Saudi tourism continues to cement its position as one of the Kingdom’s leading drivers of economic growth, after the sector set new records in 2025 in terms of visitor numbers and spending, clearly reflecting the sector’s momentum in line with the goals of Vision 2030 and the rapid transformation that has made tourism a key pillar in supporting the economy and diversifying sources of income.
Record figures reflect the sector’s strength
The annual statistical report from the Ministry of Tourism for 2025 revealed continued growth across various sector indicators, with the total number of domestic and international tourists rising to approximately 123 million, marking a 6% increase compared to 2024.
Tourism spending also reached an all-time high, amounting to approximately 304 billion riyals, with an annual growth rate of 7%, reflecting the growing appeal of Saudi tourist destinations and the expanding demand for tourism products and services.
The report reviewed the sector’s development over the past years and the targets achieved under the National Tourism Strategy, which aims to strengthen the sector’s contribution to the national economy and enhance its global competitiveness.
Al-Khatib: Tourism Has Become a Major Economic Pillar
Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khatib emphasized that the findings in the report reflect the scale of the transformation the sector has undergone with the support of the wise leadership, noting that tourism has become one of the main pillars for diversifying the national economy and achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
He explained that the Kingdom’s record-high level of tourism spending—304 billion riyals in 2025—highlights the sector’s growing economic impact, along with its social benefits, such as job creation, the development of tourist destinations, and contributing to an improved quality of life.
A Growing Contribution to the National Economy
The report highlighted the growing role of tourism in supporting economic activity, with the sector’s direct contribution to GDP reaching 4.9% in 2024, marking a 14% increase compared to the previous year.
The sector also continued to achieve positive results in 2025, with the travel item in the balance of payments recording a surplus of 49.4 billion riyals, while its contribution exceeded 61% of total service exports, underscoring its growing role in supporting the Kingdom’s foreign revenue.
29.3 million visitors from abroad
In terms of inbound tourism, the Kingdom welcomed approximately 29.3 million visitors from abroad in 2025, who spent nearly 176.6 billion riyals.
In contrast, the number of domestic tourists reached approximately 93.3 million, with total spending amounting to 127.1 billion riyals, reflecting the continued strength of domestic demand and its role in supporting the sector’s growth.
The data also revealed a shift in visit patterns, as the percentage of overnight visitors for non-religious purposes rose to 52% of total inbound visitors, compared to 44% in 2019, which points to the diversification of tourism products and the broadening range of activities and destinations attracting visitors.
Women’s Empowerment and Expanding Employment Opportunities
In terms of employment, the report indicated that the number of employees in tourism activities and industries reached approximately 1.03 million in 2025. The participation of Saudi women in tourism jobs held by Saudi nationals recorded remarkable growth, rising to 47%, compared to just 5% in 2018—an indicator reflecting the sector’s success in supporting women’s economic empowerment and attracting national talent to work in various tourism fields.
