Ministry of Tourism Releases 2025 Annual Statistical Report, Announcing Record SAR304 Billion in Total Tourism Spending

The Ministry of Tourism has released its Annual Statistical Report for 2025, highlighting Saudi tourism's robust performance and ongoing transformation. The report underscores the sector's rapid growth aligned with the National Tourism Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.

 Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb stated that the strong performance outlined in the report was made possible by the unwavering support and astute direction of the Kingdom's leadership, which has been instrumental in positioning tourism as a key enabler of economic diversification and Saudi Vision 2030 goals.

 He added that the 2025 results signal more than growth; they reflect the structural transformation of tourism into a high-impact economic engine for the Kingdom. Reaching nearly SAR304 billion in domestic and inbound tourism spending marks a new record for Saudi tourism and underscores the sector's accelerating role in diversification and economic growth. Just as importantly, this momentum is translating into tangible social impact through job creation, community empowerment, and enhancements in quality of life.

 According to the report, Saudi Arabia recorded a new historical high of around 123 million inbound and domestic tourists, representing growth of approximately 6% compared to 2024. Total tourism spending recorded a historic high of approximately SAR304 billion, reflecting growth of 7% compared to 2024.

 The report showcases tourism's role in the Kingdom's economic activity, directly contributing 4.9% of GDP in 2024, with that contribution growing by 14% compared to the previous year. This economic contribution continued in 2025, reflected in a surplus of SAR49.4 billion achieved in the travel account of the balance of payments, contributing more than 61% of total exports in the services account.

 The report also provides insights into the diverse demand drivers shaping the Kingdom's tourism landscape. In 2025, the Kingdom recorded 29.3 million inbound tourists, with total inbound tourism spending reaching SAR176.6 billion, compared to 93.3 million domestic tourists generating SAR127.1 billion in total domestic tourism spending.

 Non-religious purposes accounted for approximately 52% of total inbound overnight visitors' purpose of trip in 2025, representing more than half of all inbound overnight visitors, compared to 44% in 2019.

 In terms of social impact, the report also highlighted that employment in tourism industries reached nearly 1.03 million jobs in 2025. Meanwhile, Saudi women accounted for around 47% of total Saudi employees in tourism characteristic activities, compared to 5% by the end of 2018. This underscores the sector’s crucial role in job creation and the empowerment of national talent.

 The Ministry of Tourism invites investors, stakeholders, and researchers to explore the full 2025 Annual Statistical Report on its official website, mt.gov.sa.