Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism stated that the Kingdom achieved its highest-ever balance of payment (BoP) surplus of approximately SAR 50 billion for travel in 2024, compared with a year earlier, driven by a significant increase in spending by international visitors.
Spending by inbound tourists reached a record SAR 154 billion in 2024, marking a 17% increase compared to 2023.
Travel surplus grew by 8% year-on-year (YoY), the ministry said, citing data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).
Travel surplus represents the difference between the spending of inbound and outbound travelers.
Spending by outbound tourists reached SAR 104 billion by the end of 2024, up from SAR 89 billion in 2023, as shown in the following table:
Travel Item Details in BoP in 2024 (SAR bln)
2022
2023
Change
Spending by Inbound Tourists
94.5
135.0
43%
Spending by Outbound Travelers*
59.7
86.9
46%
Surplus
+34.8
+48.1
38%
Travel Item Details in BoP since 2016 (SAR bln)
Spending by Inbound Tourists
Spending by Outbound Travelers*
Surplus/Deficit
2016
41.6
62.5
(20.9)
2017
45.2
65.8
(20.6)
2018
51.7
62.4
(10.7)
2019
61.6
56.8
+4.8
2020
15.1
33.2
(18.1)
2021
14.3
45.7
(31.4)
2022
94.5
59.7
+34.8
2023
135.0
88.8
+46.2
2024
153.6
103.8
+49.8
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism stated that the Kingdom achieved its highest-ever balance of payment (BoP) surplus of approximately SAR 50 billion for travel in 2024, compared with a year earlier, driven by a significant increase in spending by international visitors.
Spending by inbound tourists reached a record SAR 154 billion in 2024, marking a 17% increase compared to 2023.
Travel surplus grew by 8% year-on-year (YoY), the ministry said, citing data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).
Travel surplus represents the difference between the spending of inbound and outbound travelers.
Spending by outbound tourists reached SAR 104 billion by the end of 2024, up from SAR 89 billion in 2023, as shown in the following table:
Travel Item Details in BoP in 2024 (SAR bln)
2022
2023
Change
Spending by Inbound Tourists
94.5
135.0
43%
Spending by Outbound Travelers*
59.7
86.9
46%
Surplus
+34.8
+48.1
38%
Travel Item Details in BoP since 2016 (SAR bln)
Spending by Inbound Tourists
Spending by Outbound Travelers*
Surplus/Deficit
2016
41.6
62.5
(20.9)
2017
45.2
65.8
(20.6)
2018
51.7
62.4
(10.7)
2019
61.6
56.8
+4.8
2020
15.1
33.2
(18.1)
2021
14.3
45.7
(31.4)
2022
94.5
59.7
+34.8
2023
135.0
88.8
+46.2
2024
153.6
103.8
+49.8
