Saudi Arabia is predicted to welcome over 21.3 million visitors by 2024 according to new research by Colliers International. The 38 percent increase from 2019 is driven by an increasing number of GCC residents wishing to visit the Kingdom on short city or mini breaks. Business travellers extending work trips to explore the Kingdom's expanding tourism offerings or attend one of the many sporting or cultural events are also behind the upturn.
“With an ambition to increase inbound tourism to 100 million by 2030, Saudi Arabia no longer wants to be viewed as solely a religious destination for the world’s Muslim community, or a corporate destination as one of the richest countries in the world. It has an incredible landscape, with diverse regions and an array of tourism offerings for leisure travelers,” Danielle Curtis said.
Curtis, the Exhibition Director ME of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which commissioned the research by Colliers International, also said the total number of exhibitors from the Kingdom at the fair increased 45 percent between 2018 and 2019. This year’s ATM, a leading, international travel and tourism event in the Middle East, will be taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 19-22 April 2020.
