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Tourist spending in Saudi Arabia hit new high in 2023

By Andrew Hammond
Tourists visiting Ushaiqer Heritage Village in Saudi Arabia. The government says 104 million tourists visited the country in 2023 Alamy via Reuters
Tourists visiting Ushaiqer Heritage Village in Saudi Arabia. The government says 104 million tourists visited the country in 2023
  • International tourists spent $37bn
  • 44% year-on-year increase
  • Total tourist figure of 104m

Around 27 million international tourists spent SAR141 billion riyals ($37.6 billion) in Saudi Arabia in 2023, the highest figure yet. 

The international spending, published on X by the ministry of tourism, was a 44 percent rise on 2022 and compares to the previous high of SAR103.4 billion spent by 17.5 million inbound tourists in 2019, according to government figures. 

The breakdown given by the ministry showed SAR45 billion was spent on accommodation, SAR25.5 billion on shopping, SAR21.5 billion on transportation, SAR19.4 billion on food and beverage, and SAR4 billion on entertainment. 

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The numbers are a revision upwards. In February the ministry said total spending by international tourists last year was around SAR100 billion. 

The government says it had a total of 104 million tourists in 2023, including 27 million inbound tourists and 77 million domestic tourists. 

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s 2024 Economic Impact Research report forecasts that international spending will rise to SAR256 billion this year and could account for 16 percent of GDP by 2034. 

Tourism is a central plan of Saudi Arabia’s economic restructuring programme, forming an integral part of giga-projects such as Neom, Red Sea Global and Diriyah. 

The Vision 2030 reform plan aims for tourism to account for 10 percent of GDP by 2030.

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