Tourism expert: Economic growth in destinations driven by public-private collaboration

Tourism development specialist Dawi Al-Ghamdi praised the economic growth seen in Saudi tourist destinations.

Speaking to Al Ekhbariya TV, Al-Ghamdi said this growth is the result of close collaboration between government entities and the private sector.

He added that the combined efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and other agencies aim to achieve the strategic Vision 2030 goal of attracting 150 million tourists by 2030, as well as creating new jobs.

Al-Ghamdi noted that in recent years, six tourist destinations have been developed with higher quality standards, boosting tourist arrivals and benefiting the Saudi economy.

The tourism sector has continued to grow, with Saudi destinations welcoming over 32 million domestic and international tourists during the Saudi Summer Season—a 26% increase compared to the previous season. Tourist spending exceeded SAR 53.2 billion, up 15%, according to the 2025 annual report by the Quality of Life Program.

Saudi Arabia ranked first globally for the highest growth in international tourism revenue during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2019, according to the UN World Tourism Organization's World Tourism Barometer.

The number of international tourists visiting Saudi destinations also doubled, with a 102% increase in the first quarter compared to 2019. This far outpaced the global growth rate of 3% and the Middle East's 44%. Saudi Arabia ranked third globally and second regionally, further strengthening its leadership in the international tourism sector.

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