Saudi Arabia is the second biggest tourist destination in the Middle East with over 16 million visiting in 2017.[1] Although most tourism in Saudi Arabia still largely involves religious pilgrimages, there is growth in the leisure tourism sector. As the tourism sector has been largely boosted lately, the sector is expected to a significant industry for Saudi Arabia, reducing its dependence on oil revenues. This is proved as tourism sector is expected to generate $25 billion in 2019.[2] Potential tourist areas include the Hijaz and Sarawat Mountains, Red Sea diving and a number of ancient ruins.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2018, Travel and tourism in Saudi Arabia added 9% to the Kingdom’s total economy which is worth $65.2 billion.[3]
In December 2013, Saudi Arabia announced its intention to begin issuing tourist visas for the first time in its history. Council of Ministers entrusted the Ministry of Tourism with visa issuing on the basis of certain regulations approved by the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs.[4] On 27 September 2019, Saudi Arabia formally announced the issuance of the tourist visa to visitors from 49 countries for a fee of $80. The visa can be either obtained online (eVisa) or on arrival.[5] Ten days after the implementation of instant tourist visas, 24,000 foreign visitors entered Saudi Arabia. China visitors topped the list, with the UK and the US in second and third.[6]
Popular places to visit in Saudi Arabia are Makkah, Medina, Mada'in Salih, Yanbu, Tabuk, Jeddah and Riyadh.
Arriving in Saudi Arabia can be through 13 international airports served by various global airlines. There are also 15 domestic airports connecting the country regions and cites. For moving within the country, there are budget airlines like Flynas, Fyadeal, Nesma Airlines, in addition to Saudi Airlines and SaudiGulf Airlines.
^UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2018 Edition: page 19. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). 2018. doi:10.18111/9789284419876. ISBN 9789284419876. S2CID 240334031. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
^Bridge, Sam. "Why $25bn tourism sector can become Saudi Arabia's 'white oil'". ArabianBusiness.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
^"Travel and Tourism crucial to Saudi Arabias economy". WTTC. Archived from the original on 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
^"Tourist visas to be introduced". 6 December 2013. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
^"Saudi Arabia to offer tourist visas for the first time". Arab News. 2019-09-27. Archived from the original on 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
^"24,000 visitors to Saudi Arabia within 10 days of new tourist visa system". Arab News. 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2019-10-12.
and 24 Related for: Tourism in Saudi Arabia information
Su‘ūd; born 31 December 1935) is King of SaudiArabia, reigning since 2015, and was also Prime Minister of SaudiArabia from 2015 to 2022. The 25th son of King...
SaudiArabia, officially the Kingdom of SaudiArabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia and the Middle East. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula...
The following is a list of cities and towns inSaudiArabia. "SaudiArabia: Regions & Major Cities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web...
Visitors to SaudiArabia must obtain a visa, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. Some visitors are eligible to obtain a visa online...
The King of SaudiArabia, officially the King of the Kingdom of SaudiArabia (Arabic: ملك المملكة العربية السعودية), is the monarch and head of state/government...
The SaudiTourism Authority (STA) (Arabic: الهيئة السعودية للسياحة, romanized: al-Haīʾiah as-Saʿūdīyah as-Sīāḥah) is an organ of SaudiArabia's Ministry...
difficult to obtain inSaudiArabia, but there are approximately 2.1 million Christians inSaudiArabiain 2020. Christians inSaudiArabia are reported to...
planned tourism megaproject inSaudiArabia. The project, which is developed by Public Investment Fund-owned Red Sea Global, forms part of the Saudi Vision...
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people inSaudiArabia face repression and discrimination. The government of SaudiArabia provides no legal protections for...
The economy of SaudiArabia is the second-largest in the Middle East and the nineteenth-largest in the world. The Saudi economy is highly reliant on its...
Tarout Island Al-'Ula Tayma Thirteen ancient towns have been discovered inSaudiArabia up to the present day.[when?] These include Qaryat al-Fāw, the Al-Ukhdūd...
Human rights inSaudiArabia are a topic of concern and controversy. Known for its executions of political protesters and opponents, the government of...
SaudiArabian media often attacks Jews in books, news articles, and mosques with what some describe as antisemitic satire. SaudiArabian government officials...
The Saudi riyal (Arabic: ريال سعودي riyāl suʿūdiyy) is the currency of SaudiArabia. It is abbreviated as ر.سSAR, or SR (SaudiArabian Riyal/Saudi Riyal)...
الاستثمارات العامة) is the sovereign wealth fund of SaudiArabia. It is among the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world with total estimated assets of US$925...
The legal system of SaudiArabia is based on Sharia, Islamic law derived from the Quran and the Sunnah (the traditions) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad...
institutes inSaudiArabia. List of technical colleges inSaudiArabia King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Ministry of Education, SaudiArabia https://www...
Public holidays inSaudiArabia ( Arabic: العطل الرسمية في السعودية ) InSaudiArabia there are few holidays, compared with other countries in the Gulf Cooperation...
Islam is the state religion of SaudiArabia. The government of SaudiArabia has been criticized for its restrictions on religious freedom. Boston University’s...
March 1975) was a SaudiArabian statesman and diplomat who was King of SaudiArabia from 2 November 1964 until his assassination in 1975. Prior to his...
punishment inSaudiArabia is a legal punishment, with most executions in the country being carried out by decapitation (beheading) – SaudiArabia being the...
Saudi Aramco (Arabic: أرامكو السعودية ʾArāmkū as-Suʿūdiyyah), officially the SaudiArabian Oil Group or simply Aramco (formerly Arabian-American Oil Company)...