According to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Kingdom has achieved a 67% growth rate in the number of inbound tourists between 2019 and 2025, reinforcing its growing influence on the global tourism stage.
Riyadh : The OECD has released its “Tourism Trends and Policies 2026” report, highlighting the rapid expansion and qualitative progress of the tourism sector in the Kingdom. The findings point to the sector’s strengthening competitiveness and its rising status as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations.
The report noted that the Kingdom recorded the highest growth rate in international tourist arrivals among OECD member countries and the partner economies included in the study, reaching 67%. It showed that inbound tourist numbers rose from 17.5 million in 2019 to 29.3 million in 2025—an increase of roughly 11.7 million visitors. This surpasses pre-COVID-19 levels and reflects the sector’s swift recovery and accelerating momentum compared to many global markets.
The OECD also highlighted the sector’s continued economic impact. Total spending by international tourists reached SAR 176.6 billion in 2025, representing a 5% increase over 2024. This signals a rising value of tourism to the economy and its growing role in supporting growth while diversifying income sources. For domestic tourism, the report confirmed the local market’s ongoing importance to the sector’s resilience and sustainability. Domestic tourist numbers reached 93.3 million in 2025, up 8%, while spending increased 10% to SAR 127.1 billion, reflecting expanding demand and a broader range of tourism offerings across the Kingdom.
Beyond financial outcomes, the report emphasized tourism’s growing social and economic effects. Tourism’s direct contribution to GDP reached 5.2% in preliminary estimates for 2026, while direct employment in the sector exceeded one million jobs. The report also pointed to women’s participation, which reached 47%, underscoring tourism’s role in empowering national talent and supporting economic development.
The OECD further indicated that the Kingdom is among the countries implementing ambitious strategies to develop tourism, including modernizing regulatory frameworks, strengthening governance, improving the quality of visitor experiences, and developing destinations. These efforts are helping build a more sustainable, resilient, and future-ready tourism sector capable of adapting to evolving global dynamics.
The “Tourism Trends and Policies 2026” report is one of the most recognized international references focused on tracking tourism performance. It reviews tourism policies and indicators across 53 countries and economies—including OECD member states and partner economies—offering an analysis of the most prominent trends and practices driving sustainable growth and strengthening global competitiveness.
