RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector added jobs at a steady pace in the second quarter of 2024, with the workforce growing 5.1 percent year on year to 959,175, official data showed.
According to official data released by the General Authority for Statistics, the sector’s workforce rose 1.57 percent quarter on quarter, signaling sustained momentum in the industry.
Saudis accounted for 25.6 percent of the total, with 245,905 nationals employed in tourism by the end of June, while expatriates made up 74.4 percent at 713,270.
The increase highlights the Kingdom’s rapid transformation into a global tourism destination as part of its Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy, which aims to attract 150 million annual visitors by the end of the decade.
GASTAT data revealed that tourism jobs made up 5.7 percent of the total workforce in the second quarter, a slight decline of 0.2 percentage points from the same period last year.
In the private sector, tourism accounted for 8.6 percent of employment, down 0.5 percentage points year on year.
Breaking down the demographics further, male employees dominated the sector at 831,076, while female workers totaled 128,099.
GASTAT also reported gains in Saudi Arabia’s hotel sector, with occupancy rates rising to 55.4 percent in the second quarter, a 0.5 percentage point increase from last year. The average length of stay for guests surged by 17.6 percent to 5.2 nights.
However, the average daily room rate edged down slightly to SR725.5 ($193.08), a 0.4 percent drop from the second quarter of 2023, reflecting competitive pricing as the industry expands.
The tourism boom aligns with regional trends, as a Mastercard report released earlier this month highlights the sector’s role in Gulf economies, with Saudi Arabia leading efforts to attract global visitors.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector contributed 11.5 percent to gross domestic product and generated $36 billion in revenue, both record highs, according to official data released earlier this year. The sector is projected to grow to 16 percent of GDP by 2034.
