International Tourist Arrivals: Q1 2023 Recovery Compared to 2019 Levels

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Middle East recovered fully in Q1 2023 to pre-pandemic 2019 levels of international tourism. In fact, Middle East tourism is already 15% above 2019 figures, showing great strides. The UAE is undoubtedly playing a large role in attracting international visitors to the Middle East, but so is Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Saudi has ambitions to have tourism contribute to a minimum of 10% of GDP by 2030. This is no small feat, as Saudi's nascent tourism sector only contributed 3% to GDP in 2020. But with over US $1.5 trillion committed to tourism development projects, Saudi is putting money where their mouth is.