Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments was 49.01 million guests in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
49.01 million guests
Change on year
down 5.3%
World rank
10th
of 96 countries
All-time high
51.74 million guests
in 2023
All-time low
11.79 million guests
in 2012
Years of data
21
2004–2024

Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Saudi Arabia, 2004–2024

10.0M20.0M30.0M40.0M50.0M2004201420242004: 20.0M guests2005: 17.0M guests2006: 15.9M guests2007: 18.1M guests2008: 17.9M guests2009: 23.0M guests2010: 17.3M guests2011: 16.5M guests2012: 11.8M guests2013: 13.8M guests2014: 23.0M guests2015: 34.5M guests2016: 32.8M guests2017: 29.1M guests2018: 29.0M guests2019: 31.2M guests2020: 26.0M guests2021: 36.1M guests2022: 48.3M guests2023: 51.7M guests2024: 49.0M guests

Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in guests.

Analysis

Saudi Arabia recorded 49.01 million guests for local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in 2024.

That represents a change of down 5.3% on the previous year and up 113.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Saudi Arabia peaked at 51.74 million guests in 2023 and was at its lowest, 11.79 million guests, in 2012.

Saudi Arabia ranks 10th of 96 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Saudi Arabia, year by year

Annual values for Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Saudi Arabia, 2004 to 2024.
Year guests Change
2004 19.95 million guests
2005 17.03 million guests -14.6%
2006 15.89 million guests -6.7%
2007 18.07 million guests +13.7%
2008 17.85 million guests -1.2%
2009 23.00 million guests +28.8%
2010 17.27 million guests -24.9%
2011 16.47 million guests -4.6%
2012 11.79 million guests -28.4%
2013 13.84 million guests +17.4%
2014 22.95 million guests +65.8%
2015 34.54 million guests +50.5%
2016 32.80 million guests -5.0%
2017 29.12 million guests -11.2%
2018 29.03 million guests -0.3%
2019 31.23 million guests +7.6%
2020 25.98 million guests -16.8%
2021 36.06 million guests +38.8%
2022 48.31 million guests +34.0%
2023 51.74 million guests +7.1%
2024 49.01 million guests -5.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 18.63 million guests 15.89 million guests 23.00 million guests 6
2010s 23.91 million guests 11.79 million guests 34.54 million guests 10
2020s 42.22 million guests 25.98 million guests 51.74 million guests 5

Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia

  1. 7 Thailand 63.03 million guests compare
  2. 8 Italy 60.81 million guests compare
  3. 9 Taiwan 59.87 million guests compare
  4. 11 Peru 48.23 million guests compare
  5. 12 Russia 48.06 million guests compare
  6. 13 Turkey 45.96 million guests compare

See the full ranking of 96 places →

More reference data data for Saudi Arabia

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Saudi Arabia?
Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Saudi Arabia was 49.01 million guests in 2024, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The highest recorded value was 51.74 million guests in 2023.
What is the lowest local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The lowest recorded value was 11.79 million guests in 2012.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments?
Saudi Arabia ranks 10th out of 96 countries with data for 2024.
Is local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
Over the last ten years it is up 113.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Saudi Arabia. Statizoid, drawing on UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/domestic-guests-in-tourism-accommodation-hotels-and-similar-establishments-vs-foreign/saudi-arabia/

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About this data

Indicator
Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments
Unit
guests
Source
UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
96 places, 1,992 data points, 1995–2024
Last refreshed

Number of domestic visitors who check in to hotels and similar accommodation establishments within their own country.