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IMF Report: Saudi Arabia Surpasses Vision 2030 Tourism Target

Fireworks light up the sky following the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah in December 2021. (SPA file)
Fireworks light up the sky following the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah in December 2021. (SPA file)
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IMF Report: Saudi Arabia Surpasses Vision 2030 Tourism Target

Fireworks light up the sky following the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah in December 2021. (SPA file)
Fireworks light up the sky following the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah in December 2021. (SPA file)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has highlighted Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector as a major contributor to the country’s economic diversification in its 2024 Article IV Consultation report.

The report acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s success in exceeding the Vision 2030 target of attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2023, seven years ahead of schedule.

Tourism revenues reached $36 billion in 2023, with net tourism income increasing by 38%. The sector’s direct and indirect contribution to GDP reached 11.5% in 2023, with expectations to grow to 16% by 2034.

Central to this growth has been a combination of strong domestic demand and increased international arrivals.

Non-religious tourism has surged, with increased leisure travel and visits to friends and relatives driven further by major international events such as Formula One, the 2027 Asian Cup, and the 2030 World Expo.

The IMF report underscored the role of tourism in shifting Saudi Arabia’s service balance to a surplus. This means that the Kingdom is now earning more from international visitors than it is spending on outbound tourism. By 2022, this shift resulted in a positive balance, and 2023 saw further gains through increased revenue from transportation and service exports.

The report also noted that while outbound tourism spending by Saudi nationals declined, and expatriates in the Kingdom significantly increased their leisure spending post-COVID.

Crucial to this transformation are the diverse linkages Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has created across industries, such as food, beverage, travel, cultural industries, and accommodation. These connections are helping to reduce the Kingdom’s reliance on oil-intensive sectors.

Major giga projects like Red Sea Global and Diriyah Gate are pivotal in this shift, as they focus on luxury tourism, culture preservation, and infrastructure improvements.

Vision 2030 remains the Kingdom’s comprehensive economic reform plan, with tourism at its core. The IMF’s recognition of Saudi Arabia’s progress reflects the vast potential of its tourism sector and its capacity to drive sustainable economic growth in the years to come.

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Significant Progress Announced in Development of Saudi AMAALA Luxury Tourism Destination

Inspired by the purity of the Red Sea, AMAALA is redefining the coastal lifestyle with spaces designed for deep connection to nature, to self, and to community. (SPA)
Inspired by the purity of the Red Sea, AMAALA is redefining the coastal lifestyle with spaces designed for deep connection to nature, to self, and to community. (SPA)
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Significant Progress Announced in Development of Saudi AMAALA Luxury Tourism Destination

Inspired by the purity of the Red Sea, AMAALA is redefining the coastal lifestyle with spaces designed for deep connection to nature, to self, and to community. (SPA)
Inspired by the purity of the Red Sea, AMAALA is redefining the coastal lifestyle with spaces designed for deep connection to nature, to self, and to community. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind the regenerative tourism destinations AMAALA and The Red Sea, said on Sunday it continues to make substantial progress in the ongoing development of AMAALA – a new luxury destination with wellness at its core, that empowers people to live longer, better lives.

Inspired by the purity of the Red Sea, AMAALA is redefining the coastal lifestyle with spaces designed for deep connection—to nature, to self, and to community. From medical and integrative wellness and sun-drenched adventure to world-class art and transformative events, AMAALA seamlessly integrates meaningful spaces for people and the planet to flourish, said RSG in a statement.

“We have achieved remarkable progress across every aspect of AMAALA, from our signature resorts and immersive experiences to essential utilities and infrastructure. Our unwavering focus is on infusing sustainability and regenerative principles into every facet of development,” said RSG Group CEO John Pagano.

“Once complete, AMAALA will present an extraordinary collection of assets and experiences that will elevate wellness, lifestyle, and human connection," he added.

To date, RSG has awarded over 600 contracts on AMAALA worth nearly SAR23 billion ($6.13bn) to world-leading partners. These partners share RSG's ambition to co-create luxury and wellness destinations that are developed in line with responsible development practices, prioritizing regenerative initiatives and collaboration with local communities.

As development advances, a number of key areas of AMAALA are moving toward completion, each one bringing the destination closer to welcoming guests.

At Triple Bay Marina Village, the Equinox Resort is now topped out, and concrete structure work on the Village Boutique Hotel's main building, condos and villas is nearing completion. This bustling hub will soon offer guests a haven of scenic boardwalks, waterfront restaurants, luxurious boutiques and well-known retailers, plus a vibrant year-round events program, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Red Sea.

At the Marina: flooding of the marina basin was complete at the end of 2023, and contracts for the floating pontoons and fixed decks have been awarded as RSG begins putting the final touches on this stunning central feature.

At AMAALA Yacht Club, all construction contracts have been awarded, concrete works are close to completion, and structural steel and MEP works have been started.

At Wellness Core, superstructures are present on 80% of the 220 buildings within this zone. Including world-leading wellness resorts such as Jayasom and Clinique La Prairie, guests here will discover an environment where they can focus on mental, physical, and energetic regeneration.

In another significant development, the Ministry of Health, earlier this year, approved the design of the AMAALA Hospital. The hospital will provide healthcare services for residents and visitors to the 4,200 km2 destination.

Once complete, AMAALA will feature close to 4,000 hotel rooms across 30 hotels as well as 1,200 luxury villas, apartments, and estate homes. It will also be supported by high-end retail, fine dining, wellness, and recreational facilities. AMAALA will be powered entirely by solar energy, saving the equivalent of nearly half a million tons of CO2 emissions every year.