U.S., Sept. 15 -- UNWTO loves their new member Saudi Arabia. It supported UNWTO with $1.7 million in funding. Tourism to Saudi Arabia is big business, $9.6 billion big just in July and August this year, what included Hajj.
According to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, 3.2 million tourists arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this summer, compared to 3 million last year. Visitors spent 9% more or a total of $8.8 billion US- Dollars.
Saudi Arabia, the Gulf's largest economy, will open doors to international tourists by the end of the year. The Kingdom, which is home to Islam's holiest sites, is developing tourism as a viable sector as part of its Vision 2030 strategy to diversify revenues away from oil.
Tourism exp...