The General Authority for Statistics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced new data indicating that the total number of workers in tourism activities during the fourth quarter of last year reached approximately 1,030,574 individuals, reflecting an increase of 6.6% compared to the same quarter in 2024, when the number was 966,531.
This workforce is comprised of both Saudi and non-Saudi workers, with the number of Saudi workers standing at 247,481, accounting for 24% of the total. In contrast, non-Saudi workers numbered 783,093, representing 76%. In terms of gender distribution, there were 893,924 males, making up 86.7% of the total workforce, while females numbered 136,650, comprising 13.3%.
Details of the Event
Serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities accounted for 52% of the total establishments, with 3,090 facilities, while the number of hotels reached 2,847, representing 48% of the total licensed tourism hospitality facilities during the same period.
Regarding hotel room occupancy rates, they reached 57.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025, an increase of 1.4 percentage points compared to the same quarter in 2024, which recorded an occupancy rate of 56%. Meanwhile, the occupancy rate for serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities was 55.9%, showing little change from the previous year.
Background & Context
This increase in the number of workers and tourism facilities is part of the Kingdom's efforts to enhance the tourism sector, which is one of the key pillars of Vision 2030. The government aims to diversify income sources and reduce dependence on oil, contributing to the creation of new job opportunities for citizens.
Moreover, tourism plays a significant role in boosting the national economy, as it helps attract foreign investments and enhance infrastructure. These trends are expected to continue growing with the increase in tourism events and festivals across various regions of the Kingdom.
Impact & Consequences
These figures serve as a positive indicator of the health of the tourism sector in the Kingdom, reflecting an increase in demand for tourism services. Additionally, the rise in the number of workers demonstrates the success of government policies in attracting investments and providing a suitable working environment.
These developments are expected to improve the standard of living for Saudi citizens by providing more job opportunities, contributing to economic and social stability.
Regional Significance
The Kingdom's experience in promoting tourism serves as a model for other countries in the Arab region, where other nations can benefit from this experience in developing their tourism sectors. Furthermore, cooperation among Arab countries in the field of tourism could enhance economic and cultural ties.
In conclusion, this growth in the tourism sector indicates a promising future for tourism in the Kingdom, enhancing its status as a distinguished tourist destination in the region.