Saudi Arabia’s international leisure tourism is forecast to grow by 93% by 2030, more than three times the global average and substantially faster than the wider Middle East, according to new research pointing to the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding position in the global visitor economy. The forecast comes from Tourism Economics’ new report, “Saudi Arabia: An Emerging Global Tourism Powerhouse,” presented at WTM Spotlight Riyadh. Measured by international overnight arrivals, Saudi leisure travel is expected to grow 93% over the five-year period to 2030, compared with growth of 64% across the Middle East and just 30% globally.
The projection follows an already significant expansion of Saudi Arabia’s international tourism market. Between 2019 and 2025, international travel to the Kingdom increased by 67%, compared with 20% across the Middle East and 5% globally. Saudi Arabia alone accounted for around three-quarters of the Middle East’s international travel growth during that period and approximately 15% of global travel growth, according to Tourism Economics. The composition of international tourism is changing too. Leisure accounted for just 9% of international visitor spending in Saudi Arabia in 2019, but that share had climbed to 28% by 2025 and is forecast to reach 31% by 2030, reflecting the Kingdom’s shift towards attracting a broader mix of international travellers beyond its established religious and business tourism markets.
Dave Goodger, Managing Director, EMEA at Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, said Saudi Arabia had “rapidly emerged as one of the world’s most dynamic visitor economies”, with international visitors now approaching half of all nights spent in the Kingdom. “This is no longer a purely regional story but a powerful, export-driven tourism engine built on sustained investment, destination development, and a clear ambition to become a global tourism powerhouse,” Goodger said.
China emerges as a high-value opportunity
China could become an increasingly important source market for the next stage of this growth. Separate research from Dragon Trail International, an official Research Partner for WTM Spotlight Riyadh 2026, found that Saudi Arabia is already among the leading MENA destinations being sold by the Chinese travel trade. More than half, or 52%, of surveyed Chinese travel agents currently sell Saudi Arabia, while 32% identified the Kingdom as one of the destinations with the greatest potential for future Chinese tourism.
Luxury travellers appear particularly promising, with 42% of Chinese travel agents identifying high-net-worth and luxury travellers as the segment offering the strongest potential for recovery and growth across MENA. The experiences Chinese travellers are seeking also closely match Saudi Arabia’s expanding tourism proposition: 54% of agents highlighted nature and scenery as particularly attractive to their customers, followed by adventure and outdoor activities at 45%, museums and cultural landmarks at 41%, interactions with local people at 41% and luxury resorts at 37%. The findings come as Saudi Arabia continues to expand its leisure tourism offering across heritage, culture, nature, adventure, coastal tourism and luxury hospitality, creating a broader range of reasons for international visitors to travel to and spend more time in the Kingdom.
Riyadh hotel RevPAR forecast to jump 18.6%
The tourism growth outlook is also feeding into Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector. Data and forecast insights from STR, the global hospitality data and benchmarking specialist, presented to WTM Spotlight Riyadh point to resilient hotel demand, particularly in the Saudi capital. STR expects Riyadh RevPAR to grow 18.6% in 2027, with returning corporate and consultancy demand forecast to outpace additions to hotel supply. RevPAR growth is expected to continue over the following four years as Riyadh expands both its business and leisure economy in line with Vision 2030.
Jeddah, meanwhile, recorded strong domestic and international demand during the first half of 2026, supported by its position as a summer destination as well as a key gateway for Hajj and Umrah travellers. Rapid hotel development will create a different dynamic in the city, however, with more than 2,300 new rooms expected to open in 2027. Both Riyadh and Jeddah are also expected to benefit from stronger MICE demand next year. Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE at RX, said the findings showed that Saudi Arabia’s tourism transformation was increasingly producing tangible economic and commercial opportunities. “The Kingdom has already achieved remarkable growth in visitor volumes, and the next phase is about building on that momentum by attracting high-value demand and ensuring the benefits extend throughout the tourism ecosystem,” Curtis said.
