From ancient history to modern luxury, Saudi Arabia’s tourism offerings continue to expand

From ancient history to modern luxury, Saudi Arabia’s tourism offerings continue to expand

According to data released by the General Authority of Statistics (GASTAT), the Saudi Arabian economy achieved impressive growth in 2022, with a GDP growth rate of 8.7 per cent. This is the highest growth rate among G20 countries and has surpassed international expectations of a maximum of 8.3 per cent. GASTAT also highlighted the GDP report and national accounts’ indicators for Q4 2022, stating that this growth rate is the highest annual rate achieved in the last decade. Revamping its tourism landscape is among the kingdom’s key priorities to help diversify its economy. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has made significant efforts to attract international visitors, including easing visa requirements for tourists from established markets. The launch of a free 96-hour stopover visa for passengers booked on flynas or Saudia flights by the Saudi Tourism Authority is among a raft of initiatives aimed at making the country’s tourism offerings more convenient. The Saudi government has committed $100m to the Tourism Development Fund in partnership with the World Bank to diversify the country’s income from fossil fuel activities and increase tourism. The sector aims to welcome up to 100 million visitors annually by 2030, representing 10 per cent of the country’s