Riyadh city
The number of workers in Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector increased by 5% year-on-year (YoY) to approximately 959,200 workers in Q2 2024, data released by the General Authority for Statistics revealed. 
The number of Saudi workers rose 2% YoY to 245,910 during the quarter, representing 25.6% of the total workforce in the sector. The following table provides a breakdown of the workforce in the tourism industry during Q2 2024:
Workers in Tourism Industry (‘000 workers)
Workers
Q2 2023
Q2 2024
Change
Saudis
242.11
245.91
+1.6%
Non-Saudis
670.08
713.27
+6.4%
Total
912.20
959.18
+5.1%
The development of the number of workers:
Number of Workers (‘000 workers)
Period
Saudis
Non-Saudis
Total
Q1 2023
239.74
660.79
900.53
Q2
242.11
670.08
912.20
Q3
243.95
675.22
919.17
Q4
244.90
684.51
929.40
Q1 2024
247.71
696.59
944.30
Q2
245.91
713.27
959.18
Male workers in tourism activities reached 831,100, representing a participation rate of 86.6% of the total. Meanwhile, the number of female workers was 128,100, with a participation rate of 13.4% of total workers during the second quarter.
The food and beverages sector accounted for the largest number of workers in Q2 2024, with approximately 644,800 workers, representing 67.2% of the total, followed by accommodation with about 124,000 workers.
Below is the total number of workers in tourism activities by sector:
Number of Workers (‘000 workers)
Business Activity
Males
Females
Total
Food Beverages
575.39
69.41
644.80
Visitor Accommodation
103.34
20.52
123.85
Retail Trade of Premium Goods For Country-Specific Tourism
45.19
14.05
59.24
Rail Passenger Transport
25.19
2.67
27.86
Travel Agencies Booking Services
19.55
4.36
23.92
Air Passenger Transport
13.79
6.08
19.87
Transportation Rental
17.61
1.45
19.05
Other Characteristic Services for Country-Specific Tourism
13.13
4.31
17.44
Sports Recreational Activities
9.97
3.79
13.76
Rail Passenger Transport
3.97
0.17
4.15
Cultural Activities
2.58
0.92
3.49
Water Passenger Transport
1.38
0.38
1.76
Total
831.08
128.10
959.18
The number of workers in tourism activities in Riyadh reached approximately 327.4 thousand, accounting for 34.1% of the total, followed by Makkah with around 268.8 thousand workers, as illustrated in the following table:
Workers by Region (‘000)
Region
No. of Workers
% of Total
Riyadh
327.37
34.1 %
Makkah
268.83
28.0 %
Eastern Region
141.39
14.7 %
Madinah
53.63
5.6 %
Asir
45.16
4.7 %
Jazan
26.65
2.8 %
Al Qassim
31.65
3.3 %
Tabuk
19.73
2.1 %
Hail
12.99
1.4 %
Najran
9.82
1.0 %
Al Jouf
7.95
0.8 %
Al Bahah
7.11
0.7 %
Northern Borders
6.91
0.7 %
Total
959.18
100.0 %
The hotel room occupancy rate reached approximately 55.4% during the second quarter of 2024, marking an increase of 0.5% compared to the second quarter of 2023.
Additionally, occupancy rate for the units served and other accommodation facilities amounted to 52.4%, an increase of 1.5% compared to the same quarter in 2023.
Occupancy Rates in Units Served, Accommodation Facilities, Hotels
Period
Hotels
units served and other accommodation facilities
Q1 2023
63.2 %
53.0 %
Q2
54.9 %
50.9 %
Q3
53.4 %
56.2 %
Q4
60.2%
55.4 %
Q1 2024
60.9 %
54.5 %
Q2
55.4 %
52.4%
Below is room occupancy rate for units served, other accommodation facilities, and hotels by region during the second quarter of 2024.
Room Occupancy Rates by Region
Region
Units Served
Hotels
Riyadh
62.5 %
53.7 %
Madinah
42.2 %
67.6 %
Eastern Region
54.2 %
51.9 %
Makkah
49.5 %
54.1 %
Tabuk
53.5 %
42.9 %
Najran
54.3 %
39.4 %
Al Qassim
49.3 %
41.8 %
Hail
48.2 %
39.2 %
Asir
42.8 %
42.3 %
Northern Borders
41.4 %
39.2 %
Jazan
40.9 %
35.8 %
Al Bahah
39.0 %
34.3 %
Al Jouf
39.1 %
28.6 %
The average daily room rate in hotels was approximately SAR 725.5 during the second quarter of 2024, a decrease of 0.4% compared to the same quarter in 2023.
Meanwhile, the average daily room rate in units served and other accommodation facilities reached about SAR 254.3 during the same quarter, an increase of 15.2% compared to the second quarter of 2023.
Average Daily Rate
Period
Hotels
Units Served and Other Accommodation Facilities
Q1 2023
515.1
204.5
Q2
756.1
220.7
Q3
442.6
221.7
Q4
447.2
217.8
Q1 2024
473.9
240.6
Q2
725.5
254.3
Below is the average daily room rate for units served, other accommodation facilities, and hotels during the second quarter of 2024 by region:
Room Average Daily rate (SAR)
Region
Units Served
Hotels
Madinah
304.4
998.8
Riyadh
266.1
998.4
Makkah
251.2
634.5
Tabuk
197.1
562.7
Eastern Region
295.9
451.0
Al Bahah
273.8
377.5
Asir
218.6
359.8
Hail
201.3
377.0
Al Qassim
196.6
375.7
Jizan
229.1
295.2
Al Jouf
152.7
272.8
Northern Borders
185.4
174.9
Najran
120.4
202.8
Riyadh city
The number of workers in Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector increased by 5% year-on-year (YoY) to approximately 959,200 workers in Q2 2024, data released by the General Authority for Statistics revealed.
The number of Saudi workers rose 2% YoY to 245,910 during the quarter, representing 25.6% of the total workforce in the sector. The following table provides a breakdown of the workforce in the tourism industry during Q2 2024:
Workers in Tourism Industry (‘000 workers)
Workers
Q2 2023
Q2 2024
Change
Saudis
242.11
245.91
+1.6%
Non-Saudis
670.08
713.27
+6.4%
Total
912.20
959.18
+5.1%
The development of the number of workers:
Number of Workers (‘000 workers)
Period
Saudis
Non-Saudis
Total
Q1 2023
239.74
660.79
900.53
Q2
242.11
670.08
912.20
Q3
243.95
675.22
919.17
Q4
244.90
684.51
929.40
Q1 2024
247.71
696.59
944.30
Q2
245.91
713.27
959.18
Male workers in tourism activities reached 831,100, representing a participation rate of 86.6% of the total. Meanwhile, the number of female workers was 128,100, with a participation rate of 13.4% of total workers during the second quarter.
The food and beverages sector accounted for the largest number of workers in Q2 2024, with approximately 644,800 workers, representing 67.2% of the total, followed by accommodation with about 124,000 workers.
Below is the total number of workers in tourism activities by sector:
Number of Workers (‘000 workers)
Business Activity
Males
Females
Total
Food Beverages
575.39
69.41
644.80
Visitor Accommodation
103.34
20.52
123.85
Retail Trade of Premium Goods For Country-Specific Tourism
45.19
14.05
59.24
Rail Passenger Transport
25.19
2.67
27.86
Travel Agencies Booking Services
19.55
4.36
23.92
Air Passenger Transport
13.79
6.08
19.87
Transportation Rental
17.61
1.45
19.05
Other Characteristic Services for Country-Specific Tourism
13.13
4.31
17.44
Sports Recreational Activities
9.97
3.79
13.76
Rail Passenger Transport
3.97
0.17
4.15
Cultural Activities
2.58
0.92
3.49
Water Passenger Transport
1.38
0.38
1.76
Total
831.08
128.10
959.18
The number of workers in tourism activities in Riyadh reached approximately 327.4 thousand, accounting for 34.1% of the total, followed by Makkah with around 268.8 thousand workers, as illustrated in the following table:
Workers by Region (‘000)
Region
No. of Workers
% of Total
Riyadh
327.37
34.1 %
Makkah
268.83
28.0 %
Eastern Region
141.39
14.7 %
Madinah
53.63
5.6 %
Asir
45.16
4.7 %
Jazan
26.65
2.8 %
Al Qassim
31.65
3.3 %
Tabuk
19.73
2.1 %
Hail
12.99
1.4 %
Najran
9.82
1.0 %
Al Jouf
7.95
0.8 %
Al Bahah
7.11
0.7 %
Northern Borders
6.91
0.7 %
Total
959.18
100.0 %
The hotel room occupancy rate reached approximately 55.4% during the second quarter of 2024, marking an increase of 0.5% compared to the second quarter of 2023.
Additionally, occupancy rate for the units served and other accommodation facilities amounted to 52.4%, an increase of 1.5% compared to the same quarter in 2023.
Occupancy Rates in Units Served, Accommodation Facilities, Hotels
Period
Hotels
units served and other accommodation facilities
Q1 2023
63.2 %
53.0 %
Q2
54.9 %
50.9 %
Q3
53.4 %
56.2 %
Q4
60.2%
55.4 %
Q1 2024
60.9 %
54.5 %
Q2
55.4 %
52.4%
Below is room occupancy rate for units served, other accommodation facilities, and hotels by region during the second quarter of 2024.
Room Occupancy Rates by Region
Region
Units Served
Hotels
Riyadh
62.5 %
53.7 %
Madinah
42.2 %
67.6 %
Eastern Region
54.2 %
51.9 %
Makkah
49.5 %
54.1 %
Tabuk
53.5 %
42.9 %
Najran
54.3 %
39.4 %
Al Qassim
49.3 %
41.8 %
Hail
48.2 %
39.2 %
Asir
42.8 %
42.3 %
Northern Borders
41.4 %
39.2 %
Jazan
40.9 %
35.8 %
Al Bahah
39.0 %
34.3 %
Al Jouf
39.1 %
28.6 %
The average daily room rate in hotels was approximately SAR 725.5 during the second quarter of 2024, a decrease of 0.4% compared to the same quarter in 2023.
Meanwhile, the average daily room rate in units served and other accommodation facilities reached about SAR 254.3 during the same quarter, an increase of 15.2% compared to the second quarter of 2023.
Average Daily Rate
Period
Hotels
Units Served and Other Accommodation Facilities
Q1 2023
515.1
204.5
Q2
756.1
220.7
Q3
442.6
221.7
Q4
447.2
217.8
Q1 2024
473.9
240.6
Q2
725.5
254.3
Below is the average daily room rate for units served, other accommodation facilities, and hotels during the second quarter of 2024 by region:
Room Average Daily rate (SAR)
Region
Units Served
Hotels
Madinah
304.4
998.8
Riyadh
266.1
998.4
Makkah
251.2
634.5
Tabuk
197.1
562.7
Eastern Region
295.9
451.0
Al Bahah
273.8
377.5
Asir
218.6
359.8
Hail
201.3
377.0
Al Qassim
196.6
375.7
Jizan
229.1
295.2
Al Jouf
152.7
272.8
Northern Borders
185.4
174.9
Najran
120.4
202.8
