Saudi Arabia has announced a historic surge in its inbound tourism numbers for the first half of the year which soared to hit 14.6 million.
According to preliminary data released by Ministry of Tourism for H1, there has been a 142% increase in the number of inbound tourists compared to the same period last year.
This growth is accompanied by a significant 132% rise in inbound tourism spending, contributing SR87 billion ($23 billion) to the economy thus setting a new record in the sector, it stated.
Saudi Arabia's achieved positive results during this year, with total number of tourists (overnight visitors for all purposes) reaching (53.6 million), including (39 million) domestic tourists and (14.6 million) inbound tourists.
The total tourism spending soared to SAR150 billion, of which SAR63.1 billion came from domestic tourism and SAR86.9 billion from Inbound tourism, thus hinting at a new historical record for Saudi tourism, said the data.
Announcing the tremendous growth in Saudi inbound tourism, the ministry said this confirms the effectiveness of the key initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Tourism and its partners in attracting visitors through attractive tourism products and quality of services, in addition to the gamechanger visa rules.
"Inbound tourism achieved historical record numbers in the first half of 2023, recording an increase of (142%) in number of tourists and (132%) in total tourism spending vs. the first half of 2022. With the continuous development of the tourism sector, there has been an increase in the number of tourists for all purposes with leisure tourists showing the highest growth (347%) vs. the first half of 2022, said the ministry citing the data.
On the domestic tourism scenario, the ministry data said that it had recorded a 16% growth in tourism spending, due to the average length of stay increasing from (4.6) nights in the first half of 2022 to (6.3) nights in the first half of 2023.
Leisure was the top purpose in number of visitors, achieving an increase of (18%) compared to the first half 2022, with (16.6M) tourists accounting for (43%) of all domestic tourists’ trips, it stated.
On the outbound tourism, the ministry said there was a 37% increase in the number of tourists for the first half, with spending also increasing by (74%) compared the first half of 2022.
This increase was mainly due to the lifting of global travel restrictions. in addition to having the start of the summer season and school break in June.
Outbound Non-Saudis residents represented (45%) of all outbound tourists in the first half of 2023, increasing by (24%) compared to the first half of 2022, while their spending accounted for (66%) of all outbound spending, said the data released by the ministry.
Meeting friends and relatives was the top purpose of visits representing (67%) of all non-Saudi outbound tourist trips, with the average length of stay increasing from (19.3) nights in the first half of 2022 to (45.5) nights in the first half of 2023 resulting in an increase of (109%) for non-Saudi outbound spend for all purposes.
Saudi outbound tourists recorded an increase of (49%) mostly to neighboring countries, whereas Saudi outbound tourism spending increased by (32%) compared to the first half of 2022, said the data.
Notably, the average spend per night for Saudis has decreased from (SAR599) in the first half of 2022, to (SAR332) in the first half of 2023, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
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