Riyadh, February 6, 2024, Minister of Tourism, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, revealed that the Kingdom's tourism sector successfully achieved its target of hosting 100 million tourists in 2023. This milestone comprised 77 million domestic visitors and 27 million international tourists, collectively contributing SAR 100 billion to the economy.
Participating in a ministerial session titled "The Importance of the Private Sector in Achieving Vision 2030," held within the framework of the second edition of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Private Sector Forum, Al-Khateeb underscored that the new strategy spearheaded by HRH the Crown Prince aims to attract 150 million tourists by 2030, with a split of 80 million domestic and 70 million international visitors.
Al-Khateeb emphasized the Kingdom's commitment to investing in training programs, citing that over 100,000 young individuals were trained last year, with 15,000 receiving training from leading institutes worldwide to enter the tourism sector. Furthermore, he highlighted the pivotal role played by the Human Resources Development Fund in bolstering salaries within the sector.
In addition to efforts to enhance legislation and promote investment, Al-Khateeb highlighted the establishment of the Tourism Development Fund, which has supported more than 50 projects totaling SAR 35 billion. This initiative has positioned investment in the tourism sector as an attractive and straightforward endeavor on a global scale.
