National Tourism Strategy

The National Tourism Strategy is a national strategy launched in 2019 to develop the tourism sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and raise its contribution to the national economy, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.[3]

It rests on developing tourist destinations across the regions, attracting investment, upgrading hospitality facilities, and providing jobs linked to the sector.[3][1] The Kingdom achieved its target of 100 million tourists in 2023 ahead of schedule, and the level of ambition was raised to 150 million tourists by 2030.[5]

The launch of the National Tourism Strategy in 2019 gave the tourism sector a unified national framework for its development and the growth of its destinations across the regions.[3] It coincided with the launch of the tourist visa by the Saudi Tourism Authority in the same year, initially targeting 49 countries, with the visa made easier to obtain online or at points of entry.[1]

The number of tourist visas issued reached about 450,000 before the coronavirus pandemic.[1]

The performance indicators accompanying the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 set the annual number of visits at 100 million visits by 2030, of which 55 million are from abroad and 45 million from within the Kingdom, along with one million job opportunities and a 10% increase in the national gross domestic product.[1]

The raised targets for the sector are to receive 150 million tourists and to provide one million jobs linked to tourism by 2030.[5][6]

The Council of Ministers approved the organisation of tourism development councils in the regions in April 2022, to achieve the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy, develop tourist destinations, and attract investment. Each council is based at the emirate of the region and chaired by its governor, and works to implement tourism development plans and priority initiatives and to follow up their implementation in line with the strategy.[3]

The Minister of Tourism, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, affirmed that cooperation between the ministry and the tourism development councils in the regions aims to develop tourist destinations in each region and to coordinate among government agencies to organise implementation efforts and tourism development plans in the region.[3]

The Tourism Development Fund is the national enabler of the tourism sector, working to turn the sector's potential into investments that can be financed and implemented, to empower the private sector and entrepreneurs, and to build a system that encourages the development of sustainable tourist destinations and raises the quality of the tourism experience in the Kingdom.[8] The fund presents its financing solutions and non-financial empowerment programmes through the Tourism Growth Centre, which aims to empower small and medium enterprises and build the capacities of entrepreneurs, helping to broaden the investment base in the sector.[8]

The development of the tourism sector comes within the objectives of the Quality of Life Programme and Saudi Vision 2030.[1] The fund's integration with the financing system under the umbrella of the National Development Fund helps turn promising opportunities into development projects with an economic and social impact.[8]

The Digital Tourism Strategy was launched in February 2022 and includes 9 programmes in addition to 31 initiatives being implemented over three years.[2] Roshn Group signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism to help strengthen the National Tourism Strategy and achieve its objectives, including receiving 150 million tourists and providing one million jobs linked to tourism by 2030.[6]

Spending by inbound visitors exceeded SAR 100 billion in the first three quarters of 2023, with a surplus in the travel item of the balance of payments of about SAR 37.8 billion, a growth rate of 72% compared with the same period of 2022.[4]

The total number of domestic and inbound tourists in 2024 reached about 116 million tourists, a growth rate of 6% compared with 2023, and total tourism spending reached about SAR 284 billion, a growth rate of 11%.[7] The number of inbound tourists reached its highest historical figure of about 30 million tourists in 2024, a growth rate of 8%, and their total spending reached SAR 168.5 billion, a growth rate of 19%.[7] The number of domestic tourists in the same year reached 86.2 million tourists, a growth rate of 5%, with total spending of SAR 115.3 billion.[7]

Cooperation between Saudia and the Saudi Tourism Authority during 2025 brought about the arrival of about 27 million tourists and visitors from outside the Kingdom from 24 countries.[10]

In the first half of 2026 the Kingdom received about 61.2 million tourists, a growth rate of about 1%, and tourism spending reached about SAR 151.9 billion, as it moves towards receiving 150 million tourists annually by 2030.[11] The number of licensed room keys reached about 623,000 in the first half of 2026, including more than 44,000 keys in newly licensed facilities.[11]

The tourism development councils in the regions implement tourism development plans and priority initiatives in line with the National Tourism Strategy.[3] In this context, the performance of the tourism sector in Al-Qassim Region was reviewed, where the region recorded growth of 7% in the number of domestic tourists during 2024, and total tourism spending there reached SAR 4.5 billion.[9]

Q: When was the National Tourism Strategy launched? A: In 2019.[3]

Q: What are the strategy's objectives by 2030? A: To receive 150 million tourists annually and provide one million jobs linked to tourism.[5][6]

Q: What is the visits target set by the indicators of Saudi Vision 2030? A: Raising the annual number of visits to 100 million visits by 2030, of which 55 million are from abroad and 45 million from within the Kingdom, along with one million job opportunities and a 10% increase in the national gross domestic product.[1]

Q: Who carries out tourism development plans in the regions? A: The tourism development councils in the regions, with each council based at the emirate of the region and chaired by its governor.[3]

Q: How many tourists did the Kingdom receive in 2024? A: About 116 million domestic and inbound tourists, with tourism spending of about SAR 284 billion.[7]