Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism sector continues to expand, with the industry accounting for approximately 14.1% of the Kingdom’s GDP, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) latest Economic Impact Research: Global Trends Report.
The report projects continued growth for the travel and tourism sector across the Middle East, supported by investments in tourism infrastructure, connectivity, visitor experiences and destination development. These investments form part of broader economic diversification strategies being implemented across the region.
Saudi Arabia recorded a 19.4% increase in travel and tourism investment in 2025. According to the WTTC, this growth has been supported by Saudi Vision 2030, investor-friendly reforms and a pipeline of large-scale tourism projects aimed at attracting domestic and international investment.
The Middle East is forecast to be the fastest-growing travel and tourism region globally between 2026 and 2036. The sector’s GDP contribution across the region is expected to grow at an annual rate of 6.3% during this period, reaching $605 billion by 2036.
The WTTC also projects that international visitor spending in Saudi Arabia will more than double over the next decade. The growth is expected to be supported by the continued development of tourism destinations, infrastructure, transportation networks and visitor experiences.
The report noted that the region’s travel and tourism outlook reflects short-term challenges alongside longer-term growth prospects. It highlighted continued investment in the sector as a factor supporting the region’s ability to maintain growth amid changing market conditions.
For Saudi Arabia, tourism remains an important part of the economic diversification agenda under Saudi Vision 2030. The development of new destinations, infrastructure and tourism-related projects, along with the expansion of events and visitor experiences, is contributing to the sector’s growing role in the Kingdom’s economy.
The WTTC expects continued investment in travel and tourism to support Saudi Arabia’s growth in the sector through 2036, alongside wider efforts across the Middle East to develop tourism as part of economic diversification.
