Saudi Arabia registers more than 18 million visitors, tourists; spending reaches $7.2 billion

Saudi Arabia recorded more international arrivals than any other Arab country in the first nine months of 2022, as government officials target 100 million annual visitors by the end of this decade.

To this end, the Kingdom's booming tourism sector will be a key feature of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023, to be held at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) from May 1-4.

This year's Saudi Summit will take place on the global stage and highlight the importance of the Kingdom in reshaping the regional travel and tourism landscape now that megaprojects are well advanced.

In addition to the summit, ATM 2023 will host a host of Saudi exhibitors including Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), flynas, Makkah Clock Royal Tower, Asma Hospitality Company, Eye of Riyadh, Itrip, Dur Hospitality, Sadana Real Estate Co , Saudi Amad for Airport Services & Transport Support and many more.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “The Saudi ATM Summit 2023 will provide an ideal forum in which travel professionals and policy makers from the Middle East and beyond can explore the opportunities and challenges within the kingdom's ever-expanding tourism sector.

"From upcoming giga-developments such as NEOM and the Red Sea Project to how the Kingdom's latest visa reforms are bolstering its travel sector, we expect Saudi Arabia to be an asset major at the next edition of ATM," Curtis added.

Figures released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) show that Saudi Arabia attracted more than 18 million inbound visits in the first three quarters of 2022, followed by the United Arab Emirates (14 .8 million tourists) and Morocco (11 million tourists). tourists), which rank second and third respectively in the region.

Tourism spending in Saudi Arabia also exploded last year, reaching $7.2 billion in the first half of 2022, according to figures released by the country's Ministry of Investment. Travel experts from around the world will put these statistics under the microscope at ATM 2023, in a series of sessions and panel discussions focused on Saudi Arabia.

In addition to focusing on specific markets such as Saudi Arabia, ATM 2023 will explore the future of sustainable travel in line with its theme of "Working towards Net Zero".

Having officially launched its journey to net zero, the conference program will explore how innovative trends in sustainable travel are likely to evolve, enabling delegates to identify strategies for growth in key verticals, while providing a platform for regional experts to explore a sustainable future ahead of COP28, which will take place in November 2023 at Expo City Dubai.

The conference will also feature a sustainability category for the first time at its annual Exhibitor Awards. Exhibiting organizations will be recognized based on the extent to which they have considered the environmental impact of their stands, as well as their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint.

ATM 2023 is being held in conjunction with the Dubai World Trade Center and its strategic partners include Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as Destination Partner, Emirates as Official Airline Partner, IHG Hotels & Resorts as Official Hotel Partner and Al Rais Travel as Official DMC Partner.