PR98054

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- Saudi sees +121% pre-pandemic recovery sector growth, according to UNWTO

Tourism Barometer

- Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb: "Through continued leadership and

commitment, we have made incomparable progress."

- UNWTO Barometer reports +60% global tourism sector pre-pandemic recovery

Saudi is the fastest growing tourism destination in the G20. Saudi Arabia's

exponential sector growth has seen an extraordinary +121% increase from

pre-pandemic international tourism levels as recognized by the newly published

UNWTO Tourism Barometer. The substantial tourism recovery recognizes not only

Saudi's considerable investment in tourism, but also the country's pioneering

leadership in future-proofing its tourism sector.

Saudi was swift in its response to the pandemic and rolled out vaccines to

ensure high immunization rates quickly which accelerated the easing of

restrictions and the reopening of the country to tourists. The government also

implemented several measures aimed at supporting companies and employees

working in the tourism sector thereby mitigating the effects of the pandemic.

Tourism is a key pillar of Saudi's transformative Vision 2030 and the country

has ambitious goals to ensure that tourism contributes 10% of the country's GDP

by 2030, with one million jobs created along the way.

According to the UNWTO Tourism Barometer, the global tourism sector saw

international tourist arrivals almost triple from January to July 2022 (+172%)

compared to the same period of 2021. This means the sector recovered to almost

60% of pre-pandemic levels.

His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, and

Chairman of the Board of Saudi Tourism Authority said: "Recognition of Saudi's

achievements in the UNWTO Tourism Barometer is a key milestone in our

extraordinary recovery and much of the success lies in our leadership's

multipronged approach to managing the pandemic and accelerating the sector's

pace of recovery. Saudi opened to the world in September 2019 and through

continued leadership and commitment, we have made incomparable progress toward

realizing our ambitious Vision 2030 tourism goals.  We are invested in a

sustainable future for tourism, and today I am proud of Saudi's position as the

fastest growing tourism destination in the G20."

In 2020, Saudi Arabia's G20 leadership shaped strategies for recovery to foster

a more sustainable and resilient sector, and today, Saudi Arabia has

outperformed the G20 countries in pre-pandemic tourism recovery. A core pillar

of Saudi's transformative Vision 2030, an ambitious roadmap for the future,

building a resilient tourism ecosystem is fundamental to the Kingdom's economic

diversification strategy, with people at its core. In line with the National

Tourism Strategy, Saudi has ambitious goals to ensure that tourism contributes

10% of the country's GDP by 2030, with one million jobs created along the way.

About Saudi Tourism Authority

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), launched in June 2020, is responsible for

marketing Saudi's tourism destinations worldwide and developing the

destination's offering through programs, packages and business support. Its

mandate includes developing the country's unique assets and destinations,

hosting and participating in industry events, and promoting Saudi's destination

brand locally and overseas. STA operates 16 representative offices around the

world, serving 38 countries.

About the UNWTO Barometer

The UNWTO Barometer monitors short-term tourism trends on a regular basis to

provide global tourism stakeholders with up-to-date analysis on international

tourism. The report is published four times a year and includes an analysis of

the latest data on tourism destinations and source markets. The Barometer also

includes a Confidence Index based on the UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts survey,

which provides an evaluation of recent performance and short-term prospects for

international tourism.

Infographic -

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1908947/Saudi_Tourism_Authority_1.jpg

Source: Saudi Tourism Authority