Saudi tourism achieved a new record of incoming visitors’ spending, which exceeded SAR 100 billion ($26.6 billion) during the first three quarters of 2023.
This rapid growth is attributed to the Kingdom’s proactive strategies to increase tourist numbers © Mena Today
Saudi tourism achieved a new record of incoming visitors’ spending, which exceeded SAR 100 billion ($26.6 billion) during the first three quarters of 2023.
On Monday, the Ministry of Tourism announced that the Kingdom recorded the highest ever spending by inbound tourism until the end of the third quarter of 2023, which reached SAR 102.6 billion, with 53% growth year-on-year.
The travel surplus in the balance of payments rose by 72% compared to the same period in 2022, reaching SAR 37.8 billion at the end of the third quarter, according to data on the travel item in the balance of payments, the ministry added.
This comes as Saudi Arabia achieved a staggering 150% recovery rate in its tourism sector compared to pre-COVID-19 levels, outpacing the global recovery rate of 87% and leading the Middle East with a 120% recovery, according to a report by the UNWTO.
This rapid growth is attributed to the Kingdom’s proactive strategies to increase tourist numbers, especially following the launch of several new tourist destinations.
Saudi Arabia also ranked second among the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world.
Yemen's Houthis warned airlines, travellers and airport workers on Sunday to stay away from Saudi airports, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport killed 12 people and wounded more than 300 others.
At least 12 people were killed and more than 300 wounded in an attack on Riyadh's international airport on Saturday, the deadliest in the kingdom in more than a decade, as the Iran-backed Houthis escalate a campaign they launched this summer.
The organisers of two major Saudi energy and investment conferences said their events will go ahead this month and reassured visitors on security, after missile attacks on Riyadh's airport left four people dead and an airliner heavily damaged this week.
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