Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's tourism sector contributed to a record-breaking $36 (SR135 billion) in spending by international visitors. The surge, reported by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), represents a substantial 42.8 percent increase from the previous year. The Kingdom's remarkable performance in tourism was further highlighted by its...
Almost half of all global destinations now offer digital nomad visas: UNWTO
Madrid, Spain - The number of destinations offering Digital Nomad Visas (DNVs) has risen significantly over recent years, with almost half now offering visas for at least one year. According to a new analysis by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) covering 54 destinations, the rise in DNVs has gone...
Saudi Arabia re-elected president of UNWTO executive council
Samarkand, Uzbekistan - The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) approved the re-election of Saudi Arabia as president of its executive council for 2024, at the 120th Executive Council meeting held in the Uzbek city of Samarkand. The Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Executive Council of UNWTO, Ahmed...
Innovation steers Middle East through tourism swings
Facing tourism seasonality challenges, the region diversifies offerings, enhances infrastructure, and collaborates, for year-round success despite temperature fluctuations.
Middle East tourism witnesses strong rebound in Q1
Continued economic recovery, ease of travel restrictions, and the growing popularity of the region as a tourist destination have been credited for the sector's resilience.Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd fastest growing tourism destination in world
The kingdom received about 7.8 million international tourists for all purposes during the first quarter of 2023, representing its highest quarterly performance.Tourism recovery reaches 65% of pre-pandemic levels
An estimated 340 million international arrivals were recorded in the third quarter of 2022 alone, almost 50% of the nine-month total.Arab Tourism Organization, UNWTO sign memo to promote tourism
UNWTO Secretary Pololikashvili and ATO Secretary Fathi signed the memo at the 116th UNWTO Executive Council session, held recently in Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia, Spain to strengthen partnerships in sustainable tourism
Spain’s experience and expertise in tourism has already helped Saudi Arabia and more Spanish businesses will hopefully join the leading tourism players already working with the kingdom, Saudi tourism minister Ahmed Al Khateeb has said. “I was very pleased to share our vision and plans with Spanish businesses in Riyadh...
One-horse open sleigh ride across frozen Turkish lake
The region mainly produces cheese but because of harsh and long winter such activity is rare so tourists on board horse-drawn sleighs are a small supplement to the income of locals.
World tourism won’t return to pre-Covid levels until 2024: WTO
In Europe and the Americas, foreign visitor arrivals surged by 19 percent and 17 percent, respectively, last year over 2020. In the Middle East, however, arrivals declined by 24 percent in 2021, while in the Asia-Pacific region they were 65 percent below 2020 levels, and 94 percent down on pre-pandemic...
UNWTO optimism to cheer up MENA tourism
While the likes of Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and Jordan depend heavily on tourism for revenue, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are using it to diversify their economy.
Saudi Arabia’s Rijal Almaa in list of best tourist villages in world
UNWTO selected Rijal Almaa among 175 participating entities representing 75 countries.Soudah joins UNWTO
SDC is the 25th member from the Mideast to join UNWTO.Pandemic to cost global tourism $2trn
International tourist arrivals will this year remain 70-75 percent below the 1.5 billion arrivals recorded in 2019, before the pandemic hit, says the UNWTO.
31 percent of all Middle East travel destinations closed: UNWTO
Digital solutions, vaccination to ease travel restrictions 29 percent of all destinations worldwide closed for international tourism About 31 percent of all travel destinations in the Middle East remain closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, a UN report said, as it expected global vaccination rollout and increased adoption of digital solutions...
