| Tourist spending in Saudi Arabia hits record high of $40bn in 2023
Tourist spending in Saudi Arabia reached a record high in 2023, totaling SR135 billion ($39.95 billion), according to the latest official data. |
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| Saudi Arabia aiming to be a top 10 global tourist destination in 2024: minister
Saudi Arabia aspires to rank among the top 10 most successful countries in tourism this year, says the sector’s minister. |
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| Saudi Arabia secures $13bn for tourism expansion, eyes $85bn revenue boost: minister
Saudi Arabia has secured $13 billion in private sector investments for its tourism industry, aiming to distribute the costs involved in becoming a top destination, a minister said. |
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| Saudi Arabia unveils ‘Hospitality Investment Enablers’ for tourism growth
A new hospitality package is poised to enhance Saudi Arabia’s business operations, project viability, and land access, a senior official announced. |
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| Saudi tourism minister discusses benefit of unified tourist visa for GCC nations at Qatar meeting
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said a unified GCC visa would be a “significant milestone” for the industry, at the eighth meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council tourism ministers in Qatar on Monday. |
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| Investments in Saudi tourism to accelerate in 2024, says top expert
Investments in Saudi Arabia’s tourism and entertainment sectors will continue to accelerate in 2024 as the Kingdom steadily diversifies its economy, according to an expert. |
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| Cruise Saudi and Al-Madinah Development Authority sign MoU to drive tourism
The tourism and economic sectors of the Al-Madinah region are expected to develop following the signing of an agreement between Cruise Saudi and the Al-Madinah Region Development Authority. |
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| Saudi Arabia sees 156% increase in number of tourists in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels
Saudi Arabia achieved a 156 percent increase in the number of tourists arriving during 2023 compared to 2019, according to the UN’s World Tourism Barometer report issued on Friday. |
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| Saudi Arabia unveils master plan for adventure tourism at THE RIG
Saudi Arabia’s water sports and adventure tourism are poised for a transformation as THE RIG, a project by the Public Investment Fund, unveiled its master plan. |
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| Qatar sees 5-year tourism high with 4m visitors in 2023
Qatar achieved a significant milestone by welcoming over 4 million visitors in 2023, achieving a five-year high. |
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| Saudi Tourism Development Fund launches center to support SME growth
Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund has launched its Tourism Growth Center, TDF Grow, to support entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector, the state-run SPA news agency said on Monday. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector set for golden decade thanks to game-changing 2023
In the transformative landscape of 2023, Saudi Arabia’s travel sector has not only met but exceeded expectations, prompting a substantial recalibration of its Vision 2030 ambitions. |
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| Saudi Arabia and Oman forge partnership to boost tourism in the Gulf region
International travel in the Gulf region is set to boost as Saudi Arabia and Oman have initiated discussions on initiatives for developing joint tourism programs. |
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| Saudi tourists get visa exemption to visit Turkiye
Saudi tourists traveling to Turkiye can avail of visa-free entry thanks to the transcontinental nation’s efforts to encourage tourism. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s inbound tourists surge 142% to 14.2m in H1 2023
Tourist numbers in Saudi Arabia saw a 142 percent surge in the first half of 2023 with 14.2 million visitors traveling to the Kingdom. |
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| dnata Travel reveals where’s trending for UAE National Day trips in 2023
With the fast approaching UAE National Day break, dnata Travel has revealed the most popular holiday hotspots. In order of popularity, the top five most booked international destinations with UAE-based travellers are: Thailand, Maldives, Turkey, USA and Azerbaijan. |
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| Saudi tourism investment firm ASFAR looking to shape Kingdom’s sustainable future
The head of Saudi Arabia’s new tourism investment company, ASFAR, said the firm’s long-term goal was to contribute to positioning the Kingdom as a leader in sustainable and innovative tourism. |
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| Japanese company signs MoU with Saudi Tourism Authority
DUBAI: HIS, a Tokyo-based travel company, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Tourism Authority to boost tourism in the Kingdom. |
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| UAE minister calls for enhanced co-operation in Middle East to build sustainable tourism
The UAE’s Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq, has called for boosting co-operation among the Middle East countries to build a sustainable and innovative tourism sector that can support their economies in the long run. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s balance of payments for tourism surpasses $10bn in H1
Saudi Arabia’s balance of payments for tourism surged 327 percent in the first half of 2023 to SR40 billion ($10.67 billion) compared to the year-ago period, showed data released by the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA. |
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| Tourism boom for Saudi Arabia with 58% growth in arrivals in 2023, ranks 2nd globally
Saudi Arabia has been ranked second globally in terms of tourist arrivals during the first seven months of 2023, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. |
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| Saudi Tourism Authority joins forces with Huawei to boost Chinese tourism
In a bid to enhance the experience for travelers and bolster Chinese visits to Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Tourism Authority has collaborated with Huawei Mobile Services and its advertising branch, Petal Ads. |
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| Saudi tourism strategy bearing fruit as revenue hits $9.8bn in Q1 of 2023, says official
As the world emerges from the shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saudi Arabia is unveiling its true potential as a world-class tourist destination. |
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| Saudi tourism fund to finance, develop Ritz-Carlton resort in Alkhobar
Tourism and hospitality in Alkhobar will soon receive a significant boost with a government fund planning to finance and develop the Ritz-Carlton property in the city, according to the Saudi Press Agency. |
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| Qatar’s post-FIFA tourism thrives with over 91% surge in July visitors
Qatar continues to build on its post-FIFA World Cup tourism momentum, with July reporting a 91.4 percent year-on-year surge in visitors, reaching an estimated 288,000, as revealed by the latest official data. |
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| Dubai’s tourism back on track as visitors exceed pre-COVID level
Dubai’s tourism sector achieved a significant milestone in the first half of 2023 by welcoming 8.55 million international overnight visitors, surpassing pre-pandemic levels of 8.36 million recorded in the first half of 2019. |
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| Saudi Arabia to play key role in Cyprus’s tourism diversification
RIYADH: Cyprus’s deputy tourism minister believes boosting ties with Saudi Arabia is a key part of helping his country diversify the travelers that visit his island. |
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| Digitization is the cornerstone of success in Saudi tourism strategy: top official
Highlighting the fast-growing digital landscape of Saudi Arabia, the chief of the Saudi Tourism Authority said the introduction of the latest technology will ensure a seamless and authentic cultural experience for visitors to Saudi Arabia. |
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| Saudi Arabia, Oman launch joint tourism initiatives
The introduction of a unified tourist visa between Saudi Arabia and Oman was one of the several initiatives agreed upon at a high-level meeting held between officials of the two countries. |
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| Mega projects and 2022-23 growth surge give Dubai’s tourism sector a strong head start
Dubai’s tourism industry has begun the year 2023 on a bright note with vital growth indicators closing in on pre-pandemic levels, giving the emirate a head start in the race to achieve its strategic long-term targets over the next decade. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s domestic tourism remains strong despite return of international travel
Despite the full resumption of international travel, domestic tourism continues to remain strong in Saudi Arabia, according to Almosafer, the Kingdom’s leading company in the sector. |
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| Saudi Tourism Authority signs MoU with Visa to develop region’s first tourism data lab
A first-of-its-kind tourism data lab is set for the Middle East after Saudi Arabia reached an agreement with global digital payment solution provider Visa to travel trends insights. |
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| Tourist spending in the UAE jumps 70% to $33bn in 2022 as sector rebounds
With global travel returning to pre-pandemic levels, the UAE saw tourist spending rise 70 percent in 2022 to reach 121 billion dirhams ($33 billion), compared to $18.8 billion the year before, according to the ruler of Dubai. |
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| Saudi Arabia offers 50 investment opportunities worth over $25bn in machinery, equipment sector
Saudi Arabia will offer 50 investment opportunities worth over $25 billion in the machinery and equipment sector as part of its strategy to promote private participation in the Kingdom’s economic diversification plan, a top minister has revealed. |
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| Tourism Development Fund signs deal with Al Nahla Group to develop destinations in Saudi Arabia
Tourism in Jeddah, Taif, and Madinah is set to receive a boost after an agreement was struck between the sector’s development fund and Saudi firm Al Nahla Group to create new projects. |
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| Riyadh’s hotel occupancy hits 75.5%, highest since 2008: STR
Riyadh’s hotel occupancy rate hit 75.5 percent in February, the highest figure since 2008 according to preliminary data from hotel industry monitoring firm STR. |
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| New visas, Dubai landmarks: 3 reasons why tourism is booming in the emirate
Tourism in Dubai is booming, and how! According to the latest statistics released by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the Emirate is closing in on its pre-Covid visitor numbers. |
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| Saudi tourism sector spending surges 93% to hit $49bn in 2022, minister reveals
Saudi Arabia’s tourism spending surged 93 percent in 2022 to hit SR185 billion ($49 billion), up from SR95.6 billion in 2021, as the Kingdom continues to diversify its economy as part of Vision 2030. |
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| Saudi Arabia aims to boost tourism sector through 10 new regulations
Saudi Arabia has initiated 10 new policies aimed at expanding the tourism sector and protecting tourists, according to the Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb. |
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| International tourist arrivals in Saudi Arabia up 575% to 3.6m in Q2: MISA
Tourists continued to flock to Saudi Arabia in the second quarter of 2022, with the Kingdom seeing a huge 575.4 percent increase on the same period a year earlier. |
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| NEOM faces no obstacles to making The Line a reality as KSA has the vision: Top official
NEOM is facing no difficulties or obstacles in materializing The Line, the 170-kilometer smart city, as Saudi Arabia is determined to make it a reality, according to a top official. |
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| Saudi Tourism Development Fund signs partnership agreement with Hilton
Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund signed an agreement with Hilton on Tuesday to promote strategic partnerships between the two entities. |
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| Saudi Tourism Development Fund launches program to support 10,000 SMEs
The Saudi Tourism Development Fund announced the launch of the Tourism Aid program to support 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency reported. |
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| Saudi Arabia, Morocco sign deal to enhance cooperation in tourism
Saudi Arabia and Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to encourage and develop cooperation in tourism, and coordinate efforts to achieve the sustainable development of the industry in both countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported. |
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| Saudi Tourism Development Fund allocates $266m to back 50 projects, reveals minister
The Saudi Tourism Development Fund has allocated SR1 billion ($266 million) to back up to 50 medium and small projects the Kingdom’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqil Al-Khatib has announced. |
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| Bahrain secures $291m tourism sector investments in 2022
The Bahrain Economic Development Board has secured 110 million Bahraini dinars ($291 million) in direct investment in the tourism sector during the first nine months of 2022, according to a statement. |
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| Aramco beats expectations with record quarterly profit of $42bn
Saudi Aramco’s profit has surged 39 percent in the third quarter of 2022, surpassing the average of analysts’ forecasts. |
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| Oman announces visa-free entry for GCC residents
All GCC residents can now enter the Sultanate of Oman, Oman Airports announced on Wednesday. |
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| Saudia continues departure phase of Hajj pilgrims
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has begun transporting Hajj pilgrims to their homes after completing their rituals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. |
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| Jeddah hotels occupancy touches 64% in May, highest since September 2019
The hotel industry in Jeddah has reported its highest performance level since September 2019, with the occupancy rate touching 64 percent in May, according to preliminary data released by global hospitality insight provider STR. |