The Saudi Minister of Tourism mentioned Wednesday that the dominion had 30 million worldwide arrivals in 2024, a brand new document for the nation. And it was a big enhance from when Saudi Arabia opened for worldwide tourism in 2019 with simply over 17.5 million guests.
Nonetheless, the expansion in 2024, at 9.4%, was slower than in earlier years. In 2023, arrivals surged 65% to 27.42 million. To hit its objective of 70 million worldwide guests by 2030, Saudi wants a median annual enhance of roughly 6.6 million guests, or 14.69% per 12 months.
Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb acknowledged challenges however expressed optimism about Saudi Arabia’s progress and reiterated the dominion’s targets. “We’re making errors, however we’re studying quick. Every single day, we adapt and enhance,” he mentioned throughout a panel at Davos on Wednesday. “We’re seeing the numbers: We obtained 30 million worldwide arrivals final 12 months—a document. By 2030, we intention to achieve 70 million guests, making Saudi Arabia one of many prime seven most visited international locations.”
“We got here late to the business, we opened our borders in 2019. We’re taking [tourism] from 3% of GDP to 10% by the top of 2030. We have been at 5% on the finish of final 12 months. We’re doubling our [hotel] rooms from 400,000 to 800,000 in 10 years.”
Saudi Arabia has but to publish detailed information from final 12 months on the Ministry of Tourism web site.
Between 2021 and 2022, worldwide tourism in Saudi jumped greater than 378%, although journey in 2021 was nonetheless feeling the results of Covid.
Assured the nation can attain 70 million arrivals, Al Khateeb said Saudi would not face a problem of “over-tourism” because it grows.
He mentioned: “There’s nothing referred to as ‘over-tourism,’ there may be imbalance or mismanagement of visitors. Have a look at Italy and even Saudi Arabia, we now have property fragmented across the nation. In case you have every part in a single metropolis – like Paris – you have got individuals staying in Paris.”
Prime Supply Markets
Talking to Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat initially of Davos, Al Khateeb mentioned the main target, for now, is on driving home and regional journey. He mentioned that the nation had a complete of 127 million vacationers final 12 months, which means 97 million have been home.
“We initially deal with home vacationers, then we deal with vacationers within the area, that are the Gulf international locations, and we make it possible for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attracts residents of the Gulf international locations to it, and to benefit from the Riyadh Season, Jeddah Season, the Pink Sea and Abha in the summertime… and others. Then we attain European international locations, neighboring international locations, China and India, and these markets are essential,” he mentioned.
2024 noticed the launch of quite a few campaigns designed to attract worldwide vacationers. “The Land is Calling” marketing campaign launched in August focused at the UK, France, Italy, Germany, and the US.
A month later, it launched a marketing campaign focusing on Indian vacationers. A marketing campaign in China was additionally launched.
All these campaigns centered on Saudi’s rising leisure tourism choices, although traditionally, nearly all of journey into Saudi is spiritual tourism, in line with information from the Ministry of Tourism.
Al Khateeb affirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that spiritual tourism was nonetheless the largest driver final 12 months.
“Makkah and Madinah nonetheless prime the listing of probably the most visited locations in Saudi Arabia, and appeal to thousands and thousands of pilgrims yearly, resulting from their spiritual significance.”
‘A Want For Affordability’
A number of large-scale tourism developments started ramping up final 12 months, together with Neom’s Sindalah Island, which launched on the finish of October; The Pink Sea, which opened 4 new resorts and direct flights to and from Dubai; and Diriyah Gate, which opened its first lodge. The 12 months forward is anticipated to see an acceleration, with Pink Sea International planning 16 motels and Amaala – the sister venture of Pink Sea – one other 12.
Nonetheless, these luxury-focused developments, with their restricted room counts, could not considerably increase total tourism numbers.
At Davos, Al Khateeb extra broadly careworn the necessity for affordability within the journey sector. “International locations should make journey extra accessible and reasonably priced. Many cities as we speak are very costly,” he famous.
In a press release despatched to Skift, the Saudi Tourism Authority highlighted that worldwide customer spending was consistent with “international averages” final 12 months.
“In 2024, Saudi solidified its place as a worldwide tourism vacation spot for all, welcoming a variety of tourists and showcasing the distinctive range and richness our nation has to supply. Key locations like Jeddah, Riyadh, Aseer, and Madinah noticed a surge in guests, with the bulk experiencing a median spend per evening on par with international averages,” the assertion learn.
The assertion added: “Elevated accessibility performed an important position. The introduction of recent low-cost carriers and routes, coupled with a wider vary of lodging options, made journey to and inside Saudi extra handy and reasonably priced for all. Focused campaigns successfully engaged particular ardour teams throughout all segments.”
“Whereas we continued to develop high-end resorts in luxurious locations just like the Saudi Pink Sea and AlUla, our focus has remained on offering experiences which are accessible to everybody.”
