Saudi Arabia tops list of fastest-growing tourist destinations worldwide

The OECD’s 2026 Tourism Trends and Policies report shows Saudi Arabia’s international tourist arrivals jumped 67% between 2019 and 2025, placing it ahead of all other destinations. In 2025 the kingdom welcomed roughly 30 million visitors after billions of dollars were invested under the Vision 2030 diversification plan, which introduced easier visa rules, expanded airline capacity and major heritage‑site projects. Non‑religious tourism accounted for 52% of arrivals, overtaking religious travel for the first time. Morocco ranked second with a 53% increase, followed by Egypt (+47%), Brazil (+46%) and Colombia (+45%). Japan, Norway, Serbia and Denmark also posted strong post‑pandemic growth. Saudi Arabia aims to attract 150 million visitors annually by 2030, signalling a major shift in the country’s economic orientation.