Saudi Arabia witnessed a remarkable 73 percent surge in international tourist arrivals, with tourism revenues skyrocketing by 207 percent, as reported by the World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism.
As noted by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Kingdom has consistently led the G20 nations in both the growth rate of international tourists and tourism revenue, based on data from the first seven months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2019.
This year, various tourist destinations across the Kingdom have seen a significant influx, totaling 17.5 million international arrivals.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia recorded a 56 percent increase in international tourists compared to 2019, reaching 27.4 million visitors. This achievement positioned the country at the forefront of the UN Tourism Data Dashboard for growth rates among major tourist destinations.
Moreover, the travel account in the balance of payments reported a historic surplus of SAR48 billion in 2023, reflecting a 38 percent annual increase.
In September 2024, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlighted Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector as a major contributor to the country’s economic diversification in its latest 2024 Article IV Consultation report.
The fund recognized Saudi Arabia’s achievement in exceeding the Vision 2030 goal of attracting 100 million annual visitors by 2023, seven years ahead of plan.
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