Tag Archives: inbound visitors

The Ministry of Tourism reported that Inbound tourists spent over SAR 141 billion in the Kingdom in 2023. According to the Ministry’s annual tourism statistics report for 2023, the largest portion of spending was on accommodation, surpassing SAR 45 billion. The report also highlighted that shopping spend exceeded SAR 25.5 billion, with Local Transport amounting to approximately SAR 21.5 billion. Food and beverage spending approached SAR 19.4 billion, while other expenses surpassed SAR 25.5 billion. Additionally, entertainment spending topped SAR 4.0 billion. In 2023, Saudi Arabia welcomed more than 27 million international tourists, with spend exceeding SAR 141 billion. Furthermore, the combined total of domestic and international tourists for that year surpassed 109 million.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed a 22.9% increase in visitor spending in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023, with total expenditures surpassing SAR 45 billion. Additionally, the “travel” item reports that the Kingdom earned SAR 24 billion, reflecting a growth of over 46% compared to the same period in 2023. Preliminary data from the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) on the balance of payments’ “travel” item indicates that travelers from the Kingdom spent approximately SAR 21 billion during the same timeframe. The increase in inbound visitors’ spending in the Kingdom marks another milestone in the ongoing success of its tourism sector. In 2023, the Kingdom topped the UN Tourism list for the highest growth rate in both international tourist numbers and tourism receipts among the world’s leading destinations, compared to 2019. This achievement highlights the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and other components of the Saudi Tourism Ecosystem in promoting the tourism sector and contributing to the national economy’s growth. It is a key aspect of the National Tourism Development Strategy. The released documents have confirmed the effectiveness of the efforts by the Tourism Ecosystem to position the sector as a global leader. This has been achieved through the implementation of best practices in tourism development, the enhancement of tourism services and products, and ongoing collaboration with all government entities to support the development of the Kingdom’s tourism sector.