��������

Saudi tourism is competing with itself, breaking its own records every year in both the number of local and international tourists and in tourism revenues.

The number of tourists reached 115.9 million in 2024, with revenues estimated at SR283 billion ($75.5 billion). Both figures represent an unprecedented leap in Saudi travel history.

Foreign tourists from outside the Kingdom reached 29.7 million, spending about SR169 billion ($45 billion). Between 2016 and 2024 the number of these tourists increased by 69 percent.

�������� plans to invest about $800 billion in tourism by 2030, aiming to host 150 million visitors over the next five years, with 70 percent of them being international tourists.

Evidence of its rapid progress is seen in the International Air Transport Association’s Air Connectivity Index, in which the Kingdom jumped from 27th to 13th place globally.

Since 2021, �������� has been implementing its Air Connectivity Program to link its cities with 250 destinations worldwide.

Remarkably, the Kingdom’s tourism journey spans less than five years, making its achievements nothing short of extraordinary.

In this short time, �������� has overtaken long-established Arab tourism leaders, notably Egypt with its ancient pharaonic heritage, iconic landmarks and decades of tourism expertise.

In Fitch’s 2023 global tourism revenue rankings, Egypt trailed behind the Saudi giant, despite the fact that Saudi tourist visas were only introduced in 2019.

According to the Passport Index, Egypt allows citizens of 119 countries to enter with or without a visa, while �������� extends such access to only 66 countries. Yet this significant gap in visa accessibility has not stopped the Kingdom from surpassing its neighbor.

Madinah has been named one of the top 100 global tourist destinations, and the enchanting city of AlUla was the first tourist destination in the Middle East accredited by the National Destination scheme.

All these achievements confirm the strength of �������� in the tourism sector, especially compared with other Arab and Middle Eastern countries.

In addition to the above, hosting the 2034 World Cup is expected to have a major impact on Saudi tourism, similar to Qatar’s experience with the tournament in 2022.

According to a Bloomberg report, Qatar’s World Cup contributed to a 58 percent year-on-year increase in tourist numbers in the country in 2023, not to mention the astronomical numbers during the tournament itself. For this reason, �������� is currently working on marketing its tourist destinations ahead of Expo 2030 and the World Cup.

Evidence of this includes hosting the first Middle East office of the World Tourism Organization in Riyadh, and signing a deal with Trip.com in 2024 to publicize Saudi destinations in the Chinese, Indian and European markets.

A direct result of this was the arrival of 150,000 Chinese tourists that same year, with the number expected to increase to 5 million annually in the coming years.

The Saudi Tourism Authority is making significant efforts in this regard, such as opening 16 offices in major cities like London, Paris, Beijing and Shanghai. It is also marketing Saudi tourism projects using the “Saudi Spirit” branding which was displayed in a number of cities across the world, including on a large building in New York’s Times Square.

Bodies attempting to correct misconceptions about the Kingdom, especially among international tourists, include the efforts of the Public Prosecution and the Ministry of Health.

The Public Prosecution, for example, has established a dedicated Tourism Prosecution Office at domestic and international airports, as well as at its main headquarters. This office assists travelers who encounter legal issues, ensuring their cases are processed swiftly — making them feel valued as guests in the Kingdom.

The Ministry of Health has also introduced the Mawid app, allowing tourists to book appointments at the nearest healthcare center at minimal financial cost.

Tourism accounts for 10 percent of the global economy — about $11 trillion — and a similar percentage of the world’s workforce, or about 300 million jobs.

�������� needs to capture a larger share of the pie and aims to break the trillion-riyal revenue barrier.

It has created 200,000 jobs so far, with a target of 800,000 by 2030, and I hope it will be possible to exceed 1 million jobs before this date.

These are all achievable aspirations, as the Kingdom’s vision, led by its architect Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, knows no “impossible,” and can lead Saudis to a world of prominence in tourism and beyond.

• Dr. Bader bin Saud is a columnist for Al-Riyadh newspaper, a media and knowledge management researcher, an expert and university professor in crowd management and strategic planning, and the former deputy commander of the special forces for Hajj and Umrah in ��������. X: @BaderbinSaud.

��