Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector is thriving, with a significant workforce increase of 5.1% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2024. This growth is attributed to the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to transform Saudi Arabia into a global tourism hub.
Significant Increase in Saudi Employment
According to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), the tourism sector workforce reached 959,175 individuals by the end of June 2024. This represents a 1.57% quarter-on-quarter increase, indicating sustained momentum in the industry.
Saudi nationals comprised 25.6% of the tourism workforce, with 245,905 citizens employed by June’s end. This reflects ongoing efforts to boost local employment in the sector.
Male employees dominated the sector, numbering 831,076, while female workers totaled 128,099. This highlights the gender employment distribution within the industry.
Hotel occupancy rates rose to 55.4% in Q2 2024, a 0.5 percentage point increase from last year. The average guest stay lengthened by 17.6% to 5.2 nights, indicating enhanced visitor engagement.
Economic Contributions and Future Projections
In 2023, the tourism sector contributed 11.5% to Saudi Arabia’s GDP, generating $36 billion in revenue. Projections suggest the sector’s GDP contribution will reach 16% by 2034, reflecting sustained growth.
Saudi Arabia leads G20 countries in tourism growth, with a 73% increase in international tourist arrivals in the first seven months of 2024. This achievement underscores the Kingdom’s successful tourism strategies.
Saudi Arabia has surpassed its Vision 2030 target of attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2023, seven years ahead of schedule. The Kingdom now aims to attract 150 million annual visitors by 2030, reflecting its ambitious tourism goals.
The robust growth in Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector highlights the effectiveness of Vision 2030 initiatives. The Kingdom’s strategic investments and policy reforms continue to drive the sector’s expansion, contributing significantly to economic diversification.
