AI Summary
Logo of Ministry of Tourism
Saudi Arabia achieved a record balance of payment (BoP) surplus of approximately SAR 26.8 billion for travel in Q1 2025, compared with a year earlier, driven by a significant increase in spending by international visitors.
Spending by inbound tourists reached a record SAR 49.4 billion in Q1 2025, marking a 10% hike compared to Q1 2024, according to Ministry of Tourism.
Accordingly, the first-quarter travel surplus grew by 12% year-on-year (YoY), the ministry said, citing data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).
Travel surplus represents the difference between the spending of inbound and outbound travelers.
Spending by outbound travelers reached SAR 22.6 billion by the end of March 2025, up from about SAR 21 billion a year earlier, as shown in the following table:
|
Travel Item Details in BoP in Q1 2025 (SAR bln) |
|||
|
|
Q1 2024 |
Q1 2025 |
Change |
|
Spending by Inbound Tourists |
45.0 |
49.4 |
10 % |
|
Spending by Outbound Travelers* |
21.0 |
22.6 |
8 % |
|
Surplus |
24.0 |
26.8 |
12 % |
*Spending by Saudi nationals and residents
The following table shows travel item in BoP since 2016:
|
Travel Item Details in BoP since 2016 (SAR bln) |
|||
|
|
Spending by Inbound Tourists |
Spending by Outbound Travelers* |
Surplus/(Deficit) |
|
2016 |
41.6 |
62.5 |
(20.9) |
|
2017 |
45.2 |
65.8 |
(20.6) |
|
2018 |
51.7 |
62.4 |
(10.7) |
|
2019 |
61.6 |
56.8 |
+4.8 |
|
2020 |
15.1 |
33.2 |
(18.1) |
|
2021 |
14.3 |
45.7 |
(31.4) |
|
2022 |
94.5 |
59.7 |
+ 34.8 |
|
2023 |
135.0 |
88.8 |
+ 46.2 |
|
2024 |
153.6 |
103.8 |
+ 49.8 |
|
Q1 2025 |
49.4 |
22.6 |
+ 26.8 |
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