Inbound tourism achieved historical record numbers in the first half of 2023, recording an increase of 142 pc in number of tourists
Saudi Arabian Tourism Ministry has published tourism statistics for the first half of 2023 and says it achieved positive results during this year, with total number of tourists, overnight visitors for all purposes, reaching 53.6 million, including 14.6 million overseas visitors and 39 million domestic tourists.
The ministry adds that the total tourism spending reached SAR150 billion (USD 40 billion), of which SAR 63.1 billion came from domestic tourism and SAR 86.9 billion from inbound tourism, that indicates a new historical record for Saudi tourism.
The ministry says in a press statement that inbound tourism achieved historical record numbers in the first half of 2023, recording an increase of 142 pc in number of tourists and 132 pc in total tourism spending versus the first half of 2022. With the continuous development of the tourism sector, there has been an increase in the number of tourists for all purposes with leisure tourists showing the highest growth of 347 pc versus the first half of 2022.
It adds that in terms of domestic tourism in the first half of 2023 recorded a growth of 16 pc in tourism spending, due to the average length of stay increasing from 4.6 nights in the first half of 2022 to 6.3 nights in the first half of 2023. Leisure was the top purpose in number of visitors, achieving an increase of 18 pc compared to the first half 2022, with 16.6 million tourists accounting for 43.3 pc of all domestic tourists’ trips.
The Ministry of Tourism says that the preliminary data for the first half of 2023 tourism statistics demonstrates the continuous achievements following 2022’s remarkable growth within the tourism sector, in addition to informing local and international investors on the sector’s latest updates, this confirms the effectiveness of the Ministry of Tourism and its partners efforts in attracting visitors by enhancing the tourism products and quality of services, in addition to improving visa structures.
Outbound tourism
On outbound tourism from Saudi Arabia, the ministry says that in the first half of 2023 recorded an increase in number of tourists by 37 pc with spending also increasing by 74 pc compared the first half of 2022. The increase is attributed to the lifting global of travel restrictions. in addition to having the start of the summer season and school break in June.
Outbound non-Saudi residents represented 45 pc of all outbound tourists in the first half of 2023, increasing by 24 pc compared to the first half of 2022, while their spending accounted for 66 pc of all outbound spending. Visiting friends and relatives was the top purpose of visits representing 67 pc of all non-Saudi outbound tourist trips, with the average length of stay increasing from 19.3 nights in the first half of 2022 to 45.5 nights in the first half of 2023 resulting in an increase of 109 pc for non-Saudi outbound spend for all purposes.
Saudi outbound tourists recorded an increase of 49 pc mostly to neighbouring countries, whereas Saudi outbound tourism spending increased by 32 pc compared to the first half of 2022. Notably, the average spend per night for Saudis has decreased from SAR 599 in the first half of 2022, to SAR 332 in the first half of 2023.
