Saudi Arabia Crosses Pre-pandemic Levels With 156% Tourism Growth in 2023
Saudi Arabia has reported a 156 percent increase in international tourist arrivals in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, citing the World Tourism Organisation’s latest Barometer report.
This surge not only signifies a full recovery from before the COVID-19 pandemic but also cements the Kingdom’s position as an important player in revitalising tourism across the Middle East region, which saw arrivals rise by 22 percent overall last year.
The global tourism sector is still showing signs of bouncing back, with around 1.3 billion international arrivals recorded in 2023, nearing 93 percent of pre-pandemic revenues of $1.3 trillion. Tourism directly contributed about 3 percent to global GDP, equating to $3.3 trillion.
Saudi Arabia tourism levels to increase further in 2024
The Ministry of Tourism expects continued growth this year, highlighting destinations such as AlUla, Diriyah, Yanbu, and Abha.
Major events like the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Diriyah E-Prix, and cultural festivals will also be held to boost the Kingdom’s tourism appeal internationally.
The strong rebound presents valuable prospects for investors. International visitor spending in Saudi Arabia surpassed 100 billion Saudi riyals, according to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), with the travel balance of payments rising 72 percent from 2022 to a surplus of 37.8 billion riyals in the first three quarters of 2023.
