Saudi Arabia sets “new benchmarks” in tourism, says WTTC

Country to inject US$800 billion into sector by 2030

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2025 Economic Impact Research (EIR) says Saudi Arabia is “ahead of the curve” when it comes to global growth, outperforming traditional markets, which are facing headwinds.

The report states that Saudi Arabia, which will inject US$800 billion into the sector by 2030, is “setting new benchmarks”. 

The statement is supported by new data that shows the number of hospitality facilities in Saudi increased 89% in 2024, a rise described on X by Ministry of Tourism spokesperson Mohammed Al-Rasasimah as “remarkable”.

Al-Rasasimah said the expansion in the kingdom’s tourism sector is driven by inbound travellers, with recent government data showing Saudi welcomed 30 million tourists in 2024, up from 27.3 million in 2023.

Despite US$160 billion already committed to transforming Saudi’s tourism sector, there remains an US$80 opportunity for investors, according to Ministry of Tourism General Manager of Investment Planning & Attraction Tareq Al-Shaghrood speaking at the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) EMEA 2025 in Berlin, Germany.

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The report also highlights growth slowing in major travel markets, including the US, China and Germany – and that is before the impact of the current trade tariff dispute, which is expected to hit both inbound and outbound travel, particularly for the US.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President and CEO, said that while the global picture in travel and tourism is strong, the recovery remains uneven, with some countries and regions "producing record-breaking numbers, and other large economies plateauing".

Despite economic uncertainty, WTTC says travel and tourism will grow strongly this year, with international visitor spending forecast to reach US$2.1 trillion in 2025, surpassing the previous pre-pandemic high of US$1.9 trillion in 2019. 

Travel and tourism is expected to contribute a record US$11.7 trillion to the worldwide economy, accounting for 10.3% of global GDP, with jobs supported by the sector set to grow 14 million to reach 371 million.

For more information, visit wttc.org 

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