KSA first in regional tourism growth

Saudi Arabia is ranked first in the growth of tourism in the Arab world followed by Egypt and Morocco, according to a recent report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Saudi Arabia’s top ranking was not hampered by a significant decline in the number of tourists in 2012. The report said the Kingdom witnessed the largest decline in the number of tourists — 22 percent — in 2012 compared to a whopping increase of 61 percent in 2011 over 2010. Tourists numbers are likely to drop again at the end of this year.
The 2012 drop in tourists had minimal impact on Saudi Arabia’s growth ranking because of the huge increase in visitors in 2011, according to Saudi tourism officials.
Saudi Arabia has heavily promoted itself as a religious tourist destination. It waged several high-profile regional marketing campaigns.
“The tourism sector was booming in the Kingdom in 2012 and is still running on the same line this year and we are proud of it,” says Saeed Asiri, vice president of the Tourism Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “In another 10 years time, we can open up our tourism for people to see our traditions and customs.”
The expected decline in visitors for 2013 stems from Saudi authorities deciding to reduce the number of pilgrims coming from each country by 20 percent. Authorities also reduced the local pilgrim rate by 50 percent during the Haj season due to the expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
The reporter also said that Lebanon remained the most affected in the number of tourists in the Arab world with a decline of 18 percent due to the repercussions of the war in Syria.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia, ranked 21st in the top 50 most visited countries in the world. The Kingdom was followed by Egypt at 23rd and Morocco at 31st. Tunisia occupies the 34th position and Bahrain the 45th.
Most tourists to Saudi Arabia are almost exclusively pilgrims.