The national tourism sector is rapidly moving toward the future, guided by its strategy and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and its projects and initiatives, which work tirelessly to promote tourist destinations rich in geographical and historical diversity, highlighting natural resources, archaeological treasures, and historical sites that meet the expectations of tourists.
The Kingdom has become a destination for tourists from across the region and the world, with the number of visas issued—even before the COVID-19 pandemic—reaching approximately 450,000, since the launch of the tourist visa by the Saudi Tourism Authority in 2019, targeting 49 countries in the first phase and facilitating the acquisition of tourist visas electronically or through entry points to the Kingdom within specific regulatory frameworks.
The Authority has developed programs to attract tourists, focused on stimulating tourism investment, and activated the role of the private sector, The Authority has also participated in local and international tourism exhibitions and has focused on marketing destinations, sites, itineraries, products, and tourism packages both domestically and internationally.
Marketing and promotional campaigns for tourist destinations in the Kingdom have been launched, the latest of which is the “Saudi Summer” program, launched by the “Spirit of Saudi Arabia” platform under the slogan “Our Summer is on You,” to promote 11 tourist destinations through the end of September, featuring over 500 tourism experiences offered by 250 private-sector partners.
Tourism is one of the pillars of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, aimed at contributing to the diversification of the national economy, attracting investments, increasing sources of income, and providing employment opportunities for citizens, as the sector is experiencing rapid growth thanks to plans to revitalize the tourism sector. Performance indicators aligned with the 2030 targets have been established to increase the number of annual visits to 100 million by 2030, including 55 million international visits and 45 million domestic visits, creating one million jobs, and increasing the country’s GDP by 10%.
Marking a new horizon for domestic tourism, cruise ship tours have set sail from the Port of Jeddah, serving as giant floating resorts to discover the treasures of the Red Sea. These tours include various packages designed to provide travelers with enjoyment during their summer vacation.
The Saudi Tourism Authority also announced the “Saudi Expert” initiative to support partners and develop tourism products, having prepared a dedicated program to help the tourism sector improve the quality of services and products offered and strengthen cooperation among them, and other related services. Additionally, it has launched another program designed to help international partners engage with the Kingdom’s tourism ecosystem, design and develop high-end tourism offerings, provide training programs, develop joint marketing initiatives, and offer other services aimed at advancing the sector as a whole.