The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report "Tourism Trends and Policies 2026" recorded that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia achieved the highest growth rate in international tourist arrivals between 2019 and 2025 compared to all member states and partner economies included in the study, totaling 53 countries and economies, recording an exceptional growth of 67%.

The report stated that the number of inbound tourists rose from 17.5 million in 2019 to 29.3 million in 2025, a net increase of approximately 11.7 million tourists, exceeding pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, indicating an acceleration in the sector's growth and recovery at a pace surpassing many global markets.

In terms of tourism expenditure, total spending by inbound tourists reached SAR 176.6 billion in 2025, achieving a growth of 5% compared to 2024, reflecting the rising economic value of the sector and its growing contribution to supporting growth and diversifying national income sources.

In domestic tourism, the report confirmed that the local market continued to play a fundamental role in sustaining the sector, with the number of domestic tourists reaching 93.3 million in 2025, an increase of 8%, while their spending rose by 10% to SAR 127.1 billion, indicating growing domestic demand and expanding tourism products across various regions of the Kingdom.

The report highlighted the growing economic and social impact of the sector, with the direct contribution of tourism to GDP reaching 5.2% according to preliminary estimates for 2026, while the number of direct jobs in the sector exceeded one million, with women's participation rate reaching 47%.

The report noted that the Kingdom is among the countries that have adopted ambitious policies and initiatives to develop its tourism sector, including updating regulatory frameworks, enhancing governance, improving the quality of tourism experiences, and developing destinations, contributing to building a more sustainable, resilient sector capable of keeping pace with global changes.

The "Tourism Trends and Policies 2026" report is one of the most prominent specialized international reports monitoring the performance of the tourism sector, as it reviews tourism policies and indicators in 53 countries and economies, and provides in-depth analysis of the most prominent trends and practices aimed at enhancing sustainable growth and raising the global competitiveness of the sector.