Saudi Arabia has set an ambitious goal of attracting 70 million international tourists annually by 2030, marking an increase from the previous target of 50 million visitors, as announced by Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb. The kingdom, which until 2019 had limited tourism primarily to Muslim pilgrims, is determined to transform into a global travel destination with substantial investments in tourism infrastructure.
This year is expected to see between 25 and 30 million international tourists visiting Saudi Arabia, making the new target “a very reasonable target” to achieve by the end of the decade. The country is making significant investments in building hotels, resorts along the Red Sea coast, and developing historical sites, including the Al Ula desert region and Diriyah, the ancestral home of the Saudi ruling family.
The ambitious tourism drive is a vital component of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision to diversify the nation’s economy, which is heavily reliant on oil. By 2030, the goal is for tourism to contribute 10% to the country’s gross domestic product, helping generate foreign currency beyond petroleum exports.
In addition to the revised international tourist target, the government has also raised its goal for total annual tourist trips (including local travelers) to 150 million by 2030, up from the previous target of 100 million.
Saudi Arabia recently hosted an event to mark the United Nations’ World Tourism Day, which featured Israel’s Tourism Minister Haim Katz in attendance. This visit marked the highest-level official visit by an Israeli official to Saudi Arabia, indicating warming ties between the two countries. However, Minister Al Khateeb clarified that the presence of the Israeli delegation was due to a UN invitation to all member states and not indicative of a diplomatic relationship.
Earlier this year, Israeli citizens were unable to attend a UN tourism ceremony in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the complexities of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
