Saudi Arabia tops global tourism growth rankings since 2019
OECD report shows Kingdom leads international visitor growth as Morocco, Egypt and Brazil also post strong gains
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — Saudi Arabia recorded the world’s strongest growth in international tourism since 2019, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with the Kingdom outperforming all other countries in attracting overseas visitors during the post-pandemic recovery.
The OECD’s Tourism Trends and Policies 2026 report found that international arrivals to Saudi Arabia increased by 67 percent between 2019 and 2025, placing the Kingdom at the top of the global rankings.
The report attributes the growth to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which has prioritized tourism as a key driver of economic diversification through easier visa procedures, expanded airline connectivity and major investments in cultural, heritage and entertainment projects.
Morocco ranked second with a 53 percent increase in international arrivals, followed by Egypt at 47 percent, reflecting strong tourism growth across North Africa.
Brazil and Colombia completed the top five with visitor increases of 46 percent and 45 percent, respectively, while Japan ranked sixth after recording a 34 percent rise in international arrivals.
Chile followed with 33 percent growth, ahead of Norway (28 percent), Serbia (27 percent) and Denmark (22 percent). Türkiye recorded a 21 percent increase, while Portugal registered 20 percent growth over the same period.
Luxembourg posted a 19 percent increase, with Slovenia and Spain each recording 16 percent growth. Iceland followed at 14 percent, while France reached 12 percent above its 2019 visitor levels. Greece, the Netherlands and Sweden each recorded an 11 percent increase.
The findings highlight a broad recovery in global tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic, with several destinations surpassing their pre-pandemic visitor numbers through expanded air connectivity, infrastructure investment and policies aimed at attracting international travelers.
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