Saudi Arabia's Tourist Industry Is Booming, Now Topping Dubai

The tourist business in Saudi Arabia is still larger than that in Dubai. Compared to Dubai's 4.7 million visitors in Q1, the Kingdom welcomed 7.8 million.

 

Saudi Arabia has edged out Dubai in terms of visitor arrivals, but the glitzy emirate has dominated in terms of visitor expenditures. With a stable Islamic tourist business bringing in 9.3 million people in 2019, Saudi Arabia attracted more visitors than Dubai's 16.8 million in 2019.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2017 Dubai received $29.42 billion in tourism revenue from overseas visitors. That's over $28 billion more than Doha, which comes in second. Despite having over two million more tourists than Dubai, Saudi Arabia failed to enter the top ten.

In 2022, Saudi Arabia ranked 13th on the list of top nations in terms of foreign visitor arrivals compiled by the World Tourism Organization (WTO). From its 2019 rating of 25th, this was a huge leap upward. According to the World Tourism Organization, 16.6 million foreign visitors arrived in the Kingdom in 2022. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia achieved remarkable progress, moving up 16 places to capture the 11th position in the worldwide tourist revenue index in 2022, a significant jump from its 27th placement in 2019. The World Travel and Tourism Organization published these results in its May 2023 World Tourism Barometer assessment.

Approximately 7.8 million foreign visitors visited the Kingdom in Q1 2023, the best quarterly performance ever recorded. This number is up 64 percent from the same time last year. WTO statistics show that over this time period, the country also rose to become the second-fastest expanding tourist destination.

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program is in line with the country's aims to improve its international profile and increase tourism's contribution to GDP.

Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb credited the easing of travel visa requirements, advertising activities in major countries, and the variety of tourist attractions inside the Kingdom for these successes. In addition, the Minister reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to working with partners from the private and public sectors to make Saudi Arabia a leading international tourist destination.

In particular, Saudi Arabia reached a new height, placing 33rd on the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI). This was a big jump of 10 places from 2019.

 

source: breakingtravelnews.com