KSA generates SR53.7bn in revenues from tourism

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) disclosed on Sunday that domestic and inbound foreign tourism revenues reached SR53.7 billion this year, according to its latest report. 
Meanwhile, last year, outgoing Saudi tourists spent SR24.1 billion abroad, said the report. 
The same report noted that local tourism increased by about six percent compared to 22 percent of Saudis who left to spend their holidays abroad last year. Despite this, local tourism grew by one percent overall, while inbound tourism increased by 5.6 percent over the year.
According to the source, SCTNH works to stimulate domestic tourism in various seasons, especially during the holidays, indicating that the number of tourists at home reached 15.4 million in 2015 with an annual growth rate of up to three percent, compared with 6.4 million departing tourists annually.
Further, local tourism expenses amounted to SR15.3 billion in 2015, while inbound tourism expenditure amounted to SR38.4 billion, even though the number of tourist arrivals did not exceed 7.5 million people.
The report found that inbound tourism expenditure is the highest spending group within the county's tourism sector at SR5,120 per capita, compared to SR3,020 per capita for the outbound tourism sector.