JEDDAH: Tourism across the Gulf Cooperation Council contributed $247.1 billion to the region’s economy in 2024, marking a nearly 32 percent increase compared with 2019, the latest official data showed.  

According to preliminary data from the GCC Statistical Center, intra-GCC travel experienced a sharp rebound, rising 52 percent over the same period, with 19.3 million visitors traveling between member states.  

Intra-regional tourism now accounts for 26.7 percent of total GCC tourism, highlighting growing cultural integration and regional mobility. 

The findings appear in a report titled “GCC Tourism: Intra-Gulf Integration,” released to coincide with World Tourism Day on Sept. 27. The report underscores tourism’s expanding role as a driver of economic growth, employment, and cultural exchange, while supporting environmental sustainability initiatives across the Gulf. 

Saudi Arabia continued to set the pace for regional tourism expansion. In 2024, the country welcomed a record 30 million international visitors, up 8 percent from 2023, generating SR284 billion ($75.7 billion) in tourism spending, an 11 percent increase year on year. Total domestic and international tourists reached approximately 116 million, rising 6 percent over the previous year. 

Saudi Arabia’s rapid growth extends into 2025. According to the UN World Tourism Organization’s World Tourism Barometer, the Kingdom posted the highest global increase in international tourist revenue during the first quarter of 2025, with arrivals up 102 percent compared with the same period in 2019. 

Madinah, the Kingdom’s spiritual and cultural heart, has been named among the world’s top 100 tourist destinations by Euromonitor International, ranking first in Saudi Arabia, fifth in the Gulf, and sixth in the Arab world — a recognition of continued investment in visitor experiences and tourism development.

Key attractions include the Museum of the Architecture of the Prophet’s Mosque, the Safiyya Museum, and a growing portfolio of entertainment and cultural projects. 

GCC-Stat projects that tourism’s contribution to the GCC’s GDP could reach $371.2 billion, or 13.3 percent of GDP, by 2034. Employment in the sector is also expected to expand, generating an estimated 1.3 million new jobs, with women representing an increasing share of the workforce. 

The report highlights the sector’s broader economic and social impact, including fostering regional integration, supporting indirect industries such as transportation and infrastructure, and advancing environmental stewardship through protected areas covering nearly 19 percent of the region’s landmass.