Saudi Arabia’s international leisure tourism sector is projected to nearly double by 2030, with overnight arrivals forecasted to increase by 93 percent between 2025 and 2030. This growth rate significantly surpasses the expected 64 percent rise across the Middle East and 30 percent globally, according to a report released by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, at the WTM Spotlight Riyadh event.

The report highlights that international travel to Saudi Arabia expanded by 67 percent from 2019 to 2025, far exceeding the 20 percent growth seen across the Middle East and just 5 percent worldwide during the same period. Saudi Arabia accounted for around 75 percent of the region’s international travel growth and contributed approximately 15 percent of global travel growth since 2019.

Dave Goodger, managing director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Tourism Economics, noted that Saudi Arabia has quickly established itself as one of the most dynamic visitor economies worldwide. He pointed out that nearly half of all nights spent in the Kingdom are now attributed to international tourists, underlining the increasing importance of tourism as a source of foreign demand.

Leisure travelers’ share of international visitor spending increased from 9 percent in 2019 to 28 percent in 2025, with expectations to reach 31 percent by 2030. This growth corresponds with the overall expansion of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector. In 2025, the Kingdom welcomed 123 million domestic and inbound tourists, a 6 percent rise from the previous year, while total tourism expenditure hit a record SR304 billion, according to the Ministry of Tourism’s annual report. Of these, 29.3 million were inbound tourists who spent SR176.6 billion. Leisure tourists made up 7 million, or 24.1 percent, of the inbound visitors.

Mohamad Nada, head of GCC at travel platform Tumodo, emphasized the importance of shifting focus toward attracting higher-value visitors and extending their length of stay. He suggested that increasing direct international flights to key destinations such as the Red Sea and AlUla, improving domestic connectivity, and offering a broader range of accommodations would support multi-destination visits. Furthermore, combining cultural, adventure, wellness, gastronomy, and entertainment experiences into comprehensive itineraries could encourage longer stays and higher spending.

Additional insights from the WTM report cited research by Dragon Trail International, which found that 52 percent of surveyed Chinese travel agents already promote Saudi Arabia as a destination. Among these agents, 32 percent consider the Kingdom to have strong potential for growth in Chinese tourism. High-net-worth and luxury travelers were identified by 42 percent of agents as a key segment for recovery and growth in the Middle East and North Africa region. Nature and scenery topped the list of attractions for 54 percent of respondents, followed by adventure and outdoor activities at 45 percent.