In 2023, Saudi Arabian Tourism by Numbers
By THAMER AL-HARBI, Specialist in Tourism and Hospitality
Tourism in the Kingdom took off in 2023 with investments exceeding 800 billion Saudi riyals in the tourism sector over the coming years.
Major Projects and Initiatives
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled the overall plan for QUMMAM AL-SOUDAH project, aiming to attract over 2 million visitors. Additionally, Riyadh Air was established as a new national airline with international standards to enhance the Saudi aviation system, connecting Riyadh to over 100 global destinations. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also launched the Investment Events Fund to empower the cultural, tourism, entertainment, and sports sectors.
International Recognition and Achievements
For the first time on September 27, 2023, World Tourism Day was celebrated in Riyadh with the presence of tourism ministers from various countries worldwide. Furthermore, the Kingdom was selected to host the 26th General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization in 2025 and was re-elected as the head of the organization’s executive council, showcasing its leadership in the international tourism sector. On the same day, the Riyadh College of Hospitality and Tourism was announced, set to be the world’s largest in providing training and supplying the workforce for the tourism sector.
Expanding Global Partnerships and Projects in Tourism
In November 2023, Saudi Arabia was chosen to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh, becoming one of the world’s participating countries during the period from October 2030 to March 2031. This achievement aligned with the developmental, economic, and tourism targets of Vision 2030. The launch of the Electronic Sports World Cup, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 goals, including economic diversification, tourism sector promotion, job opportunities creation, and expressing the Kingdom’s desire to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites and New Ventures
In 2023, the number of officially registered sites in the Kingdom on the UNESCO World Heritage List rose to 7, following the registration of the BANI MA’ARID archaeological site. This year, China officially endorsed Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination, and the Unified Gulf Cooperation Council Tourist Visa project was recently approved. The first phase of the Red Sea destination was inaugurated, welcoming visitors, and Saudi Arabia launched its first water aviation company, “Fly Red Sea.” AL-ULA was honored with the “Best Cultural Tourism Project in the Middle East for 2023” award.
Tourism Investment and Development
The Public Investment Fund also announced the establishment of the Saudi Tourism Investment Company, “ASFAR,” aiming to enhance the capabilities of the local tourism sector and invest in the development of tourism projects across the Kingdom’s cities. The company focuses on enhancing attractions in the hospitality, entertainment, retail, and food sectors. Additionally, the fund introduced the establishment of “DAN,” a company specializing in developing rural and environmental tourism projects. In the visionary destination of NEOM, several tourism and hotel projects were announced on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. These include SERANA, EPIQON Hotel, the NORLANA Project, and the UTAMO Project. Furthermore, LIJA Project, featuring three luxurious hotels amidst the enchanting nature on mountains with a height of 400 meters, was unveiled.
Visa Reforms and Global Transit Initiative
In 2023, the Ministry of Tourism announced an expansion in granting visit visas to 6 new countries, bringing the total number of countries eligible for Saudi tourist visas to 63. The ministry also introduced the Transit Visa, a groundbreaking initiative globally, allowing visitors and tourists to enter the Kingdom for a duration of 96 hours through Saudi Arabian Airlines or FLYNAS.
Tourism Growth Statistics
The World Tourism Organization reported a 58% growth in the number of tourists coming to the Kingdom during the first 7 months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2019. The Saudi Central Bank’s data revealed that the Kingdom achieved its highest historical half-year surplus in the travel category of the balance of payments in the first half of 2023, with a surplus of approximately 40 billion riyals and a growth rate of 327% compared to the surplus in the first half of 2022. This was supported by the significant increase in spending by visitors coming to the Kingdom from abroad, reaching around 83.7 billion riyals.
Recently, the Ministry of Tourism released preliminary statistical data for the first half of 2023, reflecting the development of the tourism sector in the Kingdom. The sector continued to grow, reflecting the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and the tourism integration system in developing the tourism sector and improving the quality of tourism services, along with enhancing visa structures. The data showed significant progress in the tourism sector, with a total of 53.6 million tourists (14.6 million international tourists and 39.0 million domestic tourists) visiting the Kingdom in the first half of 2023.
Total tourist spending during the same period reached 150 billion riyals (86.9 billion riyals from international tourism and 63.1 billion riyals from domestic tourism). In the same period, international tourism saw remarkable growth, with a 142% increase in tourist numbers and a 132% increase in tourist spending compared to the same period in 2022. Domestic tourism also succeeded in achieving a 16% increase in tourist spending in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
Future Tourism Goals and Projections for 2024
In 2024, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Prime Minister, announced the Kingdom’s elevation of tourism targets to 150 million visitors, both domestic and international, by 2030. In the 2024 budget announcement, the Kingdom aimed to achieve 88 million visitors and tourist spending of 289 billion riyals in 2024.
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