{
  "id": 401203,
  "title": "WTTC report: Saudi Arabia emerges as Mideast tourism leader as sector represents 14.1% of GDP",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/wttc-report-saudi-arabia-emerges-as-mideast-tourism-leader-as-sector",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-09T19:08:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Saudi Gazette",
    "slug": "saudi-gazette",
    "url": "https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/663597/saudi-arabia/wttc-report-saudi-arabia-emerges-as-mideast-tourism-leader-as-sector-represents-141-of-gdp"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "RIYADH — Saudi Arabia remains the leading tourism destination in the Middle East, with the travel and tourism sector accounting for 14.1 percent of the country's GDP, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) latest report. The kingdom's commitment to tourism growth is evident through its investment of 19.4 percent in 2025, driven by Vision 2030, investor-friendly reforms, and large-scale tourism projects. The WTTC's report, titled \"Economic Impact Research: Global Trends Report,\" projects that the Middle East will become the fastest-growing travel and tourism region in the world between 2026 and 2036, with sector GDP expanding at an annual rate of 6.3 percent. International visitor spending in Saudi Arabia is forecast to double over the next decade, driven by expanded destinations, infrastructure, transportation networks, and visitor experiences. The Kingdom's long-term investments in tourism are strengthening its ability to navigate challenges and sustain growth, positioning Saudi Arabia as a prominent engine of tourism growth through 2036.",
  "summary": "The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has reported that Saudi Arabia has emerged as the leading tourism destination in the Middle East, accounting for approximately 14.1 percent of the country's GDP. The Kingdom's travel and tourism sector is expected to experience strong growth over the next decade, driven by increased investments, major tourism projects, and the realization of Saudi Vision 2030 objectives. In 2025 alone, Saudi Arabia saw a 19.4 percent growth in tourism investment, bolstered by Vision 2030, investor-friendly reforms, and a pipeline of large-scale projects aimed at attracting both domestic and international capital. The WTTC anticipates that the Middle East will become the fastest-growing travel and tourism region globally between 2026 and 2036, with sector GDP projected to expand at an annual rate of 6.3 percent, reaching a value of $605 billion by 2036. International visitor spending in Saudi Arabia is expected to more than double over the next decade, thanks to the expansion of tourist destinations, infrastructure, transportation networks, and enhanced visitor experiences.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
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        "published": "2026-08-07T04:15:41.000Z"
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      {
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      {
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/yemens-houthis-say-they-attacked-saudi-aramco-jazan-refinery-fire-361065",
        "published": "2026-08-09T08:02:13.000Z"
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/yemens-houthis-say-they-attacked-saudi-aramco-jazan-refinery-fire-365171",
        "published": "2026-08-09T08:46:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}