RIYADH — Saudi Arabia ranked third globally in terms of international tourist arrivals, registering over 61 percent 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. 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.
