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WTO: 156% More Tourists Arrive in the Kingdom in 2023 Compared to 2019

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)
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WTO: 156% More Tourists Arrive in the Kingdom in 2023 Compared to 2019

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 World Tourism Organization (WTO) barometer revealed in its January report that 156% more tourists arrived in the Kingdom in 2023 compared to 2019, an achievement attributed to the global recovery in the field of tourism.
The Middle East is the only region to have achieved tourism growth at pre-pandemic levels receiving 122% more tourists in 2023 than in 2019, SPA reported.
According to the report, the global rate of tourism recovery in 2023 stood at 88% of pre-pandemic levels, registering an estimated 1,3 billion arrivals. International tourism revenues reached $1,3 trillion, approaching 93% of the $1,5 trillion achieved in 2019.
WTO estimates the direct tourism contribution to the GDP in 2023 to have stood at 3%, having reached $3,3 trillion. It expects global tourism to fully recover from the pandemic during 2024, and to grow by 2% compared to 2019.
Reports issued by WTO show a significant contribution of the tourism sector in the Kingdom to the economy; the Kingdom topped the G20 countries' number of arriving tourists in 2023, and ranked second among the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world in the first three quarters of last year.
Various tourist destinations in the Kingdom witnessed a significant increase in the number of visitors, both domestic and foreign in 2023, and registered a new record in spending by visitors coming from abroad, according to data issued by the Central Bank of Saudi Arabia (SAMA), which shows that tourism revenues reached more than SAR100 billion for the first three quarters of 2023.
This is way above the initial estimation of SAR37,8 billion in the first three quarters of 2023, and a 72% increase over the comparison period of 2022.
These achievements are proof of the Kingdom’s distinguished position as a global tourist destination, and reflect travelers’ confidence in the country's tourism options and diversity.

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Ukraine Threatens to Halt Transit of Russian Oil to Europe

A view of storage tanks and pipelines at the Mero central oil tank farm, which moves crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline, near Nelahozeves, Czech Republic, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo
A view of storage tanks and pipelines at the Mero central oil tank farm, which moves crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline, near Nelahozeves, Czech Republic, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo
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Ukraine Threatens to Halt Transit of Russian Oil to Europe

A view of storage tanks and pipelines at the Mero central oil tank farm, which moves crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline, near Nelahozeves, Czech Republic, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo
A view of storage tanks and pipelines at the Mero central oil tank farm, which moves crude through the Druzhba oil pipeline, near Nelahozeves, Czech Republic, August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo

A top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said Kyiv would halt the transit of Russian oil across its territory at the end of the year, when the current contract expires and is not renewed.

Mykhailo Podolyak said in an interview with the Novini.Live broadcaster that current transit contracts for Russian supplies that run through the end of the year will not be renewed.

“There is no doubt that it will all end on January 1, 2025,” he said.

Kiev says it is prepared to transport gas from the Central Asian countries or Azerbaijan to Europe, but not from Russia, as it is crucial for Ukraine to deprive Russia of its sources of income from the sale of raw materials after it attacked its neighbor well over two years ago.

The contract for the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe between the state-owned companies Gazprom and Naftogaz ends on December 31.

Despite the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainians have fulfilled the contract terms - in part at the insistence of its European neighbors, especially Hungary.

But the leadership in Kiev has repeatedly made it clear that it wants the shipments to end.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic energy security envoy Vaclav Bartuska said on Friday that any potential halt in oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline through Ukraine from Russia from next year would not be a problem for the country.

Responding to a Reuters question – on comments by Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak that flows of Russian oil may stop from January – Bartuska said Ukraine had also in the past warned of a potential halt.

“This is not the first time, this time maybe they mean it seriously – we shall see,” Bartuska said in a text message. “For the Czech Republic, it is not a problem.”

To end partial dependency on the Druzhba pipeline, Czech state-owned pipeline operator MERO has been investing in raising the capacity of the TAL pipeline from Italy to Germany, which connects to the IKL pipeline supplying the Czech Republic.

From next year, the increased capacity would be sufficient for the total needs of the country’s two refineries, owned by Poland’s Orlen, of up to 8 million tons of crude per year.

MERO has said it planned to achieve the country’s independence from Russian oil from the start of 2025, although the TAL upgrade would be finished by June 2025.

On Friday, oil prices stabilized, heading for a weekly increase, as disruptions in Libyan production and Iraq’s plans to curb output raised concerns about supply.

Meanwhile, data showing that the US economy grew faster than initially estimated eased recession fears.

However, signs of weakening demand, particularly in China, capped gains.

Brent crude futures for October delivery, which expire on Friday, fell by 7 cents, or 0.09%, to $79.87 per barrel. The more actively traded November contract rose 5 cents, or 0.06%, to $78.87.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures added 6 cents, or 0.08%, to $75.97 per barrel.

The day before, both benchmarks had risen by more than $1, and so far this week, they have gained 1.1% and 1.6%, respectively.

Additionally, a drop in Libyan exports and the prospect of lower Iraqi crude production in September are expected to help keep the oil market undersupplied.

Over half of Libya’s oil production, around 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), was halted on Thursday, and exports were suspended at several ports due to a standoff between rival political factions.

Elsewhere, Iraq plans to reduce oil output in September as part of a plan to compensate for producing over the quota agreed with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

Iraq, which produced 4.25 million bpd in July, will cut output to between 3.85 million and 3.9 million bpd next month, the source said.