Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has unveiled new data confirming 2025 as the most successful year for Saudi tourism to date, with a record 122 million visitors and SR 300 billion ($81 billion) in tourism spending. This impressive performance marks another significant milestone for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a key driver of the country’s shift from an oil-dependent economy to one that actively fosters diverse sectors like tourism and business travel.
What Are the Key Highlights of the 2025 Data?
The Saudi Ministry of Tourism’s preliminary data for 2025 showcases substantial growth in both international and domestic tourism markets. The Kingdom saw a 5% increase in total visitor volume compared to 2024, welcoming a record 122 million visitors, including both domestic and international travelers. The total tourism spending reached SR 300 billion, marking a 6% rise over the previous year.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector played a pivotal role in strengthening the Kingdom’s economic position, contributing significantly to the trade balance surplus. Between 2019 and 2025, the tourism sector’s impact on the trade balance surplus grew by more than tenfold, reaching over SR 50 billion, signaling the sector’s increasing importance to the national economy.
How Is Tourism Supporting Saudi Arabia’s Economic Diversification?
Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has made significant strides toward economic diversification, and tourism has become a cornerstone of this strategy. The sector’s direct contribution to Saudi Arabia’s GDP reached 5% by the end of 2025, with a clear roadmap to double this figure by 2030. This transition from “short-term volume” to positioning tourism as “core economic infrastructure” reflects Saudi Arabia’s long-term commitment to building a resilient, diversified economy. More
By: Paramita Sarkar
