Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, announced that Saudi Arabia surpassed expectations by welcoming 93 million tourists by the end of 2022, with an additional 8 million tourists visiting during the first quarter of 2023.
During the first three months of 2023, the number of Umrah visits reached 4 million and 1,000, as stated by Hamidaddin in an interview with Al-Arabiya news channel during the Arabian Travel Market exhibition in Dubai, according to Saudi Gazette.
Hamidaddin also noted that there are currently 42,000 hotel rooms being constructed in Saudi Arabia and projected that the number of hotel rooms will exceed 700,000 by 2030.
The CEO highlighted that the Kingdom’s summer season is expected to attract a significant number of tourists, matching the popularity of the winter season, which has historically seen strong ticket sales and sold-out activities.
This is partly due to the Saudi government’s introduction of different types of visas throughout the year, making travel to the country more accessible than ever before.
During the Arabian Travel Market exhibition, Saudi Arabia had the largest delegation, reflecting the sector’s maturity and growth in the Kingdom. The number of participants at the exhibition has risen by 80% compared to the previous year, with 68 participants this year compared to 40 last year.
