RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has achieved a 156 percent increase in tourist arrivals during 2023 compared to 2019, according to the United Nations World Tourism Barometer report.
The Kingdom’s great success in the industry has contributed to the Middle East leading the global tourism recovery in relative terms, as it was the only region to achieve growth above pre-pandemic levels, attracting 122 percent more tourists in 2023 than in in 2019.
The UN World Tourism Organization said: “According to the first UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of the year, international tourism ended 2023 at 88 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 1.3 billion international arrivals.
“International tourism receipts reached $1.4 trillion in 2023 according to preliminary estimates, about 93 percent of the $1.5 trillion earned by destinations in 2019.
“Preliminary estimates on the economic contribution of tourism, measured in tourism direct gross domestic product, point to $3.3 trillion…