Over 100 Million Tourists Visit Saudi Arabia

In 2023, Saudi Arabia welcomed a record number of more than 100 million tourists. That target was set for 2030 and was achieved seven years earlier, so the new end-of-decade target is now 150 million tourists.

Riyadh’s ambitious goals are in line with the Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, launched by Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Tourism is now a significant contributor to the country’s economy. Domestic and foreign tourists spent more than 250 billion rials ($937 billion) in 2023, representing 4% of GDP and 7% of non-oil GDP.

“This achievement demonstrates the scale of our transformation that began five years ago with the launch of the National Tourism Strategy,” commented Minister of Tourism Ahmed al-Khateeb. “Tourism is a pillar of the country’s economic transition under Vision 2030 because of its ability to create jobs and generate revenue for the kingdom.”

In 2023, the number of tourists was 106.2 million, representing a 56% increase from 2019 and a 12% increase from 2022. The figure of foreign tourists is particularly interesting, with a +65% increase from 2022 to 2023.

“The tourism ecosystem continues to perform in line with the national strategy by creating diversified destinations. Our goal is to enrich the tourism experience, diversify the offerings for local and international guests, and improve the reception conditions, as well as the range of services offered,” concluded al-Khateeb.