A significant spike in incoming travel was reported by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Tourism on Tuesday for the first half of 2023. According to preliminary statistics, there were 14.6 million incoming tourists during the same period in 2022, a 142% increase over the previous year. Alongside this expansion, there has been a notable 132% increase in inbound tourist expenditure, which has established a record in the industry and contributed SR86.9 billion to the economy.
The nation's overall tourism numbers, which include a sizeable domestic tourism industry of 39.0 million tourists, were similarly remarkable, totaling 53.6 million visitors. At SR150 billion, the overall amount spent on tourism reached a record high, demonstrating the industry's durability and strong development.
Significant growth was also seen in domestic travel, with spending rising by 16% and typical stays lasting 6.3 nights, up from 4.6 nights in the first half of 2022. With 43% of all domestic travels being for leisure, leisure travel is still the leading reason for domestic travel.
The number of travellers in the outbound tourism industry increased by 37%, and their expenditure increased by 74% when compared to the first half of 2022. The easing of international travel restrictions, the start of the summer season, and school breaks are all responsible for this rise. Non-Saudi citizens made up 4/5 of all departing visitors, and their spending constituted 66% of all outgoing expenditures.
