Saudi Arabia Attracts 60 Million Tourists in First Half of 2024: Minister of Tourism
|Abha : Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb highlighted the achievements in Saudi Arabia's tourism sector and the progress made with the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The tourism industry has experienced impressive growth, with a record-breaking 60 million tourists and SR143 billion in expenditure during the first half of 2024, according to preliminary data.
The minister made these remarks during a press conference held by the Saudi Center for International Communication in Abha City, Asir region. He stated, "Vision 2030 focuses on enhancing the tourism sector as a key driver for economic and social development. The National Tourism Strategy, launched in September 2019, promotes the exploration of Saudi Arabia's diverse regions, including its coastlines, mountains, plains, cultural heritage, and rich history. The introduction of the tourist visa allows visitors to discover the Kingdom's treasures, customs, and traditions."
He further emphasized the ambitious goals of the National Tourism Strategy, aiming to attract over 150 million tourists by 2030. Last year, the Kingdom achieved significant progress by welcoming 109 million local and international tourists. This growth will contribute to a 10% share of tourism in the total GDP by 2030 and an increase in employment from around 650,000 jobs in 2019 to 1.6 million jobs by 2030.
Al-Khateeb emphasized the Tourism Development Fund's vital role in financing remarkable tourism projects. The fund has contributed SR7.4 billion to support over 100 projects across different regions, with a total value exceeding SR35 billion.
He also highlighted the importance of developing the skills of Saudi men and women in the tourism sector. The Kingdom has allocated a special budget to train and qualify nationals in collaboration with top tourism institutions in Switzerland, Britain, and Spain. The goal is to ensure that local talents provide tourism services.
Moreover, the minister announced the release of the ministry's annual statistical report, documenting the achievements and targets of the tourism sector in 2023. The report reveals that the total number of domestic and international tourists reached 109 million in 2023, showing a 16% growth compared to 2022. Additionally, the number of foreign tourists visiting the Kingdom last year exceeded 27 million.
Preliminary figures for the first half of 2024 indicate that 60 million domestic and international tourists visited during that period, spending over SR143 billion. Among them, 44 million were domestic tourists with an expenditure exceeding SR52 billion, while 15 million were international tourists with a total expenditure of over SR90 billion. Tourism directly contributed 5% to the GDP during the same period.
Regarding the impact of electronic visas on attracting tourists, the minister mentioned that in 2019, the Kingdom implemented electronic visas for selected countries. Due to high demand, the number of eligible countries has now reached 66, making the Kingdom one of the fastest countries to obtain a visa.