Riyadh - Mubasher: The Kingdom has climbed 15 places in the world's ranking of countries in terms of international tourist spending, leading the rise in positions among the top 50 countries, achieving the 12th place globally in 2023 compared to 2019, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the Kingdom topped the list of G20 countries in the number of international visitors by 73% and in the growth of international tourism revenues by 207% based on the latest available data for the period from January to July 2024 compared to the same period in 2019, according to the Saudi Press Agency "SPA", today, Friday.

These achievements enhance the Kingdom’s position as a leading global tourist destination, and the significant increase in the number of incoming tourists reflects travelers’ confidence in the Kingdom’s attractive tourism options and their diversity.

Globally, international tourist arrivals recorded a 96% recovery compared to pre-COVID-19 levels in the period from January to July 2024, with the number of international tourists reaching approximately 790 million tourists, with a growth rate estimated at 11% compared to the same period in 2023.

The Middle East continued to lead the region in terms of growth, with international tourist arrivals increasing by 26% above 2019 levels, according to a report by the United Nations Tourism Organization.