Saudi Arabia Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb stressed that the Kingdom is making major efforts to improve domestic tourism by cooperating with the Gulf countries on various initiatives, including the unified visa for the Gulf region, through which travelers are allowed to enjoy 30 continuous days in other Gulf countries.
In his participation in the Future Aviation Forum 2024, Al-Khateeb said that the tourism and aviation sectors became stronger than at any other time last year, adding that the Saudi tourism industry has grown 122 %, and this continuous growth has contributed to reconsidering the planned goals.
He pointed to the goals achieved to welcome 100 million visitors last year, and this figure was reached 7 years earlier than planned.
Work is underway to raise the targets to welcome 150 million visitors by 2030, including more than 70 million international tourists.
He stressed that the tourism sector motivates the economy by contributing 10% to gross domestic product (GDP) and creating 1.6 million jobs, with plans to double the number of Umrah pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage and traditions have been shaped by its position as a historic trade hub and the birthplace of Islam. In recent years, the Kingdom has undergone a significant cultural transformation, evolving century-old customs to fit the contemporary world of today.
