Saudi Arabia has witnessed a remarkable 58% growth in tourist numbers during the first seven months of this year compared to the same period in 2019, ranking second globally in terms of tourist arrivals.
The boost is a result of the government’s efforts to strengthen the tourism sector, by facilitating the visa procedures and other steps.
Experts told Asharq Al-Awsat that the successive international achievements strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position to lead the tourism scene worldwide, stressing that facilitating procedures for visitors to the Kingdom has contributed to the growth in the number of arriving tourists.
General Manager and CEO of Abdul-Mohsen Al Hokair Group, Majed Al-Hokair, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia’s global ranking confirmed that the country was currently leading the tourism scene, thanks to the government’s efforts to benefit from the available strengths and characteristics of every region, city and location to attract foreign tourists.
He added that the government was able to employ electronic services to facilitate procedures for tourists coming to the Kingdom, noting that the indicators issued by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) enhance the country’s position to become part of the world tourism map.
Nasser Al-Ghailan, tourism expert and founder of a leading tourism investment group, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia’s advanced raking in international indicators makes it an attractive destination for foreign investments.
He noted that simple electronic visa procedures have helped increase the number of foreign tourists, allowing visitors to explore the Kingdom’s cultural and heritage diversity, in addition to its mountainous and marine areas and other landmarks.
“The Kingdom has become the focus of attention of the world, and has even made its mark on the international map to be a suitable choice for visitors looking for fun and exploring new areas with diverse attractions”, Al-Ghailan said.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the Kingdom witnessed a remarkable 58% growth in tourist numbers during the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2019.
The data is sourced from the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, published by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in September 2023.
Last week, Riyadh received more than 500 government officials, tourism sector leaders and experts from 120 countries, who celebrated World Tourism Day under the slogan “Tourism and Green Investment,” in an event described as the “largest” in more than 43 years.
