Saudi Arabia Receives Record High Spending by Inbound Visitors in 2023

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism announced that the kingdom witnessed record-high spending by inbound visitors in 2023, totalling SAR 135 billion (USD 36 billion). The figure marked a notable increase of 42.8% compared to 2022, when inbound visitors spent SAR 94.5 billion. This marks the highest expenditure by foreign visitors in the kingdom’s history.

Meanwhile, the spending of the kingdom’s outbound visitors rose to SAR 86.9 billion in 2023, up from SAR 59.7 billion in 2022. The ministry reported a tourism balance surplus of approximately SAR 48 billion for 2023, surpassing SAR 34.9 billion recorded in 2022.

This historic surge in spending is part of a series of ongoing efforts in the kingdom’s tourism sector. In 2023, the kingdom topped the United Nations Tourism ranking in terms of the growth of international tourist arrivals in 2023, achieving a 56% increase in tourist arrivals.