This surge in tourist arrivals was complemented by an increase in visitors coming for religious purposes. Credit: Mohammed younos / Shutterstock.

The travel and tourism sector in Saudi Arabia has reported a 27% increase in incoming tourist numbers during the first nine months of 2024, compared to the previous year’s 14% rise.

This information was released by the Saudi Press Agency, citing the kingdom’s tourism minister, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, at the 2025 Budget Forum in Riyadh.

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Al-Khateeb highlighted the sector’s significant strides towards achieving the ambitious Vision 2030 goals and that international tourist arrivals for recreational purposes soared by 600% from 2018 levels to 2023.

This surge was complemented by an increase in visitors arriving for religious purposes, with Saudi Arabia encouraging travellers to explore other cities and experience its natural and archaeological sites.

The popularity of rural tourism is on the rise, with increased demand across the kingdom’s diverse regions. This growth is a testament to the country’s efforts to diversify its tourism offerings beyond traditional religious pilgrimages.

Employment in the tourism sector has seen a considerable boost, with the number of jobs rising from 750,000 to 960,000. The hospitality sector has also made strides in localisation, reaching 35%.

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Al-Khateeb disclosed that the ministry has allocated an annual budget of SR375m ($99.73m) to support the qualification and training of up to 100,000 Saudis.

This initiative includes providing over 10,000 opportunities at world-class institutes to prepare them for leadership roles within the industry.

By the end of last year, the tourism sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product reached 5%. There are ongoing efforts to double this contribution to 10% by 2030.

The economic impact of the sector is evident, with a reported surplus of over SR41bn in the balance of payments during the first half of 2024, surpassing the SR48.1bn recorded for the entire year of 2023.

Al-Khateeb said: “The tourism ministry, under the leadership of HRH the Crown Prince, is investing heavily in training and developing local talent.

“This marks a significant turnaround from 2018 when the balance recorded a deficit of SR10bn.”