Saudi international leisure tourism to surge 93% by 2030: Report
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The leisure’s share of international visitor spending in Saudi Arabia increased from 9% in 2019 to 28% in 2025 and is forecast to reach 31% by 2030.
Saudi Arabia’s international leisure tourism is forecast to grow by 93% between 2025 and 2030, outpacing growth across the Middle East and globally, according to a new Tourism Economics report, Saudi Arabia: An Emerging Global Tourism Powerhouse.
Dave Goodger, Managing Director, EMEA, Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, revealed that the Kingdom’s international leisure travel, measured by overnight arrivals, is forecast to grow more than three times faster than the global average of 30% over the five-year period, and ahead of the Middle East at 64%.
Between 2019 and 2025, international travel to Saudi Arabia reportedly grew by 67%, compared with 20% across the Middle East and 5% globally, with the Kingdom generating approximately three-quarters of the region’s international travel growth during the period.
Dave Goodger, Managing Director, EMEA, Tourism Economics, said, “Saudi Arabia has rapidly emerged as one of the world’s most dynamic visitor economies, driving around 15% of global travel growth since 2019 and accounting for three‑quarters of the Middle East’s expansion. With international visitors now approaching half of all nights spent in the Kingdom, this is no longer a purely regional story but a powerful, export‑driven tourism engine built on sustained investment, destination development, and a clear ambition to become a global tourism powerhouse.”
Tourism Economics’ analysis also shows its share of international leisure visitor spending increased from 9% in 2019 to 28% in 2025 and is expected to reach 31% by the end of the decade. The research found that Saudi Arabia is already among the leading MENA destinations sold by the Chinese travel trade. More than half (52%) of the travel agents surveyed currently sell Saudi Arabia, while 32% identified the Kingdom as one of the destinations with the greatest future potential for Chinese tourism.
STR forecasts RevPAR in Riyadh to grow by 18.6% in 2027, as returning corporate and consultancy demand is expected to outpace new hotel supply. RevPAR growth is forecast to continue over the following four years as the capital expands its business and leisure economy in line with Vision 2030.
