Tourism businesses on the rise in Madinah

The number of tourism businesses in the Saudi city of Madinah have risen 15% over the same period last year, as the kingdom looks to increase the industry’s contribution to the economy. 

This included accommodation, travel agencies and trip organizers, state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. 

Tourism-related businesses numbered 2,677 this March, from 2,322 reported in the same month last year, Madinah Chamber’s economic report for Q1 2024 stated. 

Tourism accounted for 2.6% of all economic activity registered with the chamber, SPA reported. 

The kingdom welcomed more than 106 million tourists in 2023, achieving its end-of-decade tourism milestone. This prompted the country to set a new target – welcoming 150 million tourists by the year 2030. 

Tourism is central to the country’s economic diversification plans to reduce its dependency on oil. 

Saudi Arabia welcomed around 1.833 million Hajj pilgrims this year, of which 63.3% came from Asian countries excluding Arab countries and 22.3% pilgrims were from Arab countries itself. 

Saudi Arabia has welcomed more than 600 million visitors since the launch of Vision 2030 roadmap, business consultancy Astrolabs said in a recent report. 

“The two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah are set to be a prolific center for more investments in the years to come and the catalyst for positive changes in the realm of tourism and hospitality, fueling the country’s rapid growth as a global hub for innovation and commerce,” Astrolabs said.