Saudi Arabia Registers 8.2% Growth In Inbound Visitor Spending In First Half Of 2024

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Tourism announced that the country witnessed a notable 8.2% growth in inbound visitor spending during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2023, reaching around SAR92.6 billion. The Kingdom also reported a surplus in the travel account of around SAR41.6 billion.

The latest figure of spending by inbound visitors to Saudi Arabia indicates the notable progress made by the tourism sector. According to UN Tourism, Saudi Arabia led G20 countries in international tourist arrivals and in the growth rate of international tourism receipts in the first seven months of this year compared to the same period in 2019, reported Saudi Press Agency. The achievement is attributed to adopting best practices in tourism development, improving tourism-related services and products, and collaborating with government entities to drive the growth of the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia achieves a new semi-annual record with SAR 41.6 billion in surplus in the travel account of the balance of payments during the first half of 2024, recording a growth of 8% in spending of inbound visitors compared to the same period in 2023.#AmbitionandProsperity pic.twitter.com/Rjz0pS1SMU

— وزارة السياحة (@Saudi_MT) October 3, 2024

Saudi Arabia welcomed around 17.5 million international tourists during the first seven months of 2024, which points to a remarkable increase in its global tourism appeal. In 2023, the country had 27.4 million visitors, registering a 56% growth in the number of international tourists compared to 2019.