RIYADH — Saudi Arabia continues to lead the tourism transformation in the Middle East region, with strong growth expected in the travel and tourism sector over the next decade, driven by rising investments, major tourism projects, and realization of the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in its latest report, titled “Economic Impact Research: Global Trends Report, stated that the Kingdom’s travel and tourism sector accounts for approximately 14.1 percent of GDP. Across the Middle East markets, governments are investing heavily in tourism infrastructure, connectivity, visitor experiences, and destination development as part of broader economic diversification strategies. Saudi Arabia remains one of the clearest examples of this commitment, recording 19.4 percent growth in Travel & Tourism investment in 2025, supported by Vision 2030, investor-friendly reforms, and a pipeline of large-scale tourism projects designed to attract both domestic and international capital.
The WTTC report highlighted the Middle East’s outlook as a story of short-term disruption and long-term resilience, with the region expected to overcome current challenges and remain one of the world’s strongest travel and tourism growth markets. The Middle East is forecast to become the fastest-growing travel and tourism region in the world between 2026 and 2036, with sector GDP expected to expand at an annual rate of 6.3 percent, reaching $605 billion by 2036.
The WTTC’s projections indicate that international visitor spending in the Kingdom will more than double over the next decade, driven by the continued expansion of the sector and the development of tourist destinations, infrastructure, transportation networks, and visitor experiences. This growth underscores the increasing role of the tourism sector in supporting the diversification of the Saudi economy and enhancing its contribution to gross domestic product, while further consolidating the Kingdom’s position as a global tourist destination. This progress is being supported by major projects, events, and the development of diverse tourist destinations in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The Council emphasized that the Kingdom’s long-term investments in the travel and tourism sector are strengthening its ability to navigate short-term challenges and sustain growth in the coming years, positioning Saudi Arabia as one of the region’s most prominent engines of tourism growth through 2036. Across the Middle East markets, governments are investing heavily in tourism infrastructure, connectivity, visitor experiences, and destination development as part of broader economic diversification strategies. Saudi Arabia remains one of the clearest examples of this commitment, recording 19.4 percent growth in travel and tourism investment in 2025, supported by Vision 2030, investor-friendly reforms, and a pipeline of large-scale tourism projects designed to attract both domestic and international capital, the report pointed out.
Source: Saudi Gazette