The Significant Role of Tourism in Increasing GDP and Achieving Sustainability: Challenges and Prospects under Vision 2030

Authors

  • Hakim AL Garalleh Department of Mathematical Science, College of Engineering, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia
  • Abdulaziz Hussain Alghamdi Department of Graduate Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.
  • Badr Khalid Alhekair Department of Graduate Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.
  • Elham Nasser Abusarhad Department of Graduate Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.
  • Fatimah Saad Alruhaymi Department of Graduate Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.
  • Ghadeer Tariq Ureiga Department of Graduate Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.
  • Hala Nasser Alsarhan Department of Graduate Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.
  • Majed Rayef Alharbi Department of Graduate Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.
  • Mohammed Ali Alshehri Department of Graduate Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.
  • Nada Abdullah Alotaibi Department of Graduate Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.
  • Taha Hussain AL-Ghamdi Department of Graduate Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.
  • Mohammed Awadh Alawlagi Department of Graduate Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.
  • Eman Abdulateef Al Mahdi Department of Graduate Studies, College of Business Administration, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.
  • Amr Alalawi Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Business and Technology, Jeddah 21361, Saudi Arabia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70917/ijcisim-2026-6076

Keywords:

Saudi tourism, Vision 2030, GDP diversification, Sustainability, Religious tourism, Domestic tourism, Inbound tourism, Hospitality, Services exports, Tourism employment, Heritage tourism, Red Sea tourism, Pilgrim Experience Program, Quality of Life Program, Non-oil growth

Abstract

This paper examines the role of tourism in increasing gross domestic product and advancing sustainability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030. The paper argues that tourism in Saudi Arabia has shifted from a narrowly defined religious and seasonal activity into a strategic non-oil growth platform that now influences investment allocation, employment formation, infrastructure renewal, service exports, destination branding, and regional development [1][2][3][4]. The analysis combines policy interpretation, official tourism indicators, macroeconomic statistics, and sustainability considerations. It pays particular attention to the period from the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016 through the latest official indicators available for 2025. Official data show that Saudi Arabia welcomed 106.2 million tourists in 2023 and 115.9 million tourists in 2024, including 29.7 million inbound visitors and 86.2 million domestic tourists in 2024. Official dashboards and announcements also indicate inbound visitor spending of SAR 168.52 billion in 2024, direct tourism contribution approaching 5% of GDP by early 2025, record international visitor spending of SAR 49.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025, and more than one million workers engaged in tourism activities in Q3 2025 [4][5][8][9][13]. The paper is written consciously from the perspective of a 3 Saudi citizen and business leaders with more than 80 years cumulative of experience in automotive, constrictions, hospitality and retail markets. That vantage point matters because tourism growth in Saudi Arabia is not confined to hotels and airlines. It stimulates consumer mobility, car rental, urban retail, roadside services, food and beverage, logistics, events, digital payments, and destination-linked trade. Accordingly, the paper develops a leadership-oriented interpretation of tourism as a multiplier sector with practical implications for market design, consumer demand, localization, and sustainable value creation. It concludes that Saudi tourism has already become one of the Kingdom's most consequential non-oil sectors, but its long-term success will depend on deepening local value capture, protecting environmental assets, raising service productivity, and aligning rapid growth with sustainability principles [2][10][12][18][22][30].

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2026-08-04

How to Cite

Hakim AL Garalleh, Abdulaziz Hussain Alghamdi, Badr Khalid Alhekair, Elham Nasser Abusarhad, Fatimah Saad Alruhaymi, Ghadeer Tariq Ureiga, … Amr Alalawi. (2026). The Significant Role of Tourism in Increasing GDP and Achieving Sustainability: Challenges and Prospects under Vision 2030. International Journal of Computer Information Systems and Industrial Management Applications, 18(20s), 1431–1455. https://doi.org/10.70917/ijcisim-2026-6076

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 20s (2026)

Section

Original Articles