Saudi Arabia is on track to welcome 70m tourists annually by 2030, and aims to rank among the top seven global tourist destinations, according to Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb.
Al Khateeb highlighted the continuous growth in international tourist arrivals to Saudi Arabia during his participation at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Speaking at The Way We Will Travel panel session, Al Khateeb noted that Saudi Arabia welcomed a record number of nearly 30m international tourists last year.
Saudi tourism target
Al Khateeb attributed the success of Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry to sound governance and integrated planning.
He emphasised key initiatives, such as the introduction of e-visas and the construction of airports in major tourist destinations, which have significantly boosted the number of international visitors.
Saudi Arabia focuses on enhancing the entire tourist journey, from flights and landing points to mobility and destinations, Al Khateeb said.
Efforts are underway to develop new destinations and modern airports, including King Salman International Airport, which is projected to accommodate 120m travellers.
Additionally, the Kingdom has launched a new airline, Riyadh Air, to further support its tourism objectives.
During the session, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas praised the significant advancements in the Kingdom’s tourism sector.
He highlighted the Kingdom’s collaboration with various destinations and countries, emphasizing its strong performance in the field.
Moreover, Al Khateeb exchanged insights with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, CEO of Avolta AG Xavier Rossinyol, and Trip.com CEO Jane Sun.
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