Saudi Arabia Reports 61.2 Million Tourists in First Half of 2026 at WTM London
Written by AI from travelandtourworld.com's report. Not checked by a person.
Saudi Arabia announced it welcomed 61.2 million tourists in the first half of 2026 — generating roughly $40.5 billion in spending — as it showcased its expanded tourism offering through 37 partners at World Travel Market London.
Saudi Arabia made a prominent appearance at World Travel Market London 2026, using its Saudi Land pavilion to bring together a record 37 tourism partners and strengthen commercial ties with the global travel trade. The Kingdom reported 61.2 million tourist arrivals in the first half of 2026, a roughly one-percent increase on the same period in the prior year, with total tourism spending reaching SAR 151.9 billion (around $40.5 billion). The country's Vision 2030 target of 150 million annual visitors remains firmly in place. On the domestic front, approximately 28.9 million Saudi travellers explored the Kingdom in the first quarter alone — a 16% year-on-year rise — contributing SAR 34.7 billion in expenditure. Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastline also gained fresh momentum, with seven luxury resorts at AMAALA welcoming guests since June 2026, including properties linked to Four Seasons, Six Senses, Rosewood, Equinox and Nammos. The country now holds around 623,000 licensed accommodation keys, with more than 44,000 added through newly licensed establishments in the first half of the year. Continued investment in accommodation and infrastructure is supporting efforts to build a more diverse tourism sector as the Kingdom promotes destinations including Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla and the Red Sea coast to international visitors.
