Riyadh, September (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 28 سبتمبر 2025ء) This year’s celebration was held under the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of the tourism sector and its economic, social, cultural, and political value, as well as highlighting its role in supporting sustainable development through global events, conferences, and exhibitions.
The ministry’s participation in this global occasion comes as part of the Kingdom’s keenness to align with international efforts to achieve sustainability in the tourism sector, in line with its belief in the pivotal role that travel and tourism play in fostering connections between peoples and cultures, providing jobs, and creating indirect opportunities in other sectors such as agriculture, food industries, transport, and infrastructure worldwide.
The ministry’s participation in World Tourism Day also coincides with the Kingdom’s tourism sector continuing to experience remarkable growth in the number of domestic and international visitors across its destinations.
In 2024, the total number of domestic and inbound tourists reached approximately 116 million, marking a six percent increase compared to 2023. Meanwhile, total tourism spending in the Kingdom, both domestic and inbound, amounted to about SAR284 billion, reflecting an 11 percent growth compared to 2023.
The Kingdom recorded its highest-ever number of international tourists in 2024, reaching approximately 30 million, an eight percent increase compared to 2023. The total spending of inbound tourists amounted to SAR168.5 billion, reflecting a 19 percent growth compared to 2023.
In 2025, the Kingdom continued to lead international tourism indicators, ranking first globally as the top tourist destination in terms of growth in international tourist revenues during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2019, according to the UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer report issued in May 2025.
The Kingdom recorded a 102 percent increase in the number of international tourists during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2019, according to the report.
