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Saudi Arabia leads G20 in tourism growth with record numbers

Kingdom sees 73% surge in international tourists and 207% rise in tourism revenues, solidifying its status as a top global destination.

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Rana Tabbara

Senior Business Producer

Rana Tabbara is a UAE-based reporter and content creator known for dynamic storytelling, impactful reporting, and high-profile interviews. She interviewed leaders including the UAE Minister of Energy, the Australian Prime Minister, the Saudi Minister of Tourism, the Armenian Minister of Economy, and CEOs of major companies. Rana covered big events like the World Government Summit, LEAP, Cityscape KSA, IDEX, among others. Her previous experiences include The New York Times, CNN Business Arabic, and L'Orient-Le Jour.

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Saudi Arabia leads G20 in tourism growth with record numbers

Saudi Arabia recorded the highest increase in international tourism among G20 countries in the first seven months of 2024.

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  • Tourism revenues soar by 207%, playing a crucial role in advancing the Kingdom's economic diversification under Vision 2030.
  • Both the IMF and UN have praised Saudi Arabia's tourism sector for its impressive growth in visitor numbers, spending, and job creation.

    • Saudi Arabia has achieved the highest growth in international tourism among G20 countries for the first seven months of this year, according to the latest data from the United Nations Tourism Organisation.

    The Kingdom saw a 73% increase in the number of international tourists and a 207% surge in international tourism revenues compared to the same period in 2019, as reported by the UN’s September 2024 World Tourism Barometer.

    During this period, Saudi Arabia welcomed around 17.5 million international visitors, underscoring its growing appeal as a global tourism destination.

    In 2023, the Kingdom welcomed 27.4 million visitors, marking a 56% rise in international tourist numbers compared to 2019. This made Saudi Arabia the leading country on the UN list for tourism growth among major destinations that year.

    Additionally, the travel sector posted a record surplus of SAR 48 billion ($12.8 billion) in 2023, a 38% year-on-year increase.

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) acknowledged the remarkable progress of the kingdom's tourism sector in its 2024 Article IV Consultation report, issued in September.

    The IMF highlighted the sector's significant role in diversifying the Kingdom’s economy under Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in boosting the services sector.

    The tourism sector has been a leader in attracting visitors, driving spending, creating jobs, and contributing to the GDP, solidifying the Gulf country’s status as an emerging global tourism hub with a variety of attractive offerings.

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