45 billion riyals spent by visitors to Saudi Arabia in the first quarter

Saudi Arabia achieved a growth in spending by visitors coming from abroad during the first quarter of this year by 22.9% compared to the first quarter of 2023, as their total spending exceeded 45 billion riyals ($11.99 billion), while achieving a surplus in the travel item estimated at 24 billion riyals, with a growth rate of the surplus exceeding 46%, compared to the same period in 2023.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that the spending of travelers from the Kingdom abroad is estimated at about 21 billion riyals during the same period, according to the initial data of the Saudi Central Bank on the travel item in the balance of payments.

The increase in spending by visitors coming to the Kingdom comes as part of a series of continuous successes achieved by the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia; as the Kingdom achieved first place on the United Nations Tourism List in terms of the growth rate of the number of international tourists, and in terms of the growth rate of tourism revenues, among the best major tourist destinations in the world in 2023, compared to 2019.