Saudi Arabia Ranks 3rd Globally in 2024 Tourist Arrival Growth

File photo of the Saudi flag - AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag - AAWSAT
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Saudi Arabia Ranks 3rd Globally in 2024 Tourist Arrival Growth

File photo of the Saudi flag - AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag - AAWSAT

Saudi Arabia ranked third globally in terms of international tourist arrivals, registering an over 61% growth in the first eight to nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2019, according to a press release issued by UN Tourism this December.
The continued success in the tourism sector underlines the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism, through its plans and strategies, and of all the other stakeholders in the tourism industry, which strive to achieve the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

According to SPA, the significant increase in the number of inbound tourists also reflects traveler confidence in the Kingdom's attractive and diverse tourism offering, which enhances Saudi Arabia's standing as a leading global tourist destination.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia advanced 15 positions compared to 2019 in the global ranking concerned with inbound tourist spending, ranking 12th, leading the upward movement among the top 50 countries.
Moreover, the Kingdom led the G20 countries in the growth of international tourist arrivals in the first seven months of 2024 compared to the same period of 2019.



Lightning at a Zoo in France Leaves Woman in Critical Condition

FILE - A view of Marseille, France, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - A view of Marseille, France, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
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Lightning at a Zoo in France Leaves Woman in Critical Condition

FILE - A view of Marseille, France, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - A view of Marseille, France, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)

A lightning strike at a zoo in southern France on Wednesday left a German woman in critical condition, a fire service said.

The Bouches-du-Rhone region fire service said another 12 people were slightly injured, four of them children. They had gathered during a rainstorm at the La Barben animal park, north of Marseille.

According to The Associated Press, the service said no animals were hit.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether anyone was struck directly. The service said the lightning appeared to strike the ground first. It said some people had sore ears and eyes.

It said it had no immediate details about the German woman's injuries.

The zoo didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.