Saudi Arabia has claimed the top spot globally for growth in international tourism revenues during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2019, as reported in the UN Tourism Barometer released in May 2025
. The Kingdom recorded a staggering 102% increase in visitor numbers over the four-year span—vastly defeating the global average growth of just 3% and even outpacing the Middle East average of 44%
Data from the Saudi Central Bank indicates that international visitors spent SR 49.4 billion (approximately $13.2 billion) during Q1 2025, reflecting around 10% year-on-year growth and bolstering a travel account surplus of SR 26.8 billion—an 11.7% improvement over Q1 2024
. Meanwhile, total international tourism income in 2024 surged by 148% compared to 2019, making Saudi Arabia the fastest-growing destination among G20 nations
This impressive performance underscores the success of Vision 2030—Saudi Arabia’s flagship economic diversification plan—and its investment in ambitious “giga‑projects” like NEOM, Diriyah Gate, and the Red Sea development, all designed to elevate visitor experience and infrastructure
. In 2024, international tourist arrivals hit 29.7 million, a 70% rise from 2019, while domestic trips almost doubled to 86.2 million, signalling a robust rise on both fronts
Tourism Minister Ahmed Al‑Khateeb took to X to attribute the achievement to cohesive teamwork and the Kingdom’s strategic alignment with Vision 2030 goals
. As Saudi Arabia continues to accelerate towards its 2030 objective of welcoming 150 million annual visitors, this Q1 milestone marks another decisive leap forward in its transformation into a global tourism powerhouse.
