Gold prices fall in Saudi Arabia as 21k drops to 459 riyals

Leisure travelers from Europe are set to see a substantial surge in visits to Saudi Arabia, with a forecasted 130% increase between 2025 and 2030, according to research from Tourism Economics. The continent is currently the largest long-haul market for Saudi leisure travelers, with visits to the country expected to account for 54% of international leisure arrivals by 2030, up from 47% in 2025.

Germany and Italy are expected to see a more than tripling of their leisure travel to Saudi Arabia over the same period. The Middle East currently dominates Saudi leisure travel, but the report predicts a shift towards Asia, with Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and Singapore expected to see at least a 50% increase in leisure nights.

Saudi Arabia has experienced a remarkable tourism boom in recent years, with visitor nights more than doubling since 2019 to 1.1 billion and spending on tourism five times higher. The country's push to expand international tourism through visa facilitation agreements with countries across Europe, Asia, and Central Asia has further fueled growth.