Saudi Arabia Tops 100 Million Domestic And Inbound Tourist Mark For The Second Year In A Row In 2024
His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, stated that the strong performance reflected in the 2024 report was achieved with the guidance and support of the Kingdom's leadership. His Excellency added that tourism has become a key enabler of Saudi Vision 2030, with the report showcasing the sector's accelerated growth driven by the efforts of the Ministry and all stakeholders of Saudi Arabia's tourism ecosystem.
According to the report, the Kingdom welcomed around 116 million domestic and inbound tourists in 2024, a 6% increase compared with 2023. Total tourism spending—for domestic and inbound tourism—reached approximately SAR 284 billion, reflecting 11% growth year-on-year.
The Ministry noted that Saudi Arabia achieved its highest-ever number of inbound tourists, receiving about 30 million inbound tourists in 2024, marking an 8% rise versus 2023. Inbound tourism spending in 2024 totaled SAR 168.5 billion, up 19% from 2023.
Domestic tourism also experienced solid growth with 86.2 million domestic tourists in 2024, marking a 5% increase compared with 2023. Moreover, domestic tourism spending reached SAR 115.3 billion in 2024.
The Ministry invited investors and stakeholders to view the full 2024 Annual Statistical Report available on the Ministry's website: Tourist Intelligence Center | Ministry of Tourism | KSA (mt.gov.sa).
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Saudi Arabia Tops 100 Million Domestic And Inbound Tourist Mark For The Second Year In A Row In 2024
The Ministry of Tourism has released its 2024 Annual Statistical Report on the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia, highlighting key indicators of tourism activity and underlining the sector's continued growth following the significant progress recorded in 2023. His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, stated that the strong performance reflected in the 2024 report was achieved with the guidance and support of the Kingdom's leadership. His Excellency added that tourism has become a key enabler of Saudi Vision 2030, with the report showcasing the sector's accelerated growth driven by the efforts of the Ministry and all stakeholders of Saudi Arabia's tourism ecosystem. According to the report, the Kingdom welcomed around 116 million domestic and inbound tourists in 2024, a 6% increase compared with 2023. Total tourism spending—for domestic and inbound tourism—reached approximately SAR 284 billion, reflecting 11% growth year-on-year. The Ministry noted that Saudi Arabia achieved its highest-ever number of inbound tourists, receiving about 30 million inbound tourists in 2024, marking an 8% rise versus 2023. Inbound tourism spending in 2024 totaled SAR 168.5 billion, up 19% from 2023. Domestic tourism also experienced solid growth with 86.2 million domestic tourists in 2024, marking a 5% increase compared with 2023. Moreover, domestic tourism spending reached SAR 115.3 billion in 2024. The Ministry invited investors and stakeholders to view the full 2024 Annual Statistical Report available on the Ministry's website: Tourist Intelligence Center | Ministry of Tourism | KSA (
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And increasingly, they're doing it on metasearch engines. These platforms have become a crucial battleground for visibility, giving hotels the chance to appear side-by-side with OTAs. If your property isn't showing up – or showing up poorly – you're not just missing clicks. You're missing out on guests. But what are metasearch engines? How do they work and how can you effectively navigate them to benefit from their full potential? What is a metasearch engine? A metasearch engine is a pay-per-click-based platform that aggregates and displays real-time rates and availability from multiple hotel booking sites – such as online travel agencies (OTAs), hotel brand websites and wholesalers – allowing users to compare prices and options in one place. Instead of taking bookings itself, a metasearch engine redirects users to the selected provider to complete their reservation. Popular examples, which we expand on below, include Google Hotel Search (previously known as Google Hotel Ads), Trivago and Tripadvisor. Metasearch engines are widely used by consumers, especially in the early stages of trip planning. They appeal to price-conscious travellers who want to ensure they're getting the best deal, as well as to those looking to understand their accommodation options quickly. Their transparent format, showing multiple prices for the same hotel, gives users a sense of control and confidence. The concept of metasearch dates back to the 1990s, when platforms like Kayak and SideStep emerged to simplify flight and hotel shopping. These tools were created to address growing online choice fatigue, bringing clarity to a fragmented, fast-growing travel market. Metasearch vs traditional search engines A traditional search engine – like Google or Bing – uses a web crawler to index vast chunks of the internet. 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Skyscanner: Though best known for flights, Skyscanner also compares hotel rates and appeals to price-sensitive, mobile-first travellers. These platforms can drive significant direct bookings when used strategically in your hotel's distribution mix. How to improve performance on metasearch engines Ranking high on metasearch engines is critical for your property because would-be guests typically click on the top few results, just like in a Google search. A top position can significantly increase visibility, click-through rates and ultimately direct bookings. With a pay-per-click model, however, visibility alone isn't enough; your hotel must ensure that it's converting that traffic effectively. To strengthen performance, you should focus on several key areas: Rate parity : Ensure that the direct rate listed on metasearch platforms is equal to or better than OTA rates. 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