RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has solidified its position as the fastest-growing tourism destination among G20 nations, witnessing a 73 percent surge in international visitors in the first seven months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2019, according to the latest UN World Tourism Barometer.
The Kingdom welcomed 17.5 million international tourists during this period, reflecting its rising prominence as a global travel hub.
This growth is largely attributed to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a strategic initiative designed to diversify the nation’s economy and reduce its reliance on oil revenues. As part of this strategy, Saudi Arabia aims to attract 150 million visitors by 2030 and increase tourism’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) from 6 percent to 10 percent.
The Saudi Tourism Ministry shared on X, “Saudi Arabia cements its global leadership and takes the first spot among G20 countries in international tourist arrivals growth, with a 73 percent increase in the first seven months of 2024 compared to 2019.”
At the G20 tourism ministers’ meeting in Brazil on September 21, Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening cultural ties globally while promoting sustainable development in the tourism sector.
The UN report also noted a 207 percent rise in Saudi Arabia’s international tourism revenues compared to 2019, further underscoring the Kingdom’s rapid growth in the industry.
Global Outlook
According to the UN Tourism report, international tourism has recovered to 96 percent of pre-pandemic levels as of July 2024, with Europe and Asia-Pacific markets driving the rebound.
Approximately 790 million tourists traveled internationally during the first seven months of 2024, marking an 11 percent increase from 2023, but still 4 percent below 2019 figures.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stated, “International tourism is on track to fully recover from the sector’s biggest crisis. The ongoing rebound reflects the strong demand for travel, coupled with improved air connections and relaxed visa restrictions.”
The Middle East led the global recovery in the tourism sector, with international arrivals rising by 26 percent above 2019 levels in the first seven months of 2024.
Africa also saw a 7 percent increase in tourist arrivals compared to 2019, while Europe and the Americas nearly reached their pre-pandemic levels, recovering 99 percent and 97 percent of arrivals, respectively. Asia and the Pacific recorded 82 percent of their pre-pandemic tourist numbers.
This recovery in global tourism highlights the importance of thoughtful planning to ensure tourism’s socio-economic benefits are matched with inclusive and sustainable policies, Pololikashvili emphasized.
