Page last updated: 04 September 2024
Saudi Arabia attracts millions of tourists annually due to its ancient desert landscapes, rich tapestry of cultural heritage, and natural wonders.
How many people visit Saudi Arabia each year?
Over 106 million tourists visited Saudi Arabia in 2023.1
- In 2019, Saudi Arabia welcomed 20.9 million international visitors. When the pandemic began in 2020, this number dropped by 76% to 4.88 million.
- By 2021, Saudi Arabia experienced a further 27% decline in international tourism with 3.48 million visitors.
- Inbound tourism rose to 16.4 million visitors in 2022, and this trend continued in 2023 with 27.4 million visitors, marking the highest number of visitors in history.
How much do tourists spend in Saudi Arabia every year?
International tourists spent over SAR135 billion during trips to Saudi Arabia in 2023.
- Inbound tourist expenditure in Saudi Arabia generated SAR103.5 billion in 2019.
- This number decreased to SAR20 billion in 2020 due to coronavirus travel restrictions and fewer international visitors. This dropped by 26% in 2021 to SAR14.72 billion.
- Saudi Arabia started to recover in terms of international tourism revenue in 2022 with SAR98 billion.
- International tourism revenue continued to rise with SAR135 billion in 2023, marking the highest revenue in history (31% higher than the pre-pandemic year of 2019).
Which countries visit Saudi Arabia the most?
The leading sources of foreign tourists to Saudi Arabia in 2022 were Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
- In 2022, Bahrain was the top source of international visitors to Saudi Arabia, accounting for 2.1 million visits and holding a 13% market share. Kuwait also contributed significantly with 1.95 million tourists.
- Egypt accounted for a 9% share with 1.4 million international visitors.
How many people visited Saudi Arabia in 2022?
- In 2022, Saudi Arabia welcomed a total of 94.8 million visitors, with 16 million being international tourists and 77 million domestic travellers. This represents a 38% increase from the peak pre-pandemic year of 2019.
How much did people spend in Saudi Arabia in 2022?
- Saudi Arabia generated SAR 98 billion in international tourism revenue and SAR 107.3 billion in domestic tourism in 2022.
How long do visitors stay in Saudi Arabia?
- In 2020 and 2021, the average domestic tourist nightly stay was 5.3 nights and 5.54 nights, respectively.
- In 2022, domestic tourists spent 4.7 nights in Saudi Arabia while international tourists spent 16.7 nights.
Economic Impact – Saudi Arabia Tourism Statistics
The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) highlighted a record-breaking year for Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism industry, showcasing new highs in GDP contribution, sector employment, and visitor spending in 2023.2
- The tourism sector expanded by over 32%, contributing a record SAR 444.3 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP, which accounted for 11.5% of the total economy.
- A growth of 436,000 jobs in travel and tourism, raising the total to more than 2.5 million, represents nearly one in five jobs across the country.
- Travel Spending by international visitors rose by nearly 57% to SAR 227.4 billion, surpassing the previous record while domestic visitor spending increased by 21.5% to SAR 142.5 billion.
What were the peak tourist months in Saudi Arabia in 2022?
- July was the most popular month in 2022 with 12.56 million visitors due to the Hajj pilgrimage.
- April attracted 9.65 million visitors influenced by Ramadan and the start of Eid celebrations.
- November (8.84 million), May (8.35 million), and January (8.22 million) also saw high visitor numbers due to various cultural, religious, and tourism activities.
How popular is Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination?
- According to UN Tourism, Saudi Arabia ranked 1st in 2023 in terms of growth, with a notable 56% increase in international tourist arrivals compared to 2019.
- According to the January 2024 World Tourism Barometer report, Saudi Arabia also achieved an impressive 156% tourism recovery rate in international arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels.
- Saudi Arabia’s significant role in the Middle East’s tourism recovery stands out, with the region achieving a 122% recovery rate in international arrivals in 2023, surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels.
Saudi Arabia Travel Statistics for 2022 – International & Domestic Tourism
- Domestic travellers in Saudi Arabia accounted for 77 million in 2022, making up 79% of the total tourists, while international tourists amounted to 16 million.
What are the main reasons people visit Saudi Arabia?
Religious events, visiting friends and relatives, business trips, leisure, and other personal reasons are the main reasons why international tourists visit Saudi Arabia each year.
- In 2022, religious visits made up the majority, with 5.9 million visitors, mainly due to pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina.
- Visiting family and relatives was the second most popular reason, with 5.1 million visitors.
- Leisure travel accounted for a smaller but significant amount, with 2.5 million visitors.
- Business travel represented a smaller portion of visits, with 1.7 million visitors in 2022.
- Other personal reasons were the least common reason, with 1.3 million visitors in 2022.
What are the most-visited provinces in Saudi Arabia?
Based on the latest data from the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Tourism, the following are some of the top Saudi Arabia provinces that captivated the most international visitors in 2022.
- Makkah attracted 9.4 million visitors, renowned for its religious significance particularly Mecca, with total expenditure amounting to 74.4 billion SAR.
- Eastern Saudi Arabia welcomed 3.93 million visitors. The province is known for its industrial cities and developing tourism infrastructure. It generated 9.1 billion SAR in expenditures in 2022.
- Riyadh welcomed 1.9 million visitors in 2022, generating 11.5 billion SAR in expenditures.
- The Northern Borders drew 598,000 visitors with its natural beauty and cultural sites. Total expenditure amounted to 4.4 billion SAR.
- Alqassim, known for its agricultural heritage and lively traditional festivals, welcomed 201,000 visitors in 2022 and generated 6.36 billion SAR in expenditures.
Africa Travel Statistics Resources
Asia Travel Statistics Resources
- China Statistics
- Dubai Statistics
- Hong Kong Statistics
- India Statistics
- Indonesia Statistics (incl. Bali)
- Israel Statistics
- Japan Statistics (incl. Hokkaido, Okinawa, Osaka, Tokyo)
- Malaysia Statistics
- Singapore Statistics
- South Korea Statistics
- Sri Lanka Statistics
- Thailand Statistics (incl. Bangkok)
- Turkey Statistics
