Riyadh — Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb affirmed that tourism now contributes 5% to the Kingdom’s GDP—up from 3% in 2019—with ambitions to reach 10% by 2030, aligning it with global standards where tourism supports 10% of the world economy.
Speaking at the Investment Forum, Al-Khateeb credited Vision 2030 with enabling the Kingdom to attract over 100 million tourists, driven by streamlined visa procedures and infrastructure development. Citizens of 65 countries can now obtain a Saudi visit visa in as little as two to five minutes.
Since 2019, Saudi Arabia has surged into the ranks of the top 10 most visited countries, welcoming over 30 million international visitors, up from just five million. The government aims to increase that figure to 50 million by 2030, positioning Saudi Arabia among the top five global tourist destinations.
“We are building a new economic pillar under the guidance of the Crown Prince,” Al-Khateeb stated. “Tourism will become as vital to our economy as oil.”
