to friends and relatives (22%), and business or education trips. Egypt led source markets with 3.2 million visitors, while Asia and the Pacific contributed 9.7 million.

The Saudi Tourism Authority’s “Saudi Summer 2025” campaign, themed “Color Your Summer,” promotes six destinations, emphasizing cultural and adventure experiences, particularly in Aseer. Tourism’s economic impact reached SR498 billion, or 12.45% of GDP, up from 11.5% in 2023, creating over 2.5 million jobs. Saudi Arabia led G20 nations in international tourist arrivals growth from January to July 2024, with a 73% increase compared to 2019 and a 656% surge in leisure tourism. The Kingdom aims for 150 million annual visitors by 2030, supported by $800 billion in investments.