Riyadh
Saudi Arabia has set a new record for visitor spending in 2023, according to preliminary data from the Saudi Central Bank’s travel item within the balance of payments. The total expenditure of incoming visitors reached a staggering 135 billion Riyals, marking the highest figure in the kingdom’s history for foreign visitor spending.
This significant growth, a 42.8% increase compared to 2022, underscores the continued success of the Saudi tourism sector. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported that Saudi Arabia led major tourist destinations globally in terms of the growth rate of international tourists in 2023 compared to 2019. The kingdom saw a 56% increase in tourist arrivals in 2023 compared to 2019, and a remarkable 156% recovery rate compared to the pre-pandemic year.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia received wide international praise from the UN Tourism organization and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) for achieving more than 100 million tourists, both domestic and international, during 2023. The organizations commended the substantial efforts being witnessed in the Saudi tourism sector.
The historic rise in spending by visitors from abroad is part of a series of ongoing successes in the Saudi tourism industry, reflecting the kingdom’s enhanced global tourism stature and its robust recovery and growth in the post-pandemic era.
