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Saudi Arabia Sees 656% Surge in Leisure Tourism in 2024

File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat
File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Sees 656% Surge in Leisure Tourism in 2024

File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat
File photo of Saudi flag/Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism said its sector, particularly the leisure and holiday segments, witnessed substantial growth, due in no small part to the Kingdom's Vision 2030 directives.
In a statement marking World Tourism Day, observed every year on September 27, the ministry said that the Kingdom welcomed 17.5 million international tourists between January and July 2024, a 10% increase over the same period in 2023 and a 73% increase compared to the 2019 figures, SPA reported.
Most striking is the 656% increase in the number of tourists arriving specifically for entertainment and holiday purpose. The ministry said that 4.2 million tourists arrived for these purposes in the first seven months of 2024, a 25% increase over the previous year and an enormous leap over pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
These impressive results highlight the success of the Kingdom's long-term tourism strategy, under Vision 2030, which seeks to transform Saudi Arabia into a global tourism destination. The Kingdom had set the goal of 100 million tourists by 2030, but achieved this milestone in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule.
Saudi Arabia was acknowledged as the fastest-growing G20 country in the latest UN World Tourism Barometer report. According to September report, Saudi Arabia leads both in the growth of international tourist numbers and in tourism revenues.
These figures underscore the Kingdom's strategic focus on developing a sustainable tourism sector, improving infrastructure, and promoting Saudi Arabia as a premier global destination.
The ministry's achievements reflect the effectiveness of these efforts and position the Kingdom as a key player in the field of global tourism.

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US Trade Delegation in Iraq to Boost Economic Ties

Iraqis walk through the book market in the Mutanabi Street of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP)
Iraqis walk through the book market in the Mutanabi Street of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP)
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US Trade Delegation in Iraq to Boost Economic Ties

Iraqis walk through the book market in the Mutanabi Street of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP)
Iraqis walk through the book market in the Mutanabi Street of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP)

A US trade delegation representing 60 companies was visiting Iraq to sign economic cooperation agreements with the private sector, Washington's embassy in Baghdad said Tuesday.

The three-day visit, which began on Monday, comes amid fears of an international recession after US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on numerous countries, which included 39 percent duties on Iraqi imports.

The US delegation consists of 101 members from 60 companies in the energy, technology and health sectors, who are set to meet with senior Iraqi officials and sign agreements, said an embassy statement to AFP.

It is the largest US trade mission to Iraq in the more than 100-year history of the United States Chamber of Commerce, the embassy added.

In a post on X, the US mission said that a "pivotal memorandum of understanding to strengthen ties between the US and Iraqi private sectors" was signed on Monday between the US Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce.

"This partnership will foster long-term economic collaboration," it said.

According to the office of the US trade representative in Iraq, total goods trade with the oil-rich country reached $9.1 billion in 2024, with US exports amounting to $1.7 billion.

US goods imports from Iraq totaled $7.4 billion.

During the visit, Iraq is expected to sign a "landmark agreement" with General Electric to develop a high-efficiency power plant, according to Farhad Alaaldin, foreign policy adviser to the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Last year, during Sudani's visit to Washington, Iraq and the United States signed several memoranda of understanding in the energy sector, including one with General Electric to ensure the maintenance of the Iraqi electricity grid.

Iraq's power plants are currently highly dependent on gas imported from Iran, which provides about a third of its neighbor's energy needs.

But Tehran has often cut supplies, exacerbating regular power outages.

Baghdad has repeatedly stressed the need to diversify energy sources to reduce its dependence on Iran.

Iraq has been trying to move past decades of war and unrest, including a sectarian struggle after the US-led invasion 2003 toppled Saddam Hussein.