Jeddah, March 04, 2024, The Arab Tourism Organization (ATO) has lauded the Saudi government and its citizens for reaching the monumental milestone of attracting 100 million tourists, positioning the Kingdom as a beacon of success in the global tourism arena.
In a statement, the ATO praised the Ministry of Tourism for its adeptness in elevating the travel and tourism sector to a pivotal role in diversifying economic revenue streams and realizing the objectives outlined in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
Emphasizing the collaborative efforts between the private and public sectors as instrumental in this achievement, the organization noted that the joint endeavors surpassed the 2030 target, with tourist numbers exceeding 100 million in 2023 and expenditure soaring beyond SAR250 billion.
Underlining the vital role of the tourism sector in fostering employment opportunities for the nation's youth, the ATO highlighted the creation of approximately 925,500 jobs within the industry.
The tourism landscape in the Kingdom has witnessed a remarkable surge in visitor arrivals, with the tally of tourists from both domestic and international origins surpassing the 100 million mark by the close of 2023. This represents a notable 12% upsurge from the previous year, with international tourist arrivals escalating by an impressive 65% during the same timeframe, reaching 27.4 million.
