Saudi Arabia sees 105% increase in demand for tourism services, report shows

The value of demand on tourism sector services jumped 105 percent to SR4.1 billion ($1 billion) during the first half of 2022, compared to SR2 billion in the same period in 2021. 

A report showed that demand for services across the local, domestic and foreign tourism sectors led to the growth of the total value of reservations to SR2.5 billion in the second quarter of 2022.

This amounts to an 108 percent increase compared to SR1.2 billion in the second quarter of 2021, Alwatan newspaper reported, citing the Business Traveler Report.

Individuals’ travel has seen its all-time high quarterly growth, as it rose by 175 percent to reach a value of SR1.1 billion, compared to SR400 million during the same period last year. 

The report added that individual travel was heading toward achieving SR4 billion by the end of 2022.

The total value of reservations in the sector grew by 89 percent, to reach SR1.7 billion during the first six months of 2022, up from SR900 million in the same period of 2021.

Corporate sector 

The total value of reservations of the corporate and government travel sector also recorded a growth of 27 percent, from SR473 million in the second quarter of 2021 to SR600 million in the second quarter of 2022. 

Car rental 

Car rental reservations for individuals and companies also recorded a steady increase. 

Individual bookings through the Lumi car rental mobile application and retail outlets at airports and major locations across Saudi Arabia witnessed an increase of 40 percent in revenues from SR122 million in the second quarter of 2021 to SR171 million in the second quarter of 2022.

Hajj and Umrah trips

Hajj and Umrah trips recorded revenues of SR10 million for the second quarter of 2022, which is a significant increase from the second quarter of 2021. 

This increase was driven by the resumption of Umrah service after the lifting of travel restrictions imposed due to the COIVD-19 outbreak.

Discover Saudi 

Saudi Arabia’s destination management company, Discover Saudi, recorded a 50 percent growth in the total value of reservations, compared to the same period last year, reaching SR24 million in the second quarter of 2022. 

Demand for inbound tourism increased following the opening of the visa on arrival program, which allows valid visa holders from the US, the UK and Schengen countries to enter Saudi Arabia.