RIYADH: Inbound tourism spending in Saudi Arabia surged to a record SR153.61 billion ($40.95 billion) in 2024, marking a 13.82 percent annual increase, according to data from the Saudi Central Bank.
The rise also pushed the Kingdom’s travel balance surplus to its highest annual level yet — SR49.78 billion — up 7.81 percent from the previous year. Outbound spending by Saudi residents rose 16.94 percent year on year, reaching SR103.84 billion.
In January, the Saudi Press Agency reported that the Kingdom welcomed 30 million international visitors in 2024, a 9.5 percent increase from the previous year. This influx of travelers is not merely transient, as they play a pivotal role in reshaping Saudi Arabia’s economy and global…
