Foreign Tourists: Th tourism industry has rebounded rapidly worldwide, but not all countries have seen the same recovery. Some countries have welcomed record numbers of foreign tourists.
Saudi Arabia vs. Israel Tourism
OECD Foreign Tourist Arrivals Report: The tourism industry worldwide has rapidly returned to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic, but the recovery has not been uniform across countries. Some countries have welcomed record numbers of foreign tourists, while others are still grappling with the impact of the pandemic and other challenges. Recent data shows that Saudi Arabia and Israel present a starkly different picture in terms of tourism. While Saudi Arabia has become one of the world's fastest-growing tourist destinations, Israel has lagged behind in attracting foreign tourists.
What is the situation in Saudi Arabia?
According to a report based on OECD data, Saudi Arabia is projected to see a 67 percent increase in international tourist arrivals by 2025 compared to 2019. This is the highest among all countries surveyed. Morocco, Egypt, Brazil, and Colombia are also seeing significant increases in tourism.
Is Saudi Arabia growing?
Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 plan is considered crucial to this success. Under this plan, the government has simplified visa procedures, increased flights to new industries, and invested heavily in major tourism, culture, and entertainment projects. Along with religious tourism, the country is now focusing on adventure, historical sites, cruise tourism, and recreational activities.
How many people visited Saudi Arabia?
According to the Ministry of Tourism's annual report, a total of 123 million tourists visited Saudi Arabia in 2025. Of these, approximately 29.3 million were foreign tourists. Tourism generated revenue of 304 billion Saudi riyals for the country, while the sector employed over 1 million people. Significantly, the share of women among Saudi citizens employed in the tourism sector has increased to 47 percent.
What is the situation in Israel?
On the other hand, the situation in Israel remains worrisome. According to the report, the number of foreign tourists visiting the country in 2025 was down 71 percent compared to 2019, the largest decline among all countries surveyed. Experts believe that security concerns following the war that began in October 2023 have driven international tourists away from Israel. This has had a direct impact on the tourism industry.
Although tensions with Iran briefly slowed Saudi Arabia's tourism sector in early 2026, the continued arrival of millions of pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah largely offset this impact. The government aims to double tourism's contribution to the country's GDP to 10 percent by 2030.
