The KSA is a Pioneer in Global Tourism & Foreign Attractions

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) recently released statistics from its May 2025 “Barometer” report, which revealed that Saudi Arabia led the world in growth of global tourism receipts in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2019.

In comparison to the first quarter of 2024, foreign tourism sales increased to over SAR 49.4 billion, or $13.2 billion, representing an annual growth rate of almost 10%.

Additionally, the country experienced a startling 102% increase in foreign visitors compared to the same quarter in 2019, which was significantly lower than the 3% global growth rate. In contrast, the average growth rate of Middle Eastern tourism was only 44%.

Read more: Dammam Corniche

A Snapshot of KSA’s Thriving Tourism Sector

As per the survey, Saudi Arabia maintained its second position in the Middle East and placed third globally in terms of the growth rate of foreign tourist arrivals. Confirming its dominant position in the global tourism scene, the Saudi Gazette research also showed that the kingdom topped the list of nations in terms of growth rates in foreign tourism income.

According to additional direct statistics, the balance of payments’ travel account surplus increased by 11.7% to SAR 26.8 billion in the first quarter of 2025 from the same time in 2024. The number of tourists also increased to almost 9.6 million, with a growing proportion of them not being religious.

The United Nations Tourism Organisation’s May 2025 World Tourism Barometer report showed that, when compared to the same period in 2019, Saudi Arabia was the world’s top tourist destination in terms of growth rates in foreign visitor arrivals in the first quarter of 2025.

In terms of the increased rate of foreign visitor arrivals in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2019, Saudi Arabia came in second in the Middle East and third internationally, the report said.

In the first quarter of 2025, foreign visitor arrivals increased by 102% over the same period in 2019, surpassing both the global growth rate of 3% and the Middle East growth rate of 44%. By proving its dominance in numbers, the Kingdom has solidified its place as the world’s and the region’s top travel destination.

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