Saudi Arabia's Leisure Tourism to Grow by 93% by 2030

Saudi Arabia's international leisure tourism is forecast to grow by 93% between 2025 and 2030, according to a new report by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company. This growth rate is expected to surpass the Middle East's average of 64% and the global average of 30% over the same period. The report, titled 'Saudi Arabia: An Emerging Global Tourism Powerhouse,' was presented at WTM Spotlight Riyadh. Dave Goodger, Managing Director, EMEA, Tourism Economics, highlighted that Saudi Arabia's international leisure travel, measured by overnight arrivals, is set to grow more than three times faster than the global average. Between 2019 and 2025, international travel to Saudi Arabia grew by 67%, compared to 20% across the Middle East and 5% globally. This expansion has positioned Saudi Arabia as a major player in the global tourism market, accounting for approximately three-quarters of the Middle East's international travel growth during this period. The share of international leisure visitor spending in Saudi Arabia increased from 9% in 2019 to 28% in 2025 and is expected to reach 31% by 2030. Dragon Trail International, an official research partner for WTM Spotlight Riyadh 2026, identifies Chinese luxury travellers as a significant long-term opportunity for Saudi Arabia. Their research indicates that Saudi Arabia is already a leading MENA destination for Chinese travel agents, with 52% currently selling the Kingdom and 32% seeing it as having great future potential. The luxury segment is particularly promising, with 42% of Chinese travel agents identifying high-net-worth and luxury travellers as having the greatest potential for growth. STR, a global hospitality data specialist, forecasts that RevPAR in Riyadh will grow by 18.6% in 2027, driven by returning corporate and consultancy demand.