RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has emerged as the third-fastest-growing destination worldwide for international tourism recovery in 2023, with arrivals increasing by 61 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest World Tourism Barometer from the UN World Tourism Organization.
The Middle East, led by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, has recorded the strongest growth globally, with international tourism recovering 98 percent of its pre-pandemic activity. Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, a key pillar of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, is central to its broader strategy to diversify the economy away from oil dependence.
This growth is fueling efforts to boost tourism’s contribution to the national gross domestic product, with a target to raise its share from 3 percent to 10 percent by the end of the decade, aligning with the Vision 2030 objectives.
According to the Barometer, 1.1 billion international tourists traveled globally between January and September 2023, marking a major milestone in the industry’s recovery post-COVID-19.
Full recovery is expected by the end of the year, with the Middle East leading the way in growth, driven by Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s stellar performance.
Qatar, for example, saw more than double the number of arrivals compared to 2019, while Saudi Arabia's surge in visitor numbers further cemented its position as a global tourism leader.
Globally, tourism recovery has been steady across regions. Europe and Africa both surpassed 2019 levels in tourist arrivals, while the Americas reached 97 percent of pre-pandemic figures. Asia and the Pacific, which reopened more gradually, reached 85 percent of 2019 levels by September, showing continued improvement.
The Northern Hemisphere’s summer travel season was especially strong, with global arrivals nearly matching pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter.
Tourism spending has also surged. Of the 43 destinations tracked by the UNWTO, 35 reported higher tourism receipts than before the pandemic. This trend is reflected in Saudi Arabia, which has seen an increase in both visitor numbers and spending. Other countries, including Japan, Turkiye, and France, have also experienced significant growth in tourism receipts. Spain, Italy, and the UK also reported strong increases in tourism-related earnings.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili commented: “The strong growth in tourism receipts is excellent news for economies worldwide. The fact that visitor spending is growing even faster than arrivals directly benefits millions of jobs, small businesses, and contributes significantly to the balance of payments and tax revenues in many countries.”
As global tourism recovers, Saudi Arabia continues to capitalize on this momentum to solidify its position as a leading global travel destination, while advancing its ambitious economic diversification goals.
