Saudi Arabia religious tourism surges 55% as Makkah, Madinah flights soar: Skyscanner
Saudi Arabia's religious tourism sector continues to expand rapidly, with new data from travel comparison site Skyscanner showing substantial increases in flight searches to the Kingdom's holy cities.
Inbound flight searches to Saudi Arabia increased by 55 per cent year-on-year between 2023 and 2024, while January 2025 has already recorded a 21 per cent rise compared to January 2024, according to the report.
Saudi Arabia's pilgrimage boom
The data highlights the impact of major religious events on travel patterns. The busiest search day in 2024 was March 13, coinciding with preparations for Ramadan.
March 2024 saw an 11.6 per cent surge in travel interest compared to February, while January and March 2024 recorded increases of 69 per cent and 66 per cent respectively.
Looking ahead to 2025, peak travel interest centres around early March, with March 2 and March 7 emerging as the most searched-for arrival dates.
The week beginning February 3, 2025 showed a 49 per cent increase in searches compared to the previous week, indicating strong early-year demand as Ramadan approaches.
Madinah has become a focal point for pilgrimage travel, with searches for flights to Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport rising by 54 per cent year-on-year.
Air connectivity gaps persist
Despite the growth, Skyscanner's data reveals a gap in direct air connectivity to key religious destinations.
Manchester and London Heathrow top the list of unserved routes with high demand for direct flights to Madinah.
The growth in religious tourism aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to diversify the Kingdom's economy. Infrastructure projects such as the Makkah Route Initiative and the Haramain High-Speed Railway are underway to improve the pilgrim experience.
Industry experts suggest that expanding direct flight routes and offering more flexible booking options will be essential to accommodate the increasing number of religious travellers.
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