Saudi Arabia received 115.9 million domestic and inbound tourists during 2024, an increase of 6% compared to 2023.
These tourists spent about SAR 284 billion, according to a report by the Ministry of Tourism.
Domestic tourists accounted for nearly 74% (almost 86.2 million) of the total. International tourists represented the remaining 26%, or about 29.7 million.
Tourist Arrival in 2024
Period
Domestic Tourists (mln)
YoY Change
Inbound Tourists (mln)
YoY Change
Total (mln)
2021*
63.8
+52%
3.5
(16%)
67.3
2022
77.8
+22%
16.6
+378%
94.9
2023
81.9
+5%
27.4
+65%
109.3
2024
86.2
+5%
29.7
+8%
115.9
Compared to 2023, during which tourist arrivals reached 109.9 million, the total count soared by nearly 6.6 million in 2024. The following table shows the number of tourists since 2015:
Number of Tourists Since 2015
Period
Domestic Tourists (mln)
Inbound Tourists (mln)
Total (mln)
2015
46.5
18.0
64.4
2016
45.0
18.0
63.1
2017
43.8
16.1
59.9
2018
43.3
15.3
58.6
2019
47.8
17.5
65.3
2020*
42.1
4.1
46.2
2021*
63.9
3.5
67.3
2022
77.8
16.6
94.9
2023
81.9
27.4
109.3
2024
86.2
29.7
115.9
The total spending by inbound tourists reached 59.4% of total expenditure, while domestic tourists accounted for the remaining 44.6%.
Inbound Domestic Tourist Spending in 2024 (SAR bln)
Period
Domestic
YoY Change
Inbound
YoY Change
Total Spending
2021*
102.2
+136%
14.7
(65%)
116.9
2022
107.3
+5%
98.3
+568%
205.6
2023
114.4
+7%
141.2
+44%
255.6
2024
115.3
+0.8%
168.5
+19%
283.8
Makkah was the top destination for domestic and inbound tourists in 2024, receiving 43.1 million (23.5 million and 19.6 million domestic and inbound tourists, respectively).
Riyadh came in second, hosting 20.5 million tourists (17.6 million and 2.9 million domestic and inbound tourists, respectively).
The following table classifies visits by purpose for domestic and inbound tourists in 2024:
Main Purpose of Domestic Inbound Visits in 2024
Type
Entertainment
Visiting Family and Friends
Business
Religious
Others
Domestic
37%
35%
10%
13%
4%
Inbound
25%
20%
7%
41%
7%
By nationality, Egyptian inbound tourists led the list, making up almost 3.2 million of the total. Pakistan took the second place with 2.8 million tourists.
Inbound Tourists by Nationality in 2024
Country
Count (mln)
Egypt
3.2
Pakistan
2.8
Bahrain
2.6
Kuwait
2.1
India
1.9
Indonesia
1.9
UAE
1.5
Jordan
1.2
Qatar
1.2
Iraq
1.1
Saudi Arabia received 115.9 million domestic and inbound tourists during 2024, an increase of 6% compared to 2023.
These tourists spent about SAR 284 billion, according to a report by the Ministry of Tourism.
Domestic tourists accounted for nearly 74% (almost 86.2 million) of the total. International tourists represented the remaining 26%, or about 29.7 million.
Tourist Arrival in 2024
Period
Domestic Tourists (mln)
YoY Change
Inbound Tourists (mln)
YoY Change
Total (mln)
2021*
63.8
+52%
3.5
(16%)
67.3
2022
77.8
+22%
16.6
+378%
94.9
2023
81.9
+5%
27.4
+65%
109.3
2024
86.2
+5%
29.7
+8%
115.9
Compared to 2023, during which tourist arrivals reached 109.9 million, the total count soared by nearly 6.6 million in 2024. The following table shows the number of tourists since 2015:
Number of Tourists Since 2015
Period
Domestic Tourists (mln)
Inbound Tourists (mln)
Total (mln)
2015
46.5
18.0
64.4
2016
45.0
18.0
63.1
2017
43.8
16.1
59.9
2018
43.3
15.3
58.6
2019
47.8
17.5
65.3
2020*
42.1
4.1
46.2
2021*
63.9
3.5
67.3
2022
77.8
16.6
94.9
2023
81.9
27.4
109.3
2024
86.2
29.7
115.9
The total spending by inbound tourists reached 59.4% of total expenditure, while domestic tourists accounted for the remaining 44.6%.
Inbound Domestic Tourist Spending in 2024 (SAR bln)
Period
Domestic
YoY Change
Inbound
YoY Change
Total Spending
2021*
102.2
+136%
14.7
(65%)
116.9
2022
107.3
+5%
98.3
+568%
205.6
2023
114.4
+7%
141.2
+44%
255.6
2024
115.3
+0.8%
168.5
+19%
283.8
Makkah was the top destination for domestic and inbound tourists in 2024, receiving 43.1 million (23.5 million and 19.6 million domestic and inbound tourists, respectively).
Riyadh came in second, hosting 20.5 million tourists (17.6 million and 2.9 million domestic and inbound tourists, respectively).
The following table classifies visits by purpose for domestic and inbound tourists in 2024:
Main Purpose of Domestic Inbound Visits in 2024
Type
Entertainment
Visiting Family and Friends
Business
Religious
Others
Domestic
37%
35%
10%
13%
4%
Inbound
25%
20%
7%
41%
7%
By nationality, Egyptian inbound tourists led the list, making up almost 3.2 million of the total. Pakistan took the second place with 2.8 million tourists.
Inbound Tourists by Nationality in 2024
Country
Count (mln)
Egypt
3.2
Pakistan
2.8
Bahrain
2.6
Kuwait
2.1
India
1.9
Indonesia
1.9
UAE
1.5
Jordan
1.2
Qatar
1.2
Iraq
1.1
