Ministry of Tourism celebrated a significant milestone, reaching 100 million tourists by the end of 2023

Reaching 100 million tourists by the end of 2023—seven years ahead of Saudi Vision 2030's deadline—was a major accomplishment for the Ministry of Tourism.  The accomplishment was emphasised by Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, who stated: "We facilitated the arrival of tourists from all over the world to Saudi Arabia, reaching over 100 million tourists whose spending exceeded SR250 billion." 

Al-Khateeb went on to highlight the Ministry's higher goals, saying that it wants to welcome 150 million visitors by 2030. He underlined how important tourism is to the economy, how it creates jobs, and how it draws both visitors and sustainable investments.

Over 106 million domestic and foreign tourists visited during the tourism boom, up 12% from 2022 and 56% from 2019. The development of jobs and non-oil revenue have both greatly benefited from this increase. 

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and UN Tourism have both recognised the accomplishment internationally and given Saudi Arabia's tourism industry credit for its quick growth. 

In keeping with the larger goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the event, which was attended by ministers, diplomats, notable domestic and foreign businesspeople, and tourism specialists, highlights Saudi Arabia's rise as a popular travel destination.