Saudi Arabia’s inbound tourism spending reached a record 153.61 billion Saudi riyal ($40.95 billion) in 2024, a 13.82% increase YoY, according to the Saudi Central Bank. With outbound spending also rising to 103.84 billion Saudi riyal ($27.68 billion), the country posted its highest-ever annual tourism surplus at 49.78 billion Saudi riyal ($13.27 billion). The country welcomed 30 million international visitors last year, driven increasingly by cultural, entertainment, and business tourism. The sector’s total economic impact reached 498 billion Saudi riyal ($132.81 billion), accounting for 12.45% of GDP. As part of its Vision 2030 strategy, Saudi Arabia continues to invest heavily in tourism infrastructure and has introduced reforms to attract foreign investment, including allowing full foreign ownership in select projects.