10-04-2025
Saudi Arabia to showcase record tourism growth at Arabian Travel Market 2025
Saudi Arabia's travel and tourism sector will showcase its record tourism growth at the upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, including highlighting the 9.5 percent increase it saw in international travelers in the previous year.
The Kingdom saw 30 million international travelers in 2024, according to Saudi authorities.
The ATM will take place from 28 April to 1 May in Dubai, where Saudi Arabia is expected to present its latest tourism milestones, showcase new projects, and highlight the initiatives it has in place to grow the sector.
GCC's largest and fastest-growing economy
Recent research conducted by VIDEC Consultants, on behalf of ATM, found that Saudi Arabia is the largest and fastest-growing economy within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached $1.1 trillion, translating to a per capita GDP of $32,500.
This positions the country as one of the most significant and influential markets in the region.
The report also revealed that the contribution of the non-oil sector to the country's GDP has increased substantially, reaching 63 percent in 2021 – a significant leap from 39 percent in 2000.
Saudi Arabia also experienced a surge in inbound leisure tourists in 2023, growing from 1.12 million in 2019 to 6.2 million.
Meanwhile, domestic travel grew from 48 million to 78 million in the same period.
In its report, VIDEC estimated that Saudi Arabia's Total Air Market (TAM) will grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.2 percent, reaching $11.3 billion by 2028.
With SAUDIA focusing on international expansion and new airline Riyadh Air aiming to connect the Kingdom with over 100 cities by 2030, the report predicts this would have a significant impact on the international air travel market, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.1 percent until 2028.
The report also outlined how Saudi Arabia's hotel market accounted for 60 percent of the GCC's hotel market in 2024.
Hotel bookings were predominantly driven by the domestic market, which accounts for approximately 70 percent of the Gross Booking Value (GBV).
With 40,000 hotels under development, adding approximately 320,000 rooms, the Kingdom's hotel market is set to accelerate further, the report showed.
Saudi Arabia at ATM
ATM 2025 will feature several prominent exhibitors from the Kingdom, including the Saudi Tourism Authority, SAUDIA, flynas, and Qiddiya Investment Company.
Other returning exhibitors include Sixth Gulf Travel Company, Taiba Investment, Makkah Clock Royal Tower, Fairmont Hotel, Cruise Saudi, and L'azure Hospitality.
First-time exhibitors this year include flyadeal, Riyadh Air, Diriyah Company, Aseer, BAAN Holding Group, Makkah Hotel & Towers, Alhussam Tourism, and StayKSA.
These exhibitors, along with many others, will be highlighted in a dedicated Saudi Land hall in an expanded version of last year's ATM Saudi Village.
ATM Saudi Village exhibits the Saudi Arabian culture, heritage and tourism, while reflecting the upward trajectory of the Kingdom's travel industry, which has seen Saudi Arabian exhibitor presence increase by 16 percent this year.
'Saudi Tourism Authority's unwavering commitment to the event highlights the Kingdom's rapid progress in establishing itself as a world-class tourism hub and reflects the broader momentum of investment, innovation and ambition that is driving the region's travel sector forward,' Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said.
'This year, ATM 2025 will have one of the strongest Saudi presences to date, with leading airlines, hospitality brands and cruise representation taking center stage,' he added,
ATM 2025 is poised to welcome 55,000 attendees and will serve as a platform to showcase over 2,800 exhibitors from more than 161 global destinations.
The event will center on the transformative power of connectivity as part of the theme 'Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow's Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity.'
