Saudi minister expects tourism sector to drop 35%-45% in 2020

Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector could see a year-on-year (YoY) decline between 35% and 45% in 2020 due to the government’s measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, depending on how fast the Kingdom will reopen and receive visitors, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, told Reuters on Friday.

“The sector has been severely impacted, hotels globally are suffering today from very low occupancy ratios, it is the case here in Saudi Arabia as well. We hope things get better in the next few weeks and we have a fast recovery,” he added.

Reopening the economy is on top of the Saudi government agenda but this will only happen once the pandemic is under control.

In September 2019, Saudi Arabia opened its doors to international visitors from 49 countries by issuing tourist visas.

Read: Saudi Arabia to launch tomorrow online tourist visa application for 49 countries

For pilgrimage, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has been in contact with all Muslim countries and would make a decision in the near future.

“I can tell you that the safety and security of the people comes first, Haj and Umra are the kind of events that bring millions of people together in one location and if there is not enough comfort for the government to go ahead, the risk is very high.”

In late February, the Saudi government temporarily suspended entry to the Kingdom for Umrah pilgrims and those planning to visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, Argaam reported.

Related: Saudi Arabia temporarily suspends Umrah visas on coronavirus

In late-February the kingdom closed its borders to foreign “umrah” pilgrims and to tourists from at least 25 countries. In March, it barred all travel in and out of the country.

Pilgrimage is big business for Saudi Arabia, which hosts Islam’s two holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, and is the backbone of plans to expand visitor numbers under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious economic reform agenda.

Some 2.5 million pilgrims usually flock to the kingdom for the week-long haj ritual, expected to take place in July this year. But Saudi Arabia has urged Muslims to wait before making plans to attend until there’s more clarity about the deadly coronavirus pandemic