Around 27 million international tourists spent SAR141 billion riyals ($37.6 billion) in Saudi Arabia in 2023, the highest figure yet.
The international spending, The Ministry of Tourism, was a 44 percent rise in 2022 compared to the previous high of SAR103.4 billion spent by 17.5 million inbound tourists in 2019, according to government figures.
The breakdown given by the ministry showed SAR45 billion was spent on accommodation, SAR25.5 billion on shopping, SAR21.5 billion on transportation, SAR19.4 billion on food and beverage, and SAR4 billion on entertainment.
The numbers are revised upwards. In February the ministry said total spending by international tourists last year was around SAR100 billion.
The government says it had 104 million tourists in 2023, including 27 million inbound and 77 million domestic tourists.
- GCC tourists spent $4bn in Saudi Arabia last year
- Vision 2030 is moving along just fine
- Tourist spending in Saudi Arabia rises 23% to $12bn
The World Travel & Tourism Council’s 2024 Economic Impact Research report forecasts that international expenditures will rise to SAR256 billion this year and could account for 16 percent of GDP by 2034.
Tourism is a central plan of Saudi Arabia’s economic restructuring program, forming an integral part of giga-projects such as Neom, Red Sea Global, and Diriyah.
The Vision 2030 reform plan aims for tourism to account for 10 percent of GDP by 2030.
