عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Arabia: Inbound Tourism Achieves 142% Growth during First Half of 2023

AlUla is one of the top tourist destinations in Saudi Arabia. (Royal Commission for AlUla)
AlUla is one of the top tourist destinations in Saudi Arabia. (Royal Commission for AlUla)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia: Inbound Tourism Achieves 142% Growth during First Half of 2023

AlUla is one of the top tourist destinations in Saudi Arabia. (Royal Commission for AlUla)
AlUla is one of the top tourist destinations in Saudi Arabia. (Royal Commission for AlUla)

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism said the total number of tourists during the first half of 2023, reached 53.6 million, including 14.6 million inbound travelers and 39 million local tourists, marking a growth in the number of incoming visitors by 142 percent.

In the preliminary data of tourism statistics for the first half of 2023, the ministry noted that the total tourism spending in the Kingdom reached SAR 150 billion ($40 billion), distributed between SAR 86.9 billion from incoming tourism, and SAR 63.1 billion from domestic tourism.

Local tourism spending increased by 16 percent, while spending by foreign tourists rose by 132 percent.

According to the ministry, tourists visiting the country for entertainment and holidays represented 43 percent of the total, with a growth rate of 18 percent in the first half of 2023, compared to the same period last year.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Local Content in Saudi Government Projects Rises to 47% by Q3

Al-Falih said that local content policies are integral to the state’s strategy. (SPA)
Al-Falih said that local content policies are integral to the state’s strategy. (SPA)
TT
TT

Local Content in Saudi Government Projects Rises to 47% by Q3

Al-Falih said that local content policies are integral to the state’s strategy. (SPA)
Al-Falih said that local content policies are integral to the state’s strategy. (SPA)

The proportion of local content in Saudi government projects has grown significantly, rising from 33% in 2020 to approximately 47% by the end of the third quarter of this year. This progress was announced by Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef during a ministerial session titled, Future Trends in Light of Vision 2030, at the second edition of the Local Content Forum 2024.

Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb emphasized that tourism is a cornerstone of Vision 2030, stating: “We aim to localize investment spending with the support of national institutions.”

He also outlined plans to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy from 3% in 2019 to 10%.

Al-Khateeb underscored the collaborative efforts underway with the private sector to develop the tourism industry.

For his part, Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih highlighted that local content policies have been integral to the state’s strategy since its founding. He stressed that enhancing the competitiveness of local companies plays a vital role in advancing localization efforts.

Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majed Al-Hogail stated that increasing local content is part of a long-term plan, noting that 70% of home construction technologies are now manufactured locally.

In turn, Economy and Planning Minister Faisal Al-Ibrahim explained that boosting local content helps drive economic growth. He emphasized that import substitution presents a valuable opportunity to support domestic products and balance trade.