Al-Riyadh newspaper | The richness of the place and the craftsmanship of the experience

Multiple tourism options throughout the country

In recent years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed an exceptional transformation in the concept of domestic tourism, after it became one of the promising economic and social sectors that is receiving increasing attention within the goals of Vision 2030, as domestic tourism has moved from being a limited seasonal activity associated with vacations and events to an integrated industry that contributes to revitalizing the national economy, providing job opportunities, and enhancing the quality of life for citizens and residents.

Perhaps one of the most prominent factors that helped in this great transformation is the Kingdom’s rare geographical, climatic and cultural diversity, making it include a very rich and diverse tourist map, starting from the beaches and offshore islands in the west and east, and extending to the mountainous highlands in the south, passing through the golden deserts in the center and north, all the way to historical and heritage sites that reflect the depth of Saudi civilization extending over thousands of years.

This unique diversity has given domestic tourism a new dimension, as the Saudi citizen now finds multiple options within his country that meet various desires and interests, whether recreational, cultural, environmental, sports, therapeutic or adventure tourism.

With the acceleration of major projects and the development of tourism infrastructure, the Kingdom has begun to offer an integrated domestic tourism model that reflects the magnitude of the major transformations that the country is witnessing, and enhances the position of tourism as one of the engines of future economic development.

The demand for domestic tourism is no longer just an alternative to foreign travel, but has turned into a growing community culture reinforced by the quality of modern projects that now offer tourism experiences comparable to many global destinations.

“Diversity and opportunities”

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has one of the most diverse geographical environments in the region, which has given it a great competitive advantage in building a diverse domestic tourism sector capable of attracting different segments of visitors throughout the year.

The vast expanses of the Kingdom, extending from the Arabian Gulf in the east to the Red Sea in the west, and from the borders of Jordan in the north to the southern highlands overlooking Yemen, created a natural palette rich in various tourism components, and made the Kingdom a unique model that combines multiple tourism styles that rarely meet in one country of this size and diversity.

In the western region, the coast extending along the Red Sea stands out as one of the most important marine tourism destinations, as cities such as Jeddah are distinguished by its extended beaches and modern marine facilities, in addition to huge tourism projects that are working to reshape the future of coastal tourism in the Kingdom, most notably the development projects for the Red Sea islands that aim to transform the region into one of the most prominent global tourist destinations, taking advantage of the pristine marine environment and rare coral reefs that are considered among the most beautiful in the world.

As for the south, regions such as Asir offer a completely different tourist experience, with picturesque mountainous nature, a moderate climate, dense forests, and a foggy atmosphere that have made the region a major destination for summer tourism within the Kingdom. Seasonal festivals and cultural and entertainment events held annually have contributed to strengthening the position of the South as one of the most important centers of local tourist attraction, especially with the increasing investments in hotels, resorts and modern entertainment facilities.

In the north of the Kingdom, areas such as Al-Ula appear, which represent an exceptional cultural and historical dimension, as they combine the charming desert nature with archaeological sites dating back thousands of years, to provide a unique tourist experience that combines history, exploration and culture.

The central and northern regions also have vast deserts that have become an ideal environment for adventure tourism, such as four-wheel drive trips, camping, sand dune climbing, and activities related to desert heritage, which represents an integral part of Saudi culture.

The tourism diversity in the Kingdom is not limited to these areas only, but extends to include agricultural oases, national parks, natural reserves, and heritage villages scattered in various regions, which has created an integrated internal tourism system that gives the visitor wide and varied options according to his interests and desires.

“Tourism elements”

Coastal tourism constitutes one of the most important tributaries of domestic tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, given that our country possesses exceptional marine and geographical features represented by the extension of two long coastal strips on the Red Sea to the west and the Arabian Gulf to the east, which has given the Kingdom great diversity in marine and recreational activities, and has contributed to transforming coastal areas into tourist destinations that attract increasing numbers of local visitors throughout the year.

This large sea expanse has helped create vast investment opportunities for the development of resorts, tourist ports, marine entertainment centers, and sea-related sports activities, making coastal tourism one of the most prominent sectors witnessing rapid growth within the domestic tourism system.

Modern tourism projects have emerged in the Kingdom, which aim to develop dozens of pristine islands on the Red Sea and transform them into a global tourist destination according to the highest environmental and tourism standards, which not only reflects on attracting international tourism in the future, but also contributes to revitalizing local tourism and providing new marine experiences for citizens and residents within the Kingdom.

Coastal tourism is no longer just seasonal trips associated with traditional vacations or excursions. Rather, it has become an integrated industry supported by huge investments in luxury hotels, sea resorts, infrastructure, transportation networks and supporting services, which has enhanced the Kingdom’s ability to provide an advanced marine tourism experience on par with the best global destinations.

With the continuation of development and investment plans in this sector, coastal tourism in the Kingdom appears likely to be one of the most prominent economic engines that enhance the Kingdom’s position as an integrated and diversified tourist destination, capable of meeting the aspirations of local tourists and providing quality experiences within the borders of the country.

“Tourism industry”

In addition to coastal tourism, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a unique geographical diversity that has given it natural tourism components that have made mountain tourism one of the most growing types of domestic tourism in recent years, especially in the summer seasons, when many citizens and residents search for destinations characterized by moderate weather and open nature away from the heat of major cities.

The natural highlands spread across various parts of the Kingdom have contributed to providing an integrated tourism experience that combines a moderate climate, picturesque natural scenes, and diverse terrain that includes towering mountains, natural forests, and green plains, in addition to heritage villages that still preserve their authentic urban and cultural identity, giving the visitor an experience that combines recreation and discovery of the local historical heritage.

During recent years, this type of tourism has witnessed increasing interest within plans to develop the tourism sector, through the launch of specific projects aimed at developing natural destinations and raising the quality of tourism services, including accommodation facilities, recreational activities, cultural events and seasonal festivals, which have become a major attraction for families looking for various internal tourism options, in addition to the development of road networks and infrastructure that have facilitated access to these destinations further.

The impact of mountain tourism is no longer limited to the recreational aspect only, but has become an important economic tributary that contributes to revitalizing local markets, supporting small and medium enterprises, and providing direct and indirect job opportunities, as well as encouraging new tourism investments, in an image that reflects the Kingdom’s success in transforming its natural components into a promising tourism industry that supports the national economy, enhances the quality of life, and consolidates the position of domestic tourism as a growing and sustainable option for society.

“Civilization and history”

Domestic tourism is not limited to entertainment and nature only, but the Kingdom possesses a huge cultural and historical wealth that has made cultural and heritage tourism one of the most developed patterns in recent years.

AlUla is also considered the most prominent example of this type of tourism, as it includes archaeological sites dating back thousands of years, and Saudi sites are included in the World Heritage List.

Areas such as Diriyah also retain exceptional historical value as the cradle of the first Saudi state, and today they have become an integrated tourist and cultural destination after massive development operations.

In various regions of the Kingdom, there are ancient castles, historical markets, museums, and heritage villages, which provide the local visitor before anyone else with an experience linked to the history of the Arabian Peninsula and its extended civilization.

This interest in historical heritage not only contributed to stimulating domestic tourism, but also strengthened Saudi society’s connection to its cultural roots, and established the concept of national identity as part of the modern tourism experience.

Domestic tourism in the Kingdom is not limited to entertainment, nature and heritage only. Rather, the Kingdom is one of the few countries in the world that possesses an exceptional tourism diversity that combines religious, historical, cultural and natural elements at the same time, which has given it a unique position on the global tourism map.

Religious tourism stands out as the most important pillar of this diversity, given the Kingdom’s great spiritual status that has made it a destination for hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world and a permanent destination for visitors throughout the year.

The Kingdom is unique in that it hosts the holiest sanctuaries of Islam, namely Mecca and Medina, which gives domestic tourism a unique religious dimension that cannot be compared to any other destination in the world, as visitors go there to perform rituals, get closer to God, and visit Islamic sites that are linked to the biography of the Prophet – may God bless him and grant him peace – and to Islamic history extending over more than fourteen centuries.

Major projects in developing infrastructure, expanding services, and facilitating transportation have contributed to making the visitor experience more quality and efficient.

At the same time, the Kingdom is unique in its deep cultural and historical richness, in addition to a rare geographical diversity that combines extended coastlines, vast deserts, mountain highlands, and ancient archaeological sites, which makes Saudi domestic tourism an integrated model that combines spirituality, history, nature, and culture.

This diverse wealth has contributed to consolidating the Kingdom’s position as one of the richest countries in the world with unique tourism capabilities, and making it a destination capable of providing tourism experiences that are not repeated anywhere else.

“Development tributaries”

Domestic tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia witnessed qualitative leaps during the years 2025 and 2026, which confirmed the Kingdom’s success in building an integrated tourism sector based on exceptional components that formed development tributaries that are difficult to replicate in any other country, as the Kingdom combines religious depth, cultural heritage, natural diversity, and cultural richness in a unique tourism system in the world.

Domestic tourism is no longer just a seasonal option for Saudi families, but has turned into one of the main economic engines that reflects the major transformation that the country is witnessing within the Kingdom’s 2030 goals.

The Ministry of Tourism issued the annual statistical report for the year 2025, which reviews the most prominent indicators of the growth of the tourism sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and reveals its comprehensive transformation process in accordance with the path drawn by the National Tourism Strategy and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.​

His Excellency the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib, explained that the record results and positive indicators contained in the report would not have been achieved without the unlimited support of the wise leadership – may God support it – and its sound guidance in developing the tourism sector, so that it becomes a basic pillar in diversifying the national economy and achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.​

He said: “The numbers contained in the annual statistical report for the year 2025 AD reflect the growing economic impact of the sector, which is clearly evident in the Kingdom recording the highest historical number for total tourism spending for domestic and inbound tourism at approximately 304 billion in the year 2025 AD. This report highlights the social impact of the sector in terms of employment, developing destinations, and improving the quality of life.”

The report revealed that the total number of local and inbound tourists in 2025 is estimated at about 123 million tourists, with a growth rate estimated at about 6% compared to 2024, while the total tourism spending for local and inbound tourism from abroad recorded a record number estimated at about 304 billion, recording a growth of 7% compared to 2024. ​

This growth is due to the Kingdom’s unique tourism potential in the world. It is the only country that combines embracing the holiest sanctities of Islam, along with global historical sites and a rare geographical diversity that extends from long coastlines to vast deserts and mountainous highlands, which has made Saudi domestic tourism today one of the fastest growing and most distinguished sectors on the global level.

Recent experiences have proven that domestic tourism is no longer just a recreational activity, but has become a real economic sector that contributes to supporting national development and diversifying sources of income away from traditional sectors.