Saudi Arabia ranks 12th globally in international visitor spending in 2023

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's flag

Saudi Arabia advanced 15 spots to the 12^th rank globally in international visitor spending in 2023, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

This achievement marks the highest rise among the top 50 countries compared to 2019.

The Kingdom led the G20 nations in international visitor growth, recording a 73% increase, alongside a remarkable 207% rise in international tourism revenue from January to July 2024, compared to the same period in 2019.

Globally, international tourism rebounded, reaching 96% of pre-COVID-19 levels from January to July 2024, with approximately 790 million tourists marking an 11% increase over the same period in 2023.

The Middle East continues to lead growth among all regions, with a 26% rise in international arrivals compared to 2019, according to the UNWTO report.

Saudi Arabia received 109.3 million domestic and inbound tourists in 2023, according to data available with Argaam.

Domestic tourists accounted for nearly 75%, or 81.9 million, of the total, while international tourists represented the remaining 25%, or about 27.4 million.