As part of the Saudi Vision 2030 government initiative, it has been announced that the country is building 300,000 new hotels rooms, and is targeting 150 million annual visitors by 2030.
The move is all part of Saudi Arabia’s goal to reduce its reliance on oil and gas income, and, much like Dubai in the UAE did before it, is planning for a future economy based on tourism.
The country welcomed 116 million tourists in 2024, which was a record. In 2019 the number was 80 million annual tourists, so the numbers are rising quickly. The government is now targeting 150 million annual visitors by 2030.
It's not just huge amounts of hotel rooms that will be built, the construction of King Salman International Airport in Riyadh will serve as a central hub to accommodate increased air traffic.
Riyadh Air was created in 2023 to strengthen air connectivity and introduce new international routes.
Saudi Arabia is also becoming a host for global sporting events, as well as being heavily involing in high profile boxing matches, it will stage the 2029 Asian Winter Games and the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
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