Leisure Tourism Up By 656% In Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is fast ramping up its efforts to boost its tourism sector, particularly for leisure tourism. The kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims to diversify its income away from petroleum and establish itself as a leading tourist destination.

To help achieve these objectives, Saudi Arabia has invested massively in tourism infrastructure. These include giga-projects such as the futuristic city NEOM, luxury Red Sea resorts, to entertainment city Qiddiya, among others. From stadiums, and parks, to increased flights to the kingdom, the kingdom appears to already be reaping the benefits.

Leisure tourism boom

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Saudi Arabia experienced a 656 percent growth in people performing leisure tourism.

Specifically, 17.5 million international visitors arrived between January and July, up by 10 percent over the same period in 2023. This also represented a 75 percent increase compared to 2019 figures.

Among these 17.5 million visitors, 4.2 million tourists visited for leisure and holiday purposes. This marked a 25 percent surge over the previous year. Moreover, it was a significant increase over pre-pandemic levels.

This leap in leisure tourism numbers supports the goal of attracting 100 million tourists by 2030. This is a feat that the kingdom has already achieved in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule. Saudi Arabia has since increased its 2030 target to 150 million annual tourist arrivals.

Key contributors to leisure tourism growth

Several factors have contributed to this leisure tourism boom. For instance, Saudi Arabia has relaxed its visa regulations for many countries via the Saudi electronic visa (e-visa) program. With the e-visa, more nationalities can explore the kingdom for tourism, business, visiting family and friends, or seeking medical treatment. The process for applying for a Saudi e-visa can be done within minutes online.

As mentioned, the kingdom has also been investing billions in its tourism infrastructure. In addition, Saudi Arabia has been actively hosting more cultural and entertainment events such as the Saudi Seasons. The Saudi Seasons are a series of festivals each year in different parts of Saudi Arabia. This year’s Jeddah Season, for instance, received over 1.7 million visitors.

Saudi Arabia also launched various targeted marketing campaigns to entice travelers from different countries to visit the kingdom. Earlier, the Saudi Tourism Authority launched the “Spectacular Saudi” campaign, geared towards the Indian market. The integrated consumer campaign showcases the country’s vast natural landscapes and modern offerings.

Fastest-growing G20 nation

Moreover, the global tourism community has also recognized Saudi Arabia’s achievements. The latest UN World Tourism Barometer report recognized it as the fastest-growing G20 nation in tourist arrivals and tourism revenue.

These developments are expected to further boost Saudi Arabia’s status as a premier tourism hub in the future. With its impressive progress, Saudi Arabia is well on its way to achieving its long-term tourism goals.

Photo by NEOM on Unsplash